10
Jessica was Mom’s daughter with her first
love, a man from a poor family.
Mom’s parents forbade the marriage. She
married Dad out of spite, getting pregnant
first to seal the deal.
Her lover disappeared.
Years later, he returned. Mom wanted a
divorce. She wanted to abort me. Dad told
her parents.
613
THE
Grandma Miller gave Mom a choice: leave,
but give birth to the baby first. Or stay and
inherit.
Mom reluctantly had me. But Grandma
wouldn’t let her leave with a newborn. If Mom
left, she’d be disinherited, penniless.
Mom resented me, and Dad, for ruining her
chance at happiness.
She continued her affair, giving birth to
Jessica four years later, after Grandma Miller
died.
Mom planned to leave Dad, but Jessica’s
father disappeared again, taking Jessica with
him.
They were gone for twenty years.
Then Jessica reappeared, claiming her father
had died years ago, spinning a tale of
hardship.
Miller Industries was about to go public. Any
scandal would be disastrous.
Mom brought Jessica in as a “charity case,”
insisting on adopting her. A daughter to
replace me. A good PR story.
୮
I objected. Mom’s hatred intensified. She
wanted me gone.
“Where is he?” I asked Michael.
“He left, refusing any help from Mark and
David. Sold everything he owned, rented a
small apartment. He’s been searching for you
ever since.”
“He’s the one who told me about the cancer.
That’s why I came back.”
I’d thought I’d severed all ties with my family
the day I discovered their betrayal.
But now, all I felt was a longing for my father.
I wanted his homemade noodles.
Michael’s phone rang. It was Mark.
He put it on speaker.
“Michael, have you found Sarah?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Dad…he had a brain hemorrhage. He…he
might not make it. He keeps asking for
Sarah.”
“He was always so healthy. How could this
happen?”
Mark hesitated. David grabbed the phone.
“It’s that bitch Jessica! She told everyone
Sarah was dead, then sold Mom’s shares to
our biggest competitor! Miller Industries is
about to be taken over!”
“Mom went to Dad, blaming everything on
Sarah, saying she was a curse. He had a
stroke right then and there.”
My fists clenched. My body trembled.
“Take me home, Michael.”
9
Dad lay in the hospital bed, barely conscious.
He saw me and reached out a trembling hand,
touching my face.
“Sarah…I’m so sorry… I always loved you,
but…I couldn’t… protect you…I’m so
useless…Forgive me…‘
99
L
“Dad, it’s not your fault. You’re the best dad
in the world.”
The door opened. Michael entered, followed
by everyone else. Mark, David, Mom, and
Jessica.
I glared at them, my body radiating ice.
Mom spoke first.
“You’re not dead.”
Jessica smirked.
“See? I told you she was faking. Does she
look like she has cancer? Mom, we were right
to transfer the shares. I knew she’d come
back and try to steal everything.”
Г
Mom nodded in agreement.
Mark looked at me, his face lighting up.
“Sarah, really? You don’t have cancer? Thank
God! That’s amazing!”
David’s eyes were red–rimmed.
“You scared us, Sarah! You went all out with
this act. But I’m glad you’re okay.”
I looked at them, one by one.
“Idiots.”
99
“What?”
“I said, you’re all idiots!”
L
“Mark, you always say you’re not as smart as
- me. But you’re the most level–headed one in
this family. Couldn’t you see Jessica was
playing you?”
“From the moment she arrived, she flattered
you, praising you constantly. You thought she
genuinely admired you? How naive! She just
wanted your support, a place in this family!”
“And you, David. The subtle flirting, the
casual touches. You actually thought she was
interested? Pathetic!”
“You were both pawns in her game! Weapons
she used against me!”
“Thank God you never actually got together.
That would have been incest.”
They gasped.
“What?!”
“Jessica is Mom’s biological daughter. With
another man.”
During my two months alone, I’d hired a
private investigator.
I needed to know why Jessica got the
motherly love I craved.
I needed answers before I died.
The truth was devastating.
10
Г
Jessica’s father had married into the wealthy
Hawthorne family after he left Mom.
When he died, Jessica’s position was
precarious. She volunteered to infiltrate our
family, helping the Hawthornes take over
Miller Industries.
Mom was horrified.
“Why? I’m your mother!”
Jessica’s mask dropped. She shoved Mom.
“Mother? You never raised me! Do you know
what it’s like to be a charity case? I hate you!
I hate you for giving birth to me! For giving
me a father who beat me when he was
drunk!”
୮
“You deserve everything you get!”
Mom collapsed, sobbing.
I dragged her to Dad’s bedside.
“Look! This man you’ve despised for forty
years is the one who truly loves you! Who
always protected you! And what did you ever
give him in return?”
“He tried to stop you from leaving with that
man because he knew he wasn’t good
enough for you! He didn’t want you to get
hurt!”
“You threw away a loving husband, a
daughter who craved your love, for a fantasy.
You’re a monster.”
<
The police arrived, arresting Jessica.
“You’re under arrest for conspiracy and
accessory to assault.”
Jessica was finished. A pawn discarded by
the Hawthornes, destined to rot in jail.
Tears rolled down Dad’s cheeks. He
beckoned me closer.
“Sarah…next life…find a good family…a
father who can protect you…
دو
I pressed his hand to my cheek.
“Dad, no. I want to be your daughter again.
Please, can we be buried together? I’ll put my
name on your headstone. Sarah Peterson.”
く
Mark and David knelt beside Dad.
“Dad, we’ll change our names to Peterson
too!”
Dad looked at us, then closed his eyes. He
was gone.
After the funeral, I knew my time was short.
I went to Mom, who sat in a daze. I opened
my arms.
“Mom, you never hugged me. Can I have a
hug?”
She embraced me, crying.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
L
Her embrace was warm.
I had no regrets left.
After I died, I floated above the cemetery.
Next to my plot were two more.
One read: Sarah Peterson, Daughter.
The other: Sarah Peterson, Wife.
Michael’s voice echoed.
“Sarah, I told you I wouldn’t let you be alone.
I’ll be with you, always. In this life, and the
next.”
“Michael, hold my hand. The path to the
“Michael, hold my hand. The path to the
afterlife is dark.”
