Chapter 7
Leila hung up right after saying that.
Listening to the disconnected tone, I felt utterly lost.
What now? What should I do next?
Antonio, Leila, and my parents all felt like strangers to me
now.
As I was drowning in my thoughts, the door suddenly opened. My parents, who had been absent for a week, walked into the hospital ward.
“Gracie, how are you feeling? Any better?” My mother asked as she placed a homemade meal and some fruit on my bedside table.
My father pushed over a brand–new wheelchair, saying it was for me to use while I recovered.
Surprised though, I was touched by the sudden gesture of love.
“Mom, Dad, I should be able to walk soon. I’ll go home with you then,” I said.
My mother shot my father a glance.
My father immediately said, “No rush. Stay in the hospital for a few more days. Well, your sister and her husband are
staying in your bedroom now.”
110
|_ Chapter 7
11 288 Wouchers
I froze, asking stiffly, “Where am I supposed to stay then?”
My mother patted my injured leg, probably thinking it was the bed.
“You can stay in a hotel,” she said indifferently. “Or rent an apartment if you have to. Your sister is married now, and our house isn’t that big. You’ll have to make do.”
I didn’t know what to say.
We lived in a small villa, spacious enough for even the housekeeper to have her own room. Why was there suddenly no place for me?
Had I lost my place in my own family after just two years away?
Were these two people really my parents?
As I struggled to process everything, my father grabbed my arm and said, “Gracie, we actually came here to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?” I asked flatly, not knowing how to feel anymore.
After a pause, my father said, “Do you remember that bank account we set up for you? That money was meant for your wedding. But now that your sister is married first, we were thinking maybe you could use the money to buy her a house.”
My mother chimed in, “Exactly! Once your sister has her own place, you can come home whenever you want!”
At that moment, I finally knew why they had come to see me.
It was about my money.
110
|||
Chapter 7
A significant amount of money.
17 266 Mouchers
I first learned about that account when I turned eighteen. My father told me it was a special fund they had saved up for my future wedding, but if the family ever had financial difficulties, I would be expected to help.
Over the years, I had already withdrawn over 200,000 dollars for them.
Now, it sounded like they wanted me to fork over at least a million more for Leila.
But using my money to buy a house for the sister who stole my boyfriend? The very thought made me sick.
While I was in distress, my mother said, “Grace, when will you withdraw the money? We’re not asking for much, just 1,300,000 dollars. It’s for your sister. You won’t mind, right?”
My father frowned at me as he said, “Gracie, we saved up tha money for you. We’re just asking you to lend it. If you ever need it, we’ll give it back. Can you stop being so petty?”
