Chapter 4

This was too suspicious. Even though that heart instinctively seeking maternal love trembled slightly, I couldn't possibly listen to her.

I'm not an idiot! Suddenly asking me to stay home—who knows what scheme Lily might have put her up to!

I flatly refused. She tried persuading me a few more times but surprisingly didn't force me to stay when I left.

My suspicions only grew.

So the next day, when Mom called asking me to come home for lunch, I hesitated, sent my boyfriend a text letting him know, then went home anyway.

"Emma, look! Mom made a whole table of your favorite dishes! Go wash your hands and eat."

As soon as I walked in, Mom enthusiastically and affectionately helped me with my bag and coat.

Dad, who'd always been invisible at home, actually sat at the dining table serving me rice, looking at me like I was some kind of prize.

But my heart, which had warmed slightly, turned ice cold when I saw the food on the table.

I dodged Mom's attempt to pull me along:

"My favorite dishes? Radish, onions, and green beans—did you pick these up from the market?"

"What are you being picky about..."

Mom instinctively flew into a rage to scold me, but forcibly stopped herself. She wiped at nonexistent tears:

"All our money is going toward the ransom, we can only afford these... What are you doing?!"

Ignoring her, I yanked open the refrigerator. It was packed full of crabs and lobsters. I turned back:

"This is what you call having no money?"

Mom's expression darkened instantly. She angrily pried my hand away and slammed the refrigerator door shut with a "bang":

"Those are all Lily's favorites. She's been kidnapped and traumatized—I'm buying her some good food in advance. Is that wrong? Are you competing over this too?"

"Crabs are cold in nature, and aren't you allergic to lobster anyway? What are you trying to eat—you're so greedy!"

I looked at the scratch marks she'd clawed into my hand, my face completely cold:

"What exactly do you want?"

What allergies, what cold nature—when I first came back, everything I did was timid and careful. Eating too much got me scolded, trying to please was despised, everything was wrong!

Lily gets delicacies prepared for her, while I only deserve stir-fried radish and onions!

"Since you asked, Mom won't hide it."

She dropped the pretense of maternal kindness, sitting on the sofa imperiously:

"We're still three hundred thousand short for Lily's ransom. It just so happens John's son is getting married, and he's willing to pay over three hundred thousand as a marriage gift to marry you! Your dad and I already agreed. This afternoon they're coming to take you to register!"

"Tomorrow's the last day—we can't delay Lily's ransom any longer! As the older sister, shouldn't you make some sacrifices? Besides, John's family is wealthy—marrying into it would be a blessing for you!"

John's son?

I was so angry my vision blurred. Everyone knew about John's super-male syndrome son who was always sinister and violent, beating his wives until they miscarried and broke limbs. Anyone wanting a divorce had to shed blood and tears!

And this is called a blessing? Should I also be grateful that I'm worth three hundred thousand and sold for a good price?

I furiously swept everything off the table. Dishes and food crashed to the floor:

"Why should I marry that super-male! Whoever wants to use a marriage gift to save Lily should marry him themselves!"

"Mom, didn't you say it's a blessed life? Then you marry him. After all, saving Lily is most important, right? As a mother, shouldn't you sacrifice something too?"

After this outburst, I ignored my parents' shocked and furious expressions, stepped over the mess, and tried to leave.

But amid Mom's venomous screeching curses, something struck the back of my head hard. My vision went black as I collapsed to the ground.

Mom casually picked up my buzzing phone, but when she saw the caller ID, her pupils contracted and she threw the phone away in fright.