Chapter 5

On the day of the funeral, it rained.

The cemetery steps were slick. Mom was supported by Brandon the entire way.

Ashley held a black umbrella, walking ahead, her shoulders shaking as she wept.

The relatives whispered about how dutiful she was.

"Such a tragedy before they even got married. Poor girl."

"Arthur really missed out on a good daughter-in-law."

When it was my turn to lay down a flower, Mom blocked me.

"Don't touch your father."

Rainwater dripped down the ribs of my umbrella onto my hand.

The petals of the white rose in my hand were crushed.

"I am his daughter."

Mom’s eyes were filled with pure venom.

"He called you before he died, and you let him suffocate. You don't deserve to stand here."

The crowd began to whisper.

Aunt Linda tried to quiet her down. "Sarah, please, not today."

But Mom raised her voice even higher.

"I’m not the one causing trouble, she is!"

She whipped out a stack of medical bills and slammed them against my chest.

"The funeral costs are $8,000. The burial plot is $25,000. Your father owed another $5,000 to relatives before he died. If you don't pay your share today, don't even think about leaving."

The paper, wet from the rain, clung to my coat.

"I'm still a student."

Brandon scoffed. "So what? Don't you get scholarships? Don't you work part-time? You pay for your crimes, and you pay your debts."

Ashley added softly, "Chloe, Brandon and I have a mortgage to pay, and your mom only has us now. You can't just think about yourself."

Every word she spoke was soft, yet every word shoved me closer to the edge.

Aunt Linda sighed. "Chloe, your family is going through a hard time. Be reasonable. Don't be selfish."

Grandma Evelyn stepped forward under her umbrella.

"The law decides who inherits debt, not your loud mouths."

Mom snapped at Grandma Evelyn. "Shut up! If you hadn't spoiled her so much back then, she wouldn't have turned out this heartless!"

Grandma Evelyn began to cough violently from anger.

I reached out to support her, but Mom shoved me away.

"Stop acting like you care!"

Grandma Evelyn’s foot slipped on the wet steps. She began to fall backward.

I lunged and managed to grab her, but my knees slammed heavily against the concrete steps.

My umbrella rolled away, and the cold rain instantly soaked my hair.

Grandma’s cane fell into the mud.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

Mom froze for a fraction of a second, but quickly looked away.

"Nice acting."

My knees burned with pain. My jeans were torn, and blood mixed with rainwater was running down my leg.

Grandma held my hand, her lips pale with fury. "Sarah... you will regret this."

Mom laughed coldly. "The only thing I regret is giving birth to her."

Those words were colder than the rain.

As Dad's urn was lowered into the ground, Brandon, Ashley, and Mom stepped forward.

When I tried to step up, Brandon blocked me.

"You don't have the right."

Grandma Evelyn finally snapped. She raised her hand and slapped Mom across the face.

The loud *crack* echoed through the pouring rain.

Mom clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. "You hit me? For her?!"

Grandma pointed her trembling cane at the grave.

"If Arthur could wake up right now, the first thing he would ask is: Why didn't Chloe have access to her own home?"

Everyone’s faces changed.

In front of the headstone, Mom suddenly screamed and lunged at me, clawing at my clothes.