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Reluctantly,after paying up the fee of Jenna’s last year in high school,they kicked her out.
Months later,her teacher called Aunt:"Whatever your issues with Jenna,are you still responsible for her?"
"She could've gotten into a decent college,but now?"
The teacher fumed."Skipping class,staying out all night,hanging with that Leo Watts—a known..."
Aunt,worried,brought food and clothes to school.
From noon to 10 p.m.,she waited,finally spotting Jenna with a gang of punks,swigging bottles and singing.
Aunt couldn't believe this pink-haired,eyeliner-smeared woman was her niece.
"Jenna,why're you back so late?"
Drunk,Jenna squinted her eyes to see who was talking,then sneered,"Here to laugh at me?"
Learning Aunt came after the teacher's call,urging her to study,Jenna laughed louder.
"Study?What's the point?You're all like Sophia—brains fried from books!"
She grinned at one of the punks."Aunt,know who he is?"
"His dad owns the biggest auto repair company in town—and they owned Paul's factory!"
Jenna beamed."When I marry him,I'll be the boss's wife.Why study?"
She kicked Aunt's food bag scornfully."I don't need youpitying me.He gives me hundreds every day!"
"Take your stuff and stop bothering me!"
Aunt,full od disappointment,pleaded,"Jenna,let's forget the past.Come home with me."
She reached for her hand,but Jenna shoved her off.
"Home?That five-square-foot,windowless storage room?"
She sneered,eyeing Aunt's face."Aunt,your biggest failure in life was not using that pretty face of yours to marry a rich man!"
Her cold contempt was like a dagger stabbing at Aunt’s heart.
"How'd this kid turn out like this?"Aunt sighed over the phone.
"Aunt,she thinks she's found a shortcut,"I said."But can she handle the cost?"
Five years later,as a top PhD student,I was invited back for academic exchanges.
My schedule was full with conferences and tech talks.
Two weeks later,I met Aunt at a restaurant.
I barely recognized the stylish,confident woman—nothing like that timid daughter-in-law before.
"Aunt,divorce suits you well,"I congratulated her.
Four years ago,a late-night call from across the ocean came.
"Paul cheated on me,"Aunt said,eerily calm.
After her miscarriage,Martha and Paul deemed her"barren."
But the house was her premarital property from her grandparents.Divorce would get them nothing.
To"produce an heir,"Martha found a disabled rural woman to secretly bear a child,planning to trick Aunt into adopting it.
Aunt,sensing something was off,gathered evidence,catching them in the act.
On the day they went to get a divorse,Paul snarled,"What's your problem?I just made a mistake every man makes."
Martha mocked,"Emma,a divorced,barren middle-aged woman—who'll want you?I'll wait for you when you come begging us to take you in again."
"I just laughed,"Aunt said bitterly."Half my life,wasted on that trash,isolating myself from society to please them,reduced to this..."
"Aunt,it's not too late to start over,"I encouraged."Your cooking's amazing—why not start a blog about your life?"
Social media was rising,with agencies everywhere hungry for talent.
With my help,Aunt's unique style and creative recipes made her a million-follower influencer.
"Thanks,Sophia.Without you,I'd never have dared,"she said with gratitude.
"To show my thanks,want me to set you up with some young,hot guys?Guaranteed stamina!"
She winked at me mischievously.
"No way,Aunt!I'm swamped—have absolutely no time."I begged,changing the subject."The Gibbs haven't bothered you again,right?"
Her playful grin faded."Nope.Funny,they despised me for not bearing kids,but now,seeing my money,they want to cozy up."
"They even said they'd ‘forgive'me,asking me to adopt Paul's nephew."
She took a sip of her coffee."With all these hot guys,I'd be nuts to raise that old creep's kid."
"Oh,and your sister's still with Leo Watts,calling herself his company's first lady."
Aunt snorted."With her around,the Gibbs won't know peace."
I mused:Watts Inc.?They're at tomorrow's tech summit.
