Seeing her perk up, I added, “It’s rare, Dad
got the only one from his job.”
After I walked Aunt Carol out, I came back
and cut myself an apple.
The ticket was gone, just like I thought it
would be.
I bit into the apple, smirking.
This was just the beginning.
A couple of days later, Aunt Carol came back.
L
She asked Mom for a loan, but Mom said we
were broke.
Aunt Carol didn’t push it.
She changed the subject.
While Mom was out, she asked, “Is Beth
home?”
I pointed to the bedroom.
“She’s in there.”
Her eyes darted around again.
She slipped me two bills, told me to catch up
with Mom and pay her back.
know she wanted to talk to Beth alone
く
I didn’t argue.
I took the money and left.
Beth had been “paralyzed” for so long.
She thought nobody in her family would hurt
her.
She was totally defenseless.
She didn’t suspect a thing, and that’s on her.
Her sense of self–importance was out of
control, and she thought everything she did
was right.
Let’s see if she still thinks that.
Mer called when Sarah and Lwere shopping.
<
Mom called when Sarah and I were shopping.
It was rare for Sarah to go out.
She told Mike that I was going on a date with
the big shot.
I had to look good.
He reluctantly pulled out three hundred bucks
and told Sarah to take me shopping.
After I hung up, Sarah and I looked at each
other and grinned.
Sarah said, “Let’s go get ‘em.”
We rushed home.
Mom and Dad were sitting in the living room,
<
looking serious.
Mike let us in.
There was a red mark on Beth’s face, Dad’s
handprint.
I recognized it.
She was on her knees, clutching her phone.
When she saw me, she was like a drowning
person grabbing a life raft.
She crawled to my feet, crying.
“Aunt Carol said I could make a lot of money.
I took the money from the house to make you,
Mom, and Dad rich.”
<
“But then she vanished, and I lost everything.”
Beth choked out, “I also owe a lot of money…
Jess! You’re gonna be with a rich guy, right?”
“Go get the money from him! They said
they’re gonna break my legs if I don’t pay
up!”
“Please help me!”
I reached down and pulled her face up to
mine.
I said, “Why should I lower myself to save
you?”
“Because you’re my sister!”
“Mom said you should do everything for me!
<
You have to help me!”
I looked at Mom.
She looked away.
I looked at Sarah.
Sarah nodded.
I coldly pulled out the DNA test from my
pocket.
“Is she really my sister? Are you really my
parents?”
Dad had been sitting there.
Now he couldn’t stay still.
く
“Since you know, we won’t lie. Your mom,
who was my sister, died after you were born.”
“Your dad ran off. The court gave you to us,
so we raised you.”
Dad said like it was obvious.
“Now that you’re older, help your sister. You
owe it to us for raising you.”
I laughed.
“What ‘raising‘ are you talking about?”
“Sleeping in a dusty, dark attic all those
years?”
“Eating the same scraps as the dog?”
く
“Never getting any love from you?”
“Or all those times you beat me?”
I paused.
“I used to want your love. Now I don’t give a
damn.”
I threw my bank card on the table.
It had two thousand dollars on it, my entire
savings.
I said, “That’s it. From now on, I’m done with
this family!”
Beth watched me explode.
Che tried to grab Dad but be didn‘
but he didn’t move
<
She tried to grab Dad, but he didn’t move.
She tried to grab Mom, but she didn’t move
either.
Mike tried to step in, but Sarah stopped him.
She threw a divorce paper in his face.
She had already signed it.
Sarah said, “Being your daughter–in–law is
no better than being your daughter. I’m done
being your wife.”
Mike clenched his fists and tried to grab
Sarah.
Suddenly, a bigger hand grabbed him.
く
Old Man Yang was standing behind Sarah.
He was the driver who brought us home, and
Sarah’s old classmate.
Old Man Yang smiled.
“You have to be nice to women, right?”
Dad smashed the furniture and yelled, “If you
leave and don’t help, I swear you’ll pay!”
I walked out the door.
When I was far from the house, Sarah wiped
my tears.
She said I was free.
nodded and smiled at her
<
I nodded and smiled at her.
I always had a soft spot for my parents.
From now on, it’s every person for themself.
I never expected Dad to want me dead.
Now that I was leaving, I had to get my stuff.
Mike had been trying to get Sarah back.
He wrote her letters and begged her to stay.
Sarah didn’t give him the time of day.
Mike tried to use me, sucking up to me.
He wanted me to put in a good word for him
with Sarah.
く
I decided to go back home and get my things.
They weren’t worth much, but I was attached
to them.
Mike heard this and immediately agreed.
He took me home while Mom and Dad were
out trying to borrow money for Beth.
I was packing when I found my accidental
death insurance policy in the drawer.
Beth was the beneficiary.
I knew that it was over.
Even if he wasn’t my real dad, this many
years together meant something.
L
I finally knew what he meant when he said,
“You’ll pay.”
