Chapter 5

A few words of praise did the trick instantly.

Joe cleared his throat and puffed out his chest.

"What's with the attitude, little server? You worried I can't afford it? It's just forty-two grand. My son-in-law can make that back in sixty seconds."

Jessica politely replied that it was standard procedure to confirm, then walked out.

Pleased by the relatives' endless compliments, Joe and Margaret didn't press the matter further.

While waiting for the food to arrive, Mary suddenly brought me up.

"Why didn't Hannah come?"

Margaret looked away in disgust, as if just hearing my name brought bad luck.

"Good riddance. I'd be thrilled if she disappeared off the face of the earth forever. Just looking at her makes my blood boil."

Mary took the hint immediately and joined in on tearing me down.

"I told you back then, once you got pregnant with Chloe, you should have just dumped the older one. She was adopted anyway. Who cares if she lived or died?"

"Well, I was afraid of bad karma back then! Getting pregnant with Chloe took so much effort, after all."

Standing nearby, listening to the two of them casually discuss getting rid of me as if they were talking about the weather, a deep chill settled into my chest.

Hearing my name, another relative, Susan, chimed into the conversation.

"Chloe is about to get married, but what about Hannah? Isn't she getting up there in age too?"

Getting up there? I'm only twenty-four years old!

Margaret turned to answer her, her tone dripping with disdain:

"That money-losing parasite does nothing but talk about work all day. Absolutely useless. She busts her back from morning to night, and at the end of the month, she only brings home eight thousand dollars. If you ask me, a woman should keep her eyes on wealthy men. Marrying into a good family beats working any day."

Hearing that, I cursed her out in my head.

I got promoted, you idiot! My salary is twenty grand a month now!

Halfway through the meal, Margaret's phone suddenly rang.

The moment she saw the caller ID, sheer joy spread across her face. She cleared her throat loudly:

"Quiet down, everyone! Chloe is calling!"

With that, she answered and put it on speakerphone.

"My precious daughter..."

Her excited greeting was violently cut off.

Chloe's hysterical, sobbing voice came through the speaker.

"Margaret! Joe! Help me..."