8
A few minutes later, my dad’s assistant arrived and, right there at the funeral, drew up a divorce agreement that would leave my mother with nothing.
My grandmother panicked. She was about to kneel before my father. “My dear boy, you can’t be so heartless! Catherine is seriously ill! If you divorce her now, you’re signing her death warrant!”
pulled my grandmother up. “It’s okay, Grandma. Mom will be fine. You don’t have to beg him.”
My grandmother was beside herself. She ordered me, “Sharon, you listen to me! Get on your knees and beg your father! You can’t let this family break apart!”
I didn’t kneel. I looked at him, my voice calm and cold. “Fine. Get a divorce. But the one leaving with nothing will be you.”
SMACK!
My father slapped me hard across the face, his eyes blazing. “You little bastard! This is none of your busine- ss!”
My face stung, but I took the hit. After all, he was my father.
“How is it none of my business?” I shot back. “You accuse my mother of infidelity, you call me a bastard, and I’m not allowed to defend myself? I’m done trying to prove I’m the daughter of a man like you. But there are some things my mother needs to know. And everyone here needs to know,”
“Sharon, just shut up!” Mandy commanded, feigning concern. “Dad is already furious, don’t make it worse!”
I ignored her and turned to my father. “You have type A blood, correct?”
He was taken aback. “What does that have to do with anything? I don’t have time for your nonsense!”
“You’re type A. Your sister, Laura, is type O. And Mandy’s blood type is B. Did you know that?”
It was like a lightning bolt had struck him. The entire room fell silent.
My mother was stunned. She grabbed my arm. “Sharon, why are you bringing this up? What does your aunt have to do with any of this?”
“Sharon, I know you’re having a hard time accepting this, but there’s no need to drag me into your family drama.”
The speaker was my “aunt,” Laura, who had been silently watching the show until now. She was three years. younger than my parents but looked at least ten years younger than my mom. She wore exquisite makeup and a jade necklace that was easily worth a hundred thousand dollars.
Mandy chimed in, “Exactly! Sis, you’re like a mad dog, just biting at everyone. What are you even talking abo- ut? Dad said I was adopted, so of course my blood type is different! What are you trying to stir up now?”
Chapter 2
I locked eyes with Laura. “Mandy is your daughter. So, yes, it has everything to do with you.”
My mom was reeling. “Impossible, impossible,” she muttered. “She’s your father’s cousin. She’s never been married.”
