90
Sandra stormed into the bedroom, her steps impatient. She walked straight to the closet, crouched down, and quickly found the hidden safe. Without hesitation, she entered the password with practiced ease.
But her excitement turned to outrage the moment the door swung open.
The safe was empty.
She let out a furious scream.}
“That wretched woman! She actually dared to take everything!”
Then she sneered, full of venom. “But so what if you took the money? I can still sell this house you left behind!“}]
That’s Sandra for you–never acknowledging my sacrifices, never once recognizing that I had worked just as hard, if not harder, than her precious son Lucas. In her eyes, every cent in the family came from Lucas’s efforts. I was just a parasite./
She couldn’t stand the idea of me having a penny to my name. She was always pestering me in private–one day asking for money to buy the latest designer bag, the next for a down payment on another property.
And I gave.
Every single time.
I never mentioned it to Lucas, because I wanted her approval. I thought that if I was generous and respectful enough, she would finally see me as her daughter–in–law. I wanted her to accept me–as family.
Lucas arrived moments later, drawn by the commotion. His eyes landed on the empty safe, and a shadow crossed his face.}
He stood still for a moment, then slowly pieced it all together. He assumed I had emptied the safe out of heartbreak over Emily, intending to cut all ties and leave him for good. But he hadn’t expected the accident.
The thought of it made his heart twist.
Looking at his mother, Lucas suddenly felt drained.
“Mom,” he said wearily, “this house can’t be sold.”
多
”
A
This wasn’t just any property. It was the home we had built together after years of struggle–the reward of countless sleepless nights and early mornings. A home that carried both joy and pain, laughter and tears.
He couldn’t bring himself to give it up.
But Sandra, unable to empathize, snapped at him.
www
W
“What do you mean can’t be sold? Don’t you and Emily already have another place? The priority over a house?!“}
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I said no. This house isn’t for sale. That’s final.”
www
now is to save her! Why are you hesitating
Sandra looked at him like he had gone mad. The son who used to drop everything to protect Emily now seemed indifferent, even while Emily–pregnant with his child–was in danger.}
Ut no matter how he counted, the amount he had wasn’t
care about your own child?!“} “So that’s it?” she hissed. You don’t care about Emily anymore? You don’t Lucas didn’t answer. He sat down, pulled out his phone, and started calculating. even close to what Zachary demanded.
Sandra had expected as much–she had already thought about this before. Th had blocked that option too, and panic began rising in her throat.
in www
www
was why she suggested
selling
the house.
But now Lucas
www wwww
E
Thinking of her unborn grandchild and the danger Emily was in, Sandra clenched her teeth and made a decision. She pulled out her phone and initiated a transfer. Then she walked into the living room, placed her most expensive jewelry on the table, and handed over a folder containing her own property deeds.
“All of my assets are here,” she said firmly. “Take it. Save Emily. Save my grandchild.“}]
A flicker of shock passed across Lucas’s face as he stared at the pile of wealth in front of him.
“Mom… where did you get all this?”
He had grown up with her. She was a single mother who had always claimed to be scraping by. Even after their lives had improved, he knew he had never given her this much.
Sandra’s face twitched.
“What’s with that expression?” she snapped. “What, you think I stole it?”
Lucas frowned, still staring at the bank transfer notification. “Don’t tell me… this came from Zoe?”
She rolled her eyes, but didn’t respond.
“Mom,” Lucas pressed, “this isn’t just a bit of money. How did you get so much from her?”>
He knew I had money–but also knew I had spent most of it building the company, supporting his ambitions, and pulling him out of every crisis. That I’d still have this much left?!
Sandra’s face turned stiff. Her voice dropped a bit.
“It’s not like she didn’t give it willingly. She was just being filial, honoring me…”
“Mom.” Lucas’s voice was low and cold. “Zoe is dead. And now you want me to use what she left behind to save that. I won’t.“@
else? I can’t do
iHe sat back down, unmoved. He felt an unbearable weight on his chest. A guilt he couldn’t shake. He blamed himself for what had
8:59 AM
As time ticked by, Sandra’s frustration boiled over.
Finally, she snapped.
“Fine! Do you want to know? I’ll tell you!”
She slammed her hand against the table, her voice rising with fury and desperation.
“That money? It was the ransom Zoe raised when you were kidnapped!“}
