Not satisfied yet, she raised her hand to poke
the baby’s forehead.
At first, the baby didn’t react, but as she
pushed harder, it started to scream.
Then, it suddenly stopped.
I said, “He’s just a baby. Be careful. Look
what you did!”
Aunt Carol didn’t care. “That’s nothing. When
your cousin Jake was a kid, he just ate
whatever he could find. He ate from the trash.
He’s so strong and healthy, he’s not that
delicate.”
“You are rich, so you can raise him. We’ll get
“You are rich, so you can raise him. We’ll get
by.”
I tried to say something, but Grandma interrupted. “Your aunt is right. There was nothing when kids are getting born. That’s how you raise kids.”
She tapped the floor with her cane. “Look at
all your clothes. Aren’t they expensive? You’d
think we were raising a princess!”
“You should learn from your aunt. Then your
mother–in–law will like you.”
Aunt Carol acted nice to her, pretending to
get along.
Then, Aunt Carol remembered something,
glanced at me, and nodded at Grandma.
ᄀ
Grandma coughed and said, “Lisa, tell your
dad to give the Zhao project to your cousin.
He is old enough, and needs something to
do.”
I looked at them suspiciously. How did they
know?
I thought that was meant to be kept secret, but I guess nothing ever truly is.
Also, Jake has been a lazy bum for years, just
clocking in and out of work.
I didn’t want to say anything.
Aunt Carol got nervous and tugged at
Grandma’s clothes.
<
Grandma glared at me, and commanded me
to do it.
“Don’t you respect my words? Do it.”
“It’s not that I don’t respect your words. I’m just not able to talk to my dad, he is the
boss!”
“Also, it doesn’t make sense to have my
cousin doing the work, leaving the daughters
hanging!”
“People might think that my cousin is my
dad’s bastard, just pretending to be in my
uncle’s family.”
Aunt Carol knew that I knew, and quickly left,
taking Shelly with her.
<
When Dad found out, he slammed his hand on
the table. “Lisa, you went to college, and now you’re too good for me, don’t listen to me? Apologize to your aunt!”
I admired my new manicure, not even looking up. “No. They eat our food, wear our clothes, and live in our house. Now they want to steal the company? Not a chance!”
“What? I’m going to get Jake to do it. Get the Zhao project, and I’m giving it to him!”
That afternoon, Dad had his secretary bring
Jake in to put him in charge of the project.
I knew what Aunt Carol was doing.
