Chapter 2
The next morning, there was an awkward vibe at breakfast.
When I came downstairs, they were already at the table, having a lively conversation, all smiles.
But as soon as I walked in, the room went silent.
Mabel, our maid, brought me a plate of tacos, which was nothing like the sandwiches and milk I had grown up with.
"Miss, Mrs. Goodman said Delilah doesn't like sandwiches, so from now on, breakfast at home will be Mexican-style," Mabel explained.
I nodded, not saying a word.
My dad cleared his throat, folded his newspaper, and set it aside.
"Maeve, I need to talk to you about something," he said.
He fixed his gaze on me, his face unusually serious.
"I've decided to transfer five percent of my shares in Goodman Group to Delilah as a little welcome home present for her," he announced.
My hand, holding the taco, froze in midair.
That five percent was supposed to be mine. My dad had made that promise to me, in front of all our guests, on my eighteenth birthday. He said I'd get those shares once I finished college.
"Dad, you said—" I said.
"That was then," my dad interrupted. "Back then, you were the only daughter we had. But now that Delilah's back, she's the legitimate heir and the one who truly belongs to the Goodman family."
His words were blunt, and he didn't spare a shred of kindness.
"Maeve, don't forget your place. We've taken care of you for twenty years. Don't be so greedy," he said, his tone icy.
Greedy?
All I ever wanted was the promise that was supposed to be mine.
Just then, Delilah spoke up, her voice timid and hesitant. "Dad, maybe I could split the shares with Maeve? She's done so much for this family, and it doesn't feel right to take it all myself."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
My mom immediately pulled her into a comforting hug. "Our Delilah is just too kind. Not like some people who can't stand even a little grievance."
My dad's expression grew even colder. "That's right. Maeve, look at how considerate your sister is. This is final. Stop messing around now."
Me? Mess around?
Watching the three of them putting on their perfect family act, my stomach twisted.
"I've had enough," I said.
I pushed away my untouched breakfast and got to my feet.
"Maeve, the elder of your hometown village called. Your birth grandmother left you some inheritance. Don't forget to go claim it. Who knows, maybe it's just a few acres of land." Delilah sneered.
I glanced back and saw Delilah covering her mouth, struggling to hold back her laughter.
I turned and headed upstairs, shutting the door behind me, leaving their cruel words locked away.
"Can you believe her attitude?" my mom said, her voice sharp.
"Don't be mad. You've spoiled her rotten since she was a kid. Give her the cold shoulder for a few days. It'll do her good to cool off. Delilah's the one who really gets it," my dad said.
I turned on my laptop and booked a seat on the earliest flight out of the country.
It was three days earlier than I had originally planned.
I couldn't stand to stay here for even a single day longer.
The fact that my birth grandma, someone I had never even met, still cared about me brought a little warmth to my frozen heart.
Did my grandma really leave me a few acres of land?