Chapter 3

I called the police first. Then, I called for an ambulance.

The apartment complex was clogged with traffic, so the ambulance took its sweet time getting there.

That suited me just fine. Let her suffer a little longer.

Caroline, meanwhile, panicked completely. She hovered over my mom, pressing on her bleeding wounds, muttering, “It’s fine, it’s fine. You’ll be okay.”

“Relax,” I said with an eye roll. “She’s not gonna die.”

Caroline shot me a look of disbelief. “She’s your mother! How can you be so cruel?”

I laughed. “You want her so bad? She’s all yours. Congratulations.”

Then, I grabbed a bag of sunflower seeds, plopped down on the couch, and waited for the police and paramedics to arrive.

My mom eventually made it to the hospital. She had lost a lot of blood but didn’t have any serious injuries.

When the doctor asked about her medical history, I quickly spoke up.

“She’s allergic to anesthesia,” I said with a straight face. “You’ll need to stitch her up without it.”

Caroline glared at me, suspicious.

I turned to her and smirked. “You should start thinking about what you’re going to tell the police.”

Caroline puffed out her chest, smug as ever. “Why should I care? I’m pregnant. What can they possibly do to me?”

I gave her a long, unimpressed look. “Sure, keep hiding behind that belly. We’ll see how long that lasts.”

Moments later, the sound of my mom’s screams echoed through the hospital as they stitched her wounds.

Pressed down onto the hospital bed, her face contorted in agony, her mouth wide open as she howled.

I watched through the window, feeling nothing but satisfaction.

The man who attacked her was quickly caught, and the police came to the hospital to take Caroline in for questioning.

As soon as my mom was wheeled out of the emergency room, I delivered the news with a big smile.

“They’re taking Caroline in to make a statement,” I said cheerfully.

My mom’s face drained of color.

“She… she can’t get a record! What about my grandson? What if he wants to work for the government someday?”

I shrugged, my voice ice-cold. “Guess that’s not an option anymore.”

Her panic was instant. She tried to jump out of bed, but her freshly stitched wounds tore open, sending blood gushing everywhere.

“Ahhh!” she screamed, writhing in pain.

She reached out to me, desperation etched on her face. “Help me! Emily, help me up!”

I turned away. “I’ll go get the doctor.”

I left the room, taking my time as I strolled down the hall.

When I returned with the doctor, we found her collapsed by the door, her bloodied hands leaving streaks on the floor as she tried to crawl out.

I couldn’t help but smirk and give her a thumbs-up.

“Wow, Mom,” I said. “You really are something else.”