Chapter 3
Hannah didn’t like that.
With trembling hands, she moved the knife even closer to her wrist.
She weighed about 200 pounds, and her body trembled so hard, especially the hand holding the knife, that it caused ripples of fat to shake with every movement.]]
A moment later, the couch collapsed beneath her. []
The knife fell to the floor with a soft clink]
I watched coldly as her face showed the look of someone who had barely survived a close call.]
She didn’t sit there for long, though.
She suddenly leapt up, trying to dash out the door.
I blocked her way, stepping in front of her and slapping her hard across the face.[]
The slap landed with full force, leaving a red imprint on Hannah’s face.[]
She started crying and screaming again, but I didn’t even respond.
“Last night, you secretly transferred $500 from my phone. I want that money back.”
That was the wages I earned over a month working in a kitchen, and Hannah hadn’t left me a single cent.[]
I remembered in my past life, I only realized we had no money when I I remembered in my past life, I only realized we had no money when I went out to buy groceries. I was humiliated at the
went out to bu market by the cashier, who gave me dirty looks as I scrambled for change.
And she used that very money to buy the sleeping pills that ended up killing our family.[]
Hannah straightened up, looking defiant. []
“Who says I stole it? You got proof?”
I slammed my phone down on the table and smacked her again, the sting in my hand radiating up my arm.
“You’ve stolen money for years now.“]
“Do you want me to call the cops and have them investigate?“]
Hatral’s face flickered with panic. [
“You wouldn’t dare! I’m your daughter aren’t you worried about the embarrassment?]
I scuffed.
“With a daughter like you. I couldn’t be more embarrassed.”
“Hannah, give the money back. Everything else, I’ll just consider it as raising you for nothing.”
My mother–in–law had just been released from the hospital and needed medicine.
William’s health insurance wasn’t even paid yet. I needed that money.
Hannah glared at me for a long moment, clearly seething. Finally, she reluctantly handed it back.
Then, she lunged at me, charging toward the door.
Despite knowing what was coming. I still wasn’t prepared for the full force of her 200–pound body crashing into me. []
I was knocked to the ground, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder.[]
ars. 0
My mother–in–law rushed to help me up, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Good girl. Jessica, it’s okay. If you want to cry, just cry.“]
She thought I was upset about Hannah.
In the past, after every fight, rd cry my heart out, then dry my eyes and apologize to her.]
But now, who would show kindness to someone who tried to kill them?
I looked at the two of them, both pale and worried, and forced a smile.
“Don’t worry, Mom, I ran out of tears in my past life.“]
Our mother–daughter bond had evaporated the moment she slipped those sleeping pills into our food.
William looked uncertain.
“You said some pretty harsh things to her.“]
“She’s probably going to throw another tantrum when she comes back.”
I shook my head.
“She won’t come back. Even if she tries, we won’t be here.”
I’d already listed the house for sale a month ago, and William knew about it.]
But we’d been holding off because of Hannah’s weekly therapy and my mother–in–law’s illness. We just couldn’t bring ourselves To leave.
Now that my mother–in–law’s surgery was successful and Hannah was temporarily out of the house, I had no stay ||
o more reason:
That aught, on New Year’s Eve. we moved back to our old place
I handed the keys over to the realtor and had Hannah’s things packed up and dumped in the hallway.
We rode a rented van, all three of us feeling a strange sense of relief. like we’d just escaped something.
