Chapter 4
Since Anna’s cause of death remained disputed, Anton’s family refused to allow her burial.
I had no choice but to return home first.
As soon as I walked through the door, laughter and cheerful voices drifted from the living room. “Diana, don’t worry. Anton is already preparing to divorce that woman. Only you are worthy of him.”
Diana laughed and said, “Sarah, don’t say that. I know Anton has been through a lot lately. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
Sarah replied, “Yes, we should wait. It’s just such a pity about Anna, my dear granddaughter.”
Hearing the door, everyone in the living room instantly turned their
gaze toward me.
A woman dressed to the nines was sitting between Sarah and
Anton.
The moment our eyes met, Sarah’s angry scolding filled my ears: “What are you doing back here? Get out! Get out of my house!”
She rushed toward me, pushing and shoving, trying to force me out the door.
Elliot also stood up, his face cold and stern: “You murderer, stop disgusting us here. If you don’t leave, I’ll beat you to death.”
Watching Elliot and Sarah’s complete change from their usual kindness, I couldn’t help but feel a cold laugh rise in my heart.
Before I could speak, Diana calmly walked up to me and looked me up and down.
“So you’re Anna’s real mother? To lay hands on your own daughter–you’re truly a monster.” She made no effort to hide her disgust.
I immediately shot back: “I’m not divorced yet. How is it that some people are already so eager to come knocking?”
“You have no right to be Anton’s wife!” Sarah shouted furiously. “Diana is a hundred times better than you, you murderer!”
Hearing Sarah call me “murderer” over and over, I lost my temper too: “Who’s the murderer is still up for debate. But you people—your granddaughter just died and you’re already rushing to find your son a new wife? What’s the hurry? Can’t wait for her to give you a grandson?”
Sarah’s face darkened at my words.
Finally, Anton, who had been silent all along, spoke up: “Enough. You’re here for the house, aren’t you? I told you I’d give you all the family assets, provided you sign the divorce
papers.”
He pulled out a signed divorce agreement from his jacket and handed it over.
Hearing Anton’s words, Sarah immediately snatched the agreement away: “Are you stupid? She killed my granddaughter, and I’m being generous by not demanding compensation from her. When you divorce, all the family assets should stay with us. How can you let her take advantage?”
Sarah shrewdly started calculating with me, finally demanding I pay them five million dollars in compensation.
Hearing that figure, my disgust for Sarah could no longer be contained.
I sneered: “Five million dollars? Why don’t I just give you a hundred million while I’m at it.”
“That wouldn’t be out of the question either. Otherwise, when you’re sentenced to death, it’ll be too late even if you beg us for forgiveness.” Sarah looked somewhat smug, as if everything was under her control.
Diana had clearly assumed the role of mistress of the house: “As you can see, our family doesn’t welcome you. You’d better worry about how you’re going to defend yourself in court and try for a death sentence commutation. We’re both women–making a scene here doesn’t look very dignified.”
Chapter 4
“Making a scene?” I laughed coldly, looking at Anton. “You think I’m making a scene too, don’t you?”
He remained silent, but I already understood: “I’m only here today to get one thing. Once I have it, I’ll leave.”
Sarah said, “There’s nothing of yours here. You better get lost.”
Sarah kept interrupting me, making me increasingly irritated. Thinking of what I’d read in Anna’s diary, my anger became impossible to suppress: “Old hag, can you shut your mouth!”
Sarah clearly hadn’t expected me to yell at her. Just as she was about to explode, Anton stopped her: “Just hurry up!”
He cleared a path for me. I couldn’t be bothered with the others and walked straight into Anna’s room.
Pushing open the door, familiar furnishings came into view— walls covered with certificates filled with teachers‘ praise for
her.
Walking to the desk, I picked up the only photo of her and me together, and felt some regret.
I thought: “I was so stupid. She was so well–behaved–how could she have harmed me?”
Write your comment
