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Zachary whispered, "Should we…? She's still your mom. It's the brainwashing. It's not really her."
"Let's go. It's her choice. Dad couldn't save her. I can't save her. She had a thousand chances to leave. She chose to stay."
As I walked away, she stamped her foot, yelling after me, "I have no daughter! You'll regret this!"
I wouldn't regret it. But she would.
Time passed. Mom devoted herself to my grandparents. No contact. I never expected to see her again under such circumstances.
Leo, fresh out of prison, wearing gloves, pressed a knife into her hand.
"Aunt Lydia, you said you'd do anything for me."
After the trial, Zachary and I focused on us.
We got pregnant again.
It felt like my little girl had come back.
I slowly stepped back from the company, resting. Then, Grandma called.
Mom had collapsed. She and Grandpa refused to take her to the hospital.
She was still my mother.
I couldn't just let her die.
After an ambulance couldn't locate the address, I drove to my grandparents' place.
I was tied to a chair. My supposedly unconscious mother stood before me, holding a knife.
I looked at her trembling hands. "Are you going to kill me, Mom?"
She shook her head wildly.
"No! I just… I need you to help your cousin. You ruined his life! He got out and can't find work anywhere!"
"And? What do you want me to do? Give him shares in our company, like you said before?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Yes! You agree? I'll untie you right now!"
She moved to cut the ropes. Oh, Mom. It's not that simple anymore.
Grandpa stepped forward and slapped her.
She clutched her face, confused.
"Dad… Lily said she'd help Leo…"
Grandpa's face was dark.
He gave her a look of disgust, then feigned tenderness, stroking her cheek.
"Lydia, darling, I had to slap some sense into you."
"Your daughter put Leo in prison. She almost ended our family line. Do you really think she's a good person?"
Mom looked at me, hesitant. "But… I gave birth to her. I can't hurt her."
Another slap.
"Don't forget! We took you in! We gave you a life!"
"Your brother died because of your debts! You owe this family two lives!"
"But I—"
"But nothing!"
Leo kicked her. "Look what she did to me! She deserves to die!"
Leo picked up the dropped knife, forced it back into her hand, and pushed her toward me.
"If you remember the debt you owe, you'll do it."
I was almost curious.
"Killing me just gets you revenge. Then you all go down for it."
Leo smirked. "Once you're gone, Auntie inherits everything."
So that was the plan. Mom takes the fall. Leo gets everything.
Seeing I'd figured it out, Leo dropped the act.
"Your mother owes us. You're the payment."
Mom was terrified. She stared at Leo, disbelief dawning.
"You… you want me to kill her? After all I've done for you… how could you?"
