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Each word cut like a blade.Yes,Mom longed to see us togetherto see me in a wedding dress.But that wish never came true.
It was almost her only desire after she became ill,yet Daniel always delayed,saying we'd plan after Mom recovered,not wanting to rush me.
I genuinely thought at that time that he had all his attention on caring for her.
At her deathbed,she held our hands,asking him to cherish me.
I saw his brief hesitation,but grief blinded me.
That hesitation revealed his true self.
Snapping back,I slapped him."You dare me beg forgiveness?"
William's health worsened.
One day,Laura came,begging me fro molney for his treatment,saying he was my father after all.
William had given me half his money,plus that large sum earlier.Most of his remaining funds were tied up in new projects,leaving him cash-strapped.
Mom said William grew up an orphan,losing his parents at a young age,and all his relatives weren’t keen to take him on so they mistreated him.
He was often hungry,even eating trash to survive,developing severe stomach issues.
Recently,Emily's situation left him sleepless ,and his health finally collapsed.
Seeing William,gaunt on the hospital bed, only a shadow of his arrogant self,I barely recognized him.
He called me over,teary."I've failed you.I don't know if I'll get the chance to make it right."
I didn't buy the"dying man's remorse."
It was just another ploy to manipulate me.Memories flooded back,filling me with restless anger.
"You're suffering now?Mom suffered like this.How did you treat her back then?You dare beg me?"
Laura wailed."Sophie,you're heartless.You’ve ruined my daughter,and now you’re gonna let your father die.You won't be satisfied till we're all dead!"
It was the funniest thing I'd heard.
"Emily deserved it.It's karma for your family.
I was going to help William,but since you called me heartless,I've changed my mind."
Laura panicked,stammering apologies.
I pulled out prepared documents."Sign over to transfer the entire Stone estate to the Morgans."
William sat upright."What?"
I laughed—a medical miracle!
"You want to make amends?Skip the fake fatherly love.Be practical for once.
You've already borrowed money from everyone you can,haven't you?No one's helping.
I'm your only shot.Choose:linger in pain or return the Morgan estate to its rightful owner.Think."
William coughed blood,agitated."I fell for your trick once.How do I know you're not lying?"
I called in the lawyer waiting outside.
"Lawyer's here.What's there to worry about?"
"You...came prepared?"he stammered.
"Of course.I’m never unprepared."
...
I told him that he was becoming slow with age.I'd consulted a lawyer—his abandonment and enabling abuse legally severed any of my duties left to him.
The lawyer was a prop for credibility.William,barely educated,bought it.
Now he'd taste the torment of illness.
...
I reclaimed the Morgan estate!
Mom and Grandpa could finally rest in peace.
I kicked William and Laura out of my house.
I renovated the house in Mom's beloved classic American style,replacing their family photos with ones of Mom and Grandpa.
I thought Daniel gave up after I rejected him.
But now he showed up everyday with flowers,ambushing me after work or at my neighborhood,begging fir my forgiveness.
I had sold my flower shop.I heard Daniel bought it back at a high price.
I recalled our days of hardship.I was a dreamy girl then,loving flowers and beauty.
Even then,Daniel didn't crush my romance,buying me$9.99 bouquets from street vendors.
I'd be overjoyed for days.
Later,I opened my own shop to continue that romance.
But flowers,however beautiful they are,will wither eventually.
So do people.Daniel was no longer that radiant boy in the sunset.
I laughed:"You're as rotten as your flowers."
