Chapter 1
At my father's funeral, I caught my husband and my best friend, Rosa, cheating. Unable to swallow it down, I asked for a divorce.
My husband sneered, "You're just a housewife with no family left. How will you survive without me?"
Even my two daughters turned their backs on me. "We love Rosa," they said coldly. "We don't want you as our mom."
Rosa put on her sweetest voice and said, "I love Jason. I never meant to ruin your marriage."
My heart shattered. I took the inheritance my father left me and cut ties with them all.
Years later, I sponsored two orphans—Colin and Kyle, hoping they'd grow up successful and wise.
Under my care, one built a tech empire, ruling the business world with an iron hand. The other became a world-renowned jewelry designer.
Ten years passed. My youngest daughter came knocking, chin raised in disdain.
She said, "Dad and Rosa have expanded the family business. Sis married into high society. If you behave, we might let you come back. We'll even take care of you in your old age… as long as you bring Grandpa's inheritance with you."
*****
"It's only been ten years. Have you really been living so poorly?
"Look at your house and your clothes. You practically reek of poverty.
"Yikes. If I stand next to you, it'll probably rub off on me too," a voice full of sarcasm and disgust said.
I was tending to the plants in the yard when I heard it.
The heavy rain from the previous night had ruined many plants, including many expensive ones that Colin Sawyer and Kyle Sawyer had specifically bought to please me.
I developed a great interest in tending to plants after being betrayed.
After all, plants would never backstab me.
The air after the rain was refreshing and cool.
I put a potted plant on a shelf and turned to look at the woman standing in the yard.
The woman's face looked familiar. Before I could recall who she was, she spoke impatiently again. "What are you looking at? Don't you even recognize your own daughter?
"People say a mother knows her child by heart, yet look at you. Your daughter is standing right in front of you and you don't even recognize her."
My daughter, Anna Dorsey, shot me a look full of disgust, her whole body bristling with defiance.
I chuckled lightly and spoke unhurriedly, "It's quite normal not to recognize you. After all, you were the ones who kicked me out of the Dorsey family back then.
"You also said you didn't want me as your mother.
"Have you forgotten what you said? Do you expect me to remember you ingrates?"
Anna was left speechless by my retort.
But soon she shot back, "As if I'd willingly come to this remote, backward place.
"You'll be begging us when you see Dad and how powerful the Dorsey family is now."
I smiled indifferently, "Did you forget? I divorced your father ten years ago."
I knew Anna didn't come here just to mock me.
Unwilling to tolerate her arrogant, foolish demeanor, I asked directly, "What do you want? If you're looking for an argument, you can leave."
Anna twirled her hair around her finger, her disdainful gaze falling on me.
She said, "Grandma's 80th birthday is approaching, and she's been asking about you.
"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have come to you."
The sudden mention of Martha Dorsey made me realize how fast time had passed.
When I was married, Martha treated me like her own daughter.
She was the only one in the Dorsey family who was truly kind to me.
My divorce with Jason Dorsey was savage and I didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye to Martha.
After leaving Edowell City, I completely lost touch with her.
How many decades does one have in a lifetime? It was only right that I returned to see her.
I packed my bags and prepared to return to Edowell City.
Meanwhile, Anna wandered around the house as if she owned the place. She didn't even ask me for permission.
After looking around, she said sarcastically, "What about the millions of dollars worth of inheritance Granddad left you?
"Where are those antiques and artworks? Why isn't there any decent decoration in this place?
"You didn't use the money to support a lover, did you?"
When I ignored Anna, she assumed she had hit upon the truth and started scolding me. "Is there any mother like you?
"Instead of thinking of your own daughters first, you gave away Granddad's inheritance.
"You are utterly unworthy of being a mother."
My hand paused in the middle of packing my luggage, and my heart throbbed as if pierced.
I turned around and said sternly, "Anna, remember your place.
"When I fell down the mountain, and you let go of my hand, trying to kill me, I was no longer your mother.
"If not for Martha, I would now be dead. What right do you have to criticize me?"
Anna seemed to recall that incident, and her face flushed crimson.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Anna and I had long since lost our bond.
Ten years ago, I was pregnant and devastated by my father's death.
Coincidentally, I discovered Jason and my best friend, Rosa Stein in bed together.
Heartbroken, I had a massive fight with Jason.
What chilled me to the bone was that both my daughters sided with Rosa.
They said Rosa would buy them many beautiful clothes.
Moreover, Rosa wouldn't force them into this or that, and indulged their willfulness.
Being young, my daughters didn't know the consequences of spoiling children.
A person could be poor, but could not lack even basic decency.