Chapter 4

On the way back.

I sat in the back seat, silent.

My dad gripped the steering wheel, his face grim.

Only my mom wiped away tears, rambling incessantly.

"Who knew that thing couldn't be taken? Who knew?! It was right there, easy to pick… If you didn't want people to take it, you should hang it higher!"

"The park is also to blame, there were so many hanging on that tree, what's wrong with me taking just one?"

"Wasn't I just thinking the charm had a good meaning, wanting to bring a little good luck to the family?"

"Why is it all my fault? How was I supposed to know they had security scanners at the entrance that could detect it?"

In all my memories, growing up.

My mom had always been like this.

She had her own unique understanding of the world.

She'd act according to her own rules, assuming they were universal.

Never considering anyone else's feelings.

Even if she ended up hurting others.

She would always justify everything she did as being "for your own good."

I always thought.

My mom was just ignorant and naive.

It wasn't until my past life, when she caused my death, that I finally understood.

My mom actually knew right from wrong.

She just chose to elevate her own ignorance above normal rules.

Through feigned weakness and kindness, she would emotionally blackmail everyone connected to her.

"Chloe! I distinctly remember putting that wind chime in *your* bag! Did you know about it all along?! Is that why you deliberately swapped bags with your dad?! Making him lose face in front of all those people!"

In a moment of desperation.

My mom threw the blame on me.

"Mom, it doesn't matter whose bag you put it in, if you wanted it, our family could afford to buy it. But since you were the one who put it there, why didn't you just admit it? Why did you let Dad argue with those people for so long?"

"Explain what?! I had good intentions, why should I explain?! I'm not like you! My heart is entirely for this family! For all these years, has anyone ever cared about me? Has anyone ever paid attention to me?"

With that, my mom habitually began to sob again.

As if the entire world was against her innocent self.

My dad slammed on the brakes, stopping the car on the side of the road.

He raised his hand and slapped my mom next to him several times.

Then he glared at me, seething, and said,

"Aren't you two embarrassing enough?! You two worthless deadweights! I must have had the worst luck to be stuck with you! If you embarrass me again! Get out, both of you!"

See?

My dad, as always.

Didn't care about right or wrong.

Only about his own cheap pride.