Library
Maghanap
Home / Emotional Realism / Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief / Chapter 5

Share

Chapter 5

Author: Moon Ash
Lisa couldn't believe it. The mother who was always gentle, always agreeable, who put Lisa and the children before herself without fail, had actually gone through with something this drastic.

Diane grabbed Lisa's arm, her voice shrill and impatient. "Well? What did she say? What's going on?

"What do you mean she sold the apartment? How could she sell our apartment?"

Lisa's son, Tommy, was yanking at the door handle, stamping his feet in frustration. "Yeah! Mom, how come my key doesn't work a
Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Nakaraang Kabanata Susunod na kabanata
Locked Chapter

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 8

    The doorbell rang a second time, a long pause before it, tentative and uncertain.A few minutes later, I walked to the door and opened it.Lisa looked up at me, and her eyes went red instantly. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say "Mom," but no sound came out. She lifted the bag in her hand, then lowered it again, unsure what to do with herself.I stepped aside. My voice was calm. "Come in."She walked in carefully and perched on the very edge of the couch like she was afraid to take up too much space. Her eyes moved quickly around the room, taking in how tidy and warm it looked, and something complicated passed across her face."Mom..." She finally choked the word out. "I... I'm so sorry..."The tears came, and she swiped at them with the back of her hand, but they kept falling faster than she could wipe them away."The apartment... I was horrible. And what I said to you was unforgivable. I don't even know what's wrong with me."It all came pouring out, months of bottled-

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 7

    I smiled, though it was a bittersweet one. "The way I see it, I spent the first half of my life living for my parents, then for my husband, then for my daughter. This second half, I'm living for myself."Lisa and Brandon are adults. If they're capable, they'll figure it out on their own. If they're not, then it's time they learned to carry their own weight. I can't do it for them forever, and I shouldn't have to."Everyone agreed. At our age, we all saw enough of the world to understand that while family mattered deeply, a healthy family needed boundaries, mutual respect, and gratitude.Endless, unconditional sacrifice didn't breed devotion. More often than not, it bred selfishness and indifference.Lisa's family lasted about two weeks in the motel before the mounting costs and the school situation forced their hand. They scrambled to rent a cramped two-bedroom apartment far from the kids' original school district.The neighborhood was loud, the space was tight, and with the older

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 6

    The room was noisy, the sheets were yellowed, and every detail stood in cruel contrast to the luxury they enjoyed in Costa Bella just hours before. Once the older couple and the children were settled, Lisa and Brandon sat across from each other, exhausted and lost."What do we do now?"Brandon's tone was sharp. "What can we do? Find your mother first. We'll figure out the rest after that. She really went for the throat this time and didn't even leave us a way out."All the frustration and resentment Lisa held in finally boiled over, but she aimed it at her husband. "You're blaming my mother? If your mother wasn't constantly making snide little comments and rubbing everything in people's faces, do you think I would have said any of that to her?""Why are you dragging my mother into this? You're the one who can't communicate with your own mom!"If you had handled it better from the start, or even just watched your tone, none of this would have happened!"The argument erupted. Eig

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 5

    Lisa couldn't believe it. The mother who was always gentle, always agreeable, who put Lisa and the children before herself without fail, had actually gone through with something this drastic.Diane grabbed Lisa's arm, her voice shrill and impatient. "Well? What did she say? What's going on? "What do you mean she sold the apartment? How could she sell our apartment?"Lisa's son, Tommy, was yanking at the door handle, stamping his feet in frustration. "Yeah! Mom, how come my key doesn't work anymore?"Her younger daughter, Millie, was terrified by the commotion and clung to Brandon's leg, sobbing. "Daddy, I want to go home! I want my teddy bear!"Brandon was just as overwhelmed, checking the floor and unit numbers over and over, half-convinced he had stepped off the elevator on the wrong floor.But the door in front of them was unfamiliar. Even the welcome wreath wasn't theirs.From inside, they could hear the faint sound of a television and someone cooking. Every detail was a co

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 4

    The line went dead silent. All I could hear was heavy, ragged breathing. A few seconds passed before the screaming erupted again, worse than before."Sold it? How could you sell it? That's our home! We've lived there for eight years! How could you do this without even talking to us first?"Have you lost your mind, Mom? Get back here right now and get that apartment back! It's ours!"I could picture her standing in front of that brand-new security door at Maple Ridge, face twisted with fury. Diane and her husband were probably standing behind her with their luggage, completely lost. Brandon was likely pacing back and forth, frantically checking his phone. And the two kids were almost certainly in tears, frightened by the chaos and their mother's meltdown.I cut through her hysterics. Every word came out measured and calm."The deed to unit 2702 at Maple Ridge has only ever had one name on it. Mine. Naomi Aldridge."Legally, it is my property, and I have every right to do with it

  • Driven Out: Daughter Thinks I'm a Thief   Chapter 3

    My mood lifted with every bite. There was something to be said for spending money on yourself.For years, I pinched every penny so I could help Lisa out, giving her family everything while keeping nothing for myself. And for all of it, she still looked at me like I wasn't good enough.Well, those days were over. From now on, I was going to enjoy my retirement.After dinner, I went to the mall. I bought myself a wine-red wool coat for 1,300 dollars. The color brought out my complexion beautifully.I stood in front of the mirror and couldn't help but marvel. I wasn't as old as I thought.I got home around 10:00 pm. When I turned my phone back on, the screen was flooded with missed calls and messages from the whole family.I didn't need to open them to know what they said. They wanted me to apologize for my behavior.For years, I swallowed every grievance to keep Lisa's life running smoothly. But they forgot something. I might be a mother, but I was still a person.And every perso

Higit pang Kabanata

Maaari mong magustuhan

Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status