Chapter 4

"Get down here immediately! If you get here fast, we might talk her down. Any later, and you'll be identifying a corpse."

"I don't believe you. You must be a scammer!"

Through the officer’s phone, I heard Chloe’s raw, exhausted screams:

"I don't want to live anymore! Leave me alone! My mother has treated me like an ATM my whole life, and I can't take this anymore!"

"My baby is dying, and my own mother won't help! She mocked me and demanded money! When I jump, none of you are allowed to give her another cent! I want her to drown in regret for the rest of her miserable life!"

Unable to bear it, Logan grabbed the phone from the officer:

"Mom, I'm begging you! I'll pay whatever you want, just please save Chloe!"

Over the line came the sickening thuds of Logan dropping to his knees, begging desperately.

It... was real.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.

Had I really pushed my own daughter to jump off a building?

When I arrived at the scene.

Logan’s mother charged over and slapped me hard across the face. "You dare show your face here?! You drove my daughter-in-law to this!"

"Chloe is such a wonderful girl! How did she end up with a monster like you?!"

She was trembling with fury.

Logan’s father pointed right in my face, shouting:

"I treat her like my own daughter! If she dies tonight, you're a murderer!"

I looked up at the roof. Chloe's frail silhouette swayed against the night sky.

"Chloe, step down first. Mom has something to tell you."

Seeing me, Chloe looked as if she were staring at her worst enemy.

"Stay back! You don't deserve to be my mother! I wish you never gave birth to me!"

Standing on the rooftop ledge, she waved her arms frantically like someone pushed past the brink of madness.

My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds.

"Mom was wrong, Chloe! When you were little, you promised you’d stay by my side until I got old! What about your baby? Have you forgotten about your child?!"

I tried to appeal to her emotions.

Instead, my words triggered her even worse. She stepped backward, violently shaking her head:

"Mom, I don't want to be your daughter anymore! Being your daughter is pure hell!"

"Chloe, don't!"

My vision blurred with terror, my hands clawing at empty air.

Thirty years of relentless demands had finally shattered every piece of her hope.

I hesitated, my voice trembling:

"You're my daughter... isn't supporting me what you're supposed to do?"

Chloe stared at my face for what felt like an eternity before breaking into a ragged sob:

"Mom, I only have one question. Why? Why did you treat me like this? Where did all that money go?! Are you truly so selfish that you'd sacrifice your own daughter and grandson?!"

A crowd had gathered below. Panic seized me.

I tried to plead: "Please, step down first. Mom will tell you in private."

"No!" Chloe took another step back toward the drop. "Say it out loud! Tell everyone! If you don't say it now, I jump!"

Words lodged painfully in my throat.

Logan, frantic, shoved me. "If you’re not going to help, get the hell out of here!"

I stumbled and nearly fell.

Someone carried the sick baby up to the roof.

Logan wept, pleading, "Babe, please! Whatever problems we have, we’ll work them out! If your mom keeps acting like this, we'll cut all ties with her, I swear!"

The baby wailed loudly.

Yet Chloe refused to step back. Her eyes remained locked onto me.

The answer she had spent her life seeking was held by me.

"What secret are you hiding?! Speak! Are you really going to let Chloe die?!"

Everyone stared at me with murderous, condemning eyes.

A bitter smile pulled at my lips.

"This is a secret... I've kept hidden for thirty years."