While on my way to visit my mother for the last time, I was ambushed and robbed in an alley. When I tried to fight back, the attacker beat me severely. By the time I was rescued, I was barely hanging on. My husband, Devon Riley, missed my call for help because he was in a meeting, and he was heartbroken. He swore he'd never leave my side again. Meanwhile, my son, Jake, dropped to his knees, begging his mentor to come out of retirement to save me.

In the hospital room, I overheard Jake speaking quietly: "Dad, do you think it was going too far to hire someone to rob Mom just so Aunt Cleo could see Grandma one last time? Mom and Grandma have always been so close. If she finds out what really happened..."

Devon sighed and replied, "Cleo's someone I've never been able to let go of, especially since your grandma was his mother too. Your mom has always treated him poorly. That's why I took such drastic measures. As for your mom, I'll spend the rest of the time making things right."

That conversation made me tremble. Under these circumstances, there was no reason for me to stay in this family any longer.

The emotional chaos sent the heart monitor beeping wildly, drawing Devon and Jake's attention. When they realized I was awake, they looked panicked for a moment. But Devon quickly pulled himself together, his eyes brimming with tears as he said, "Honey, you're awake. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

With a furious expression, Jake said, "Mom, don't worry. Whatever it takes, I'll find those thugs and make them pay." To outsiders, our worried faces might look like those of a happy family, but their deeds cut my heart like a knife.

Suddenly, Devon seemed to snap into action and called for the doctor to check on me. The doctor entered, examined me with efficiency, and sighed, "The patient's left hand will never be able to handle heavy tasks again, and her injuries will take a long time to heal. Who could do something so vicious?"

I looked at Devon and Jake, echoing the doctor, "Yes, who could be so cruel?" They seemed hurt by the doctor's words, but their eyes betrayed a flicker of guilt.

After the doctor left, Devon tucked in my blanket, speaking softly, "Honey, just focus on recovering. Don't worry about anything else." Despite their apparent concern, I felt a chill run through me.

Neither of them mentioned my mother since I woke up, but clinging to a shred of hope, I asked, "How is my mom?"

Devon hesitated, looking away for a moment, then met my eyes with sadness. "Your mom passed away on the same day you were hurt."

I pressed on, stubbornly, "What about the funeral...?"

Before Devon could answer, Jake jumped in, "Grandma's passing was on such a special day. I made sure to arrange the funeral myself."

Listening to their lies, any hope I had faded away. I turned my head and closed my eyes, my voice heavy with disappointment. "Fine, I understand."

Seeing my distress, Devon gently said, "Honey, focus on getting better. Your mom wouldn't want you to harm your health over this." Jake added, "Mom, even though Grandma's gone, you still have Dad and me. You need to take care of yourself for us."

I wanted to challenge them, to ask how they could claim to care for me while doing what they did for someone else. But eventually, the medication pulled me into a fitful sleep. In a haze, I overheard Jake speaking to Devon again, "Dad, wouldn't it be too heartless if Mom found out Aunt Cleo took Grandma's ashes?"

Devon was silent for a long time before he replied, resigned, "I can't refuse Cleo's requests. Besides, if we don’t say anything, how would your mom know those aren't Grandma’s ashes? People used to build memorials just to have something to cling to—it’s fine."

Hearing their words, tears rolled down my cheeks. Devon quickly noticed and gently shook me awake, concerned, "Honey, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

I avoided his gaze, whispering, "I dreamt of my mom. She said she didn’t know where she was."

Devon was taken aback, while Jake quickly tried to reassure me, "Mom, you're just projecting your thoughts into dreams. You know dreams aren't real."

I looked at them and slowly asked, "Really?" Without waiting for a response, I answered myself, "Maybe they aren’t."

Devon and Jake looked visibly worried about my mental state, but I didn’t want to see their deceitful faces anymore. I closed my eyes again. After what felt like an eternity, I heard Jake's voice filled with excitement, "Dad, Aunt Cleo is here."

Devon's happiness was clear as day.

"Honey, your sister came to see you."

His focus shifted from me to Cleo, leaving my heart a tangled mess of bitterness and countless small pains.

Cleo was my mother's adopted daughter.

Fearing I would grow up lonely, she had gone to an orphanage to adopt a child my age. Initially, we got along well. Everything changed the day I discovered Cleo swapping out Mom’s medication. When I confronted her, she met my gaze without a hint of fear.

“Even if you tell her, do you think Mom would believe you?”

Cleo always played the role of the perfect daughter in front of Mom. Since that day, she frequently made me look like the bully. Now, my husband and son had chosen her over me, willing to hurt and deceive me for her sake. Cleo's visit had only one purpose, and I knew exactly what it was.

"Sis, how did this all happen to you? Mom waited for you a long time on the day she died," Cleo said with a concerned tone as soon as she entered the hospital room. "We were all so worried about you."

I stayed silent, watching her with a cold glare.

Ignoring my silence, Cleo turned to Devon. "Devon, could I have a moment to talk with my sister? Mom had some things she wanted to say to her before she passed."

Devon, always willing to oblige Cleo, couldn’t refuse her request. "Alright, you two have a good talk. Jake and I will grab a coffee."

Once the door closed again, Cleo let out a mocking laugh, making a sharp noise with her tongue. "The father and son really did a number on you. One call from me, and they actually turned against you."

"My dear sister, did you know? Before Mom died, she kept calling your name. You want to know how she died? I showed her a video of you being taken to the hospital, and she was so furious it finished her off."

I clenched my fists under the sheets. "Cleo, can you honestly say this is fair to Mom?"

Her eyes were icy, nearly overflowing with coldness. "That old woman never saw me as part of the family. Why else would she leave everything to you? She has no peace now."

With that, she laughed loudly. My eyes filled with tears, but due to my injuries, I was powerless against her. Cleo scanned me from head to toe, her hand pressing directly onto my wound.

"I wonder how long you'll stay confident, Evangeline. I fed your mother's ashes to the dogs. You'll never see her again."

I bit back the pain, refusing to let out a sound. Cleo wasn't bothered; she pulled a bracelet from her bag and dangled it in front of me.

I was visibly stunned. “No, give it back to me...”

Before I could finish, she let go, and the bracelet shattered as it hit the floor. I screamed in despair. "No..."

Seeing my reaction, Cleo chuckled with satisfaction. But in the next instant, she dropped to her knees among the broken pieces, covering her face with her hands, her voice filled with emotion. "Sister, I failed to care for Mom. Please don’t be angry. If hitting me makes you feel better, go ahead."

No sooner had she finished than Devon and Jake burst through the door. Their faces turned pale at the scene. "Cleo, what happened to you..." "Aunt Cleo, are you alright..."

Devon immediately asked Jake to help Cleo get checked out, their concern solely for her, oblivious to my wound bleeding through my clothes. "Sister, I'm sorry. I won't trouble you again," Cleo said, her eyes glinting with triumph.

Devon's face darkened immediately. "Cleo is Mom's daughter too. She’s grieving as well. How can you project your emotions onto her?" Jake looked at me with disappointment. "Mom, it’s really disappointing to have a mother like you. Aunt Cleo is family too, you..."

He didn’t finish, but the judgment in his eyes was clear. They were ready to take Cleo for an examination. She glanced back at me, her eyes filled with triumph.

Watching them leave, my heart felt completely desolate.

I pulled my phone out from beneath the covers. The recording app was still running. I stopped it and then dialed the principal.

“Principal, I’d like to apply for a teaching position in the countryside...”