Chapter 3

My phone suddenly rang, interrupting my thoughts.

It was a call from Rose's nursing home. (My grandmother, Rose.)

That uneasy feeling instantly peaked.

I quickly answered.

"Is this Mrs. Spencer's family member?"

"Yes, I am, I..."

"Please come to the nursing home immediately.

Your grandmother is dying."

Ignoring the doctor's warnings, I took a cab straight to the nursing home.

But I was still a step too late.

Rose had already left me.

At that moment, I felt my life was hopeless---until the caregiver showed me the surveillance footage.

I saw Ethan bringing Madeline to see Rose.

They said, "Aria deliberately framed Madeline and tried to secretly give birth to my child.

She deserves to die.

It's all your fault, you old thing, for failing to raise her properly."

My grandmother kept kowtowing.

But Ethan remained unmoved.

When Madeline said, "Your granddaughter sleeps with old men every day," Ethan even nodded along.

That's what drove my grandmother to her death.

I cried until I was exhausted, until I had no voice left.

Ethan, how dare you?

Don't you remember at all?

My grandmother watched you grow up.

I know I was wrong.

Crying, I dialed a number I knew by heart.

"You saw everything, didn't you?

My child is gone.

I really can't handle Ethan anymore.

Please let me go.

My grandmother is dead.

I really can't hold on anymore."

"Yes, your family saved my father and grandmother back then, but now both my father and grandmother are dead because of your family.

The debt is repaid, isn't it?

I won't hold Ethan accountable, but I want a divorce."

Margaret Sawyer (Ethan's mother) kept apologizing to me.

But what good were apologies?

My grandmother would never come back.

"Alright, I agree."

She booked me a flight for ten days later and promised to help me divorce Ethan.

Satisfied, I hung up and sent my mother a message.

After all, Rose had passed away---surely she should attend the funeral.

For three days, my mother didn't call once.

I was even cursed out on social media.

In a mother's tone, she tearfully said, "I never imagined my daughter could be this kind of person---stealing someone's beloved, causing her own father and grandmother's deaths.

Can I really keep someone like this?

Can you tell me what I should do?"

My mother fabricated a perfect lie, with a clear chain of evidence to support it.

I wanted to cry but had no tears left.

After doing all this, watching me trend on social media, my mother sent me a message: [Hurry up and divorce Ethan. Don't stand in the way of Madeline's happiness.]

This time I replied: [Fine.]

My mother didn't believe I truly wanted to divorce Ethan.

She called to curse at me, saying I was playing hard to get.

"Your grandmother is dead.

Do you really think anyone will support you now?"