Chapter 4

The air froze for a second.

Richard glanced at the paper on the table. Guilt flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by arrogance.

He calmly took a sip of red wine, then crossed one leg over the other.

"What are you yelling about? Is someone dead?"

Brenda didn't even look at the paper, continuing to wipe her precious son's mouth. "Oh, that? Richard used your ID for it."

Boom—

Even though I'd suspected it, hearing her admit it made my brain explode.

"Why?!"

My eyes burned with rage. I lunged forward and swept the fruit bowl off the table, sending cherries flying everywhere.

"How dare you use my ID for loans?! How dare you use my name to register a fraudulent company?! Do you even realize customs stopped me?! My education is ruined! My entire life is ruined!"

Smack! Brenda shot up and slapped me hard across the face.

The slap was full-force, and I tasted blood immediately.

"Elara Reed! How dare you knock over your brothers' fruit bowl?! You're out of control!"

She pointed at my nose, swearing self-righteously. "So what if I used your ID? You eat my food, wear my clothes! I gave birth to you and raised you, so isn't it only right that I use your things?!"

I clutched my burning cheek, staring in disbelief at the woman in front of me.

Was this really my biological mother?

"Eat your food, wear your clothes? I haven't taken a dime from you since junior high! Even when I had a fever of 104 degrees, you wouldn't buy me medicine!"

I screamed, my voice raw. "That's one million dollars! And a fraud record! You're breaking the law! I'm going to call the police and have you arrested!"

At the mention of "calling the police," Richard sprang out of the massage chair.

He rushed over, grabbed my hair, and slammed me to the floor.

"You little bitch, you dare call the police?!"

He kicked me in the stomach, and I curled up in pain.

"Let me tell you! This money is for your two brothers to go to private school! What's the point of a loser like you studying so much? You'll just get married and serve some man anyway!"

"So what if your credit is ruined? Your husband will provide for you! But your brothers are the future of the Stone family. They must go to the best schools!"

Richard's face was twisted in a sneer, spit flying onto my face.

Sweat poured down me from the pain. I turned to Brenda, my eyes holding one last plea.

"Brenda... that's my entire life... you're a woman too, how could you do this to me..."

Brenda looked down at me, her eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with disgust.

"Stop playing the victim. Richard is right. Girls like you, with big dreams but fragile fates. What's the point of going to America? I've already found you a good match."

She coldly delivered my death sentence.

"Mr. Henderson from the East side. He's sixty, and his previous three wives passed away, but he's rich! He's willing to pay a five hundred thousand dollar dowry to marry you."

"You'll pack your bags tomorrow and marry him. That five hundred thousand will cover your brothers' private school tuition, and Mr. Henderson can slowly pay off the rest of your online loans."