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I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home
I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home
Author: Helen Harlow

Chapter 1

Author: Helen Harlow
"What's the matter, Rene?"

My husband, Kevin Garrett, sounded anxious on the other end of the line. I just looked at the room full of people and replied calmly, "It's nothing. I'll explain on the way back. You can just forget about bringing the gifts over."

Then, I hung up.

Mom was frantic.

"What do you mean by telling him to forget about it? It's just a damn persimmon! Must you be so petty about everything?

"Don't you know just how hard it's been for Vivian? What's wrong with you giving up your portion to her?

"Your dad and I raised you for years with so much hardship, and this is how you repay us?"

I stared intently into her eyes, remaining silent. Mom then realized she had spoken too harshly and quickly softened her tone, taking my hand and speaking to me more gently.

"I was just too anxious. That's why I spoke like that. But Viv has been the one taking care of us ever since you got married. Don't you know that what you're doing is making things awkward for both her and us?

"Just go and apologize properly to Viv later and give her 500 dollars for her trouble. We'll then call it quits. Your dad and I aren't getting any younger now. Don't keep making us angry for no reason."

She sounded like she was pleading with me, but I only looked around at all the electrical appliances I had bought for them, the house I paid for, and the clothes and accessories they were wearing—all of which I had also paid for.

I laughed out loud.

So, as it turned out, none of the things I spent a fortune on buying for them measured up to Vivian Andrews' effortless "companionship".

Mom thought that my silence meant that I was willing to compromise, so she pulled me back into the living room, where everyone else was.

Just then, I noticed the gold bracelet on Vivian's wrist. It looked exactly like the one that I'd bought for Mom.

Vivian also felt my eyes on her, and a smug look crossed her face. Yet, she quickly masked it with an aggrieved look.

"Irene… About t-the bracelet… I-I just tried it on because I thought it looked nice on Mom's wrist. But don't worry. I'll return it to her very soon.

"Also… You don't have to apologize to me for the persimmon. I was never really a part of the Sherman family anyway…"

Her eyes were wet with tears as she spoke in a choked voice, as if she'd been horribly wronged.

Mom instantly felt sorry for her and shielded Vivian behind her.

"What do you think you're trying to do? I was the one who gave the bracelet to Viv! If you're going to yell at anyone for it, then it should be me!

"Also, this is something that you bought for me, which means it belongs to me now, and I can do whatever I want to it as I wish! What else do you still want from us? Can't you see that you've given Viv a terrible fright?"

I was stunned. I hadn't even said a single word, yet she was painting me like I was some form of hardened criminal.

Had this been in the past, I would have immediately apologized just so that Mom wouldn't fly into a temper.

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  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 9

    "Irene! Irene, you have to save us! The hospital bills are all piling up!" Cathy cried. "Isaac… He was such a dumb idiot! He and that bitch squandered nearly all of the money in the house!"Isaac stood awkwardly to the side, wringing his hands anxiously. "Irene, I know that what I did in the past was wrong… I-I promise that we'll return the money to you! Can't you just lend us the money to cover Mom's and Dad's medical bills first? They're about to be taken off their meds!"I looked at him. "Where's my 480,000 dollars?"Isaac's face turned red. "The house… and the truck… They can't be sold off and liquidated that quickly! Just give us the money to tide things over for now! We'll repay you once we've sold them off!""In that case, I have nothing else to say to you," I said, turning to leave.Isaac grabbed me and dropped to his knees, sobbing harshly."Irene! Please, I'm begging you! Mom and Dad raised you for years! You can't be so cold-hearted and abandon them like this! Are yo

  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 8

    The piercing siren of the ambulance echoed through the quiet neighborhood.Dad suffered a stroke due to a sudden heart attack. Meanwhile, Mom suffered a heart attack due to severe hypertension. They were both rushed into the emergency room.Isaac and Ivan both stood dejectedly at the emergency room door, looking completely defeated. Cathy folded her arms over her chest, a little distance away, looking at them coldly and mockingly.Meanwhile, Vivian had already disappeared, turning off her phone and refusing to reply to any messages. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.It wasn't until the afternoon of the next day that Mom's and Dad's conditions finally stabilized and were transferred to a ward.Dad was paralyzed on one side, and his speech was slurred. Mom suffered from heart damage and needed long-term rest.When they learned of the exorbitant medical and treatment costs and the need for long-term care, the reality finally crashed on them and crushed their last shred of

  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 7

    A day after Christmas, Isaac's phone lit up with a text message from Vivian while he was in the shower."See you at the old place tomorrow, Zac. We also need to discuss the eminent domain compensation. Mom said that it's about to be deposited soon."Cathy's mind went blank at once.What usual place? What eminent domain compensation?She trembled as she tapped into the messaging window to check the text history, but she realized that it was all empty. Someone had evidently deleted everything on purpose.She then recalled how Vivian occasionally flirted playfully or relied on Isaac at home, and how protective of her he seemed.A horrible suspicion surfaced in Cathy's mind.She didn't make a fuss about it, but she began quietly keeping a close eye on things.Isaac left the next day, claiming that he was going back to work. Cathy hailed a cab and shadowed him, eventually ending up at a chain hotel located in a secluded area.She watched him walk into the hotel lobby with practiced

  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 6

    "Irene, it's good to forgive and forget," Cathy said. "Mom and Dad are getting old. They can't take this anymore."See, you've also already slapped Vivian and taken out your anger on her. Let's just call it quits and take a step back, alright? We'll all compromise and just enjoy our Christmas dinner tonight. We can talk things out."I felt like I'd just heard the most pathetic joke of the century."Did you seriously think that I would still sit at the same table to share a meal with any of you?"I looked around at everyone, saying, "From today onward, I will not have anything to do with the Shermans anymore. I'm severing ties with you all."Let's go, Kevin."Kevin helped me up and glared coldly at the rest of my family. "This isn't over. I will be getting Rene's injuries medically and professionally assessed. You'd all better pray that she's alright."With that, he helped me out of the door to the suffocating place I used to call my home.Mom's upset cries and Dad's anguished y

  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 5

    I opened my eyes and saw that Kevin had finally arrived, and he had grabbed Dad's arm, kicking him to the ground."How dare you treat Rene like this! Do you all have a death wish?"Ivan snapped to his senses first and tried to swing a fist at Kevin, but he was sent flying with a kick. Isaac also tried to help, but none of them were a match for Kevin. They were both sent crashing to the floor in loud wails and screeches.Cathy saw that Kevin had gone berserk with anger and hurried over to me."Irene! Tell your husband to stop! They're your family members! Are you seriously going to let him continue beating them up like this?"I laughed."Did they even think of themselves as my family members when they beat me up just now?"Vivian was also shocked. She quickly crawled over to me and begged me for mercy."Irene! Irene, I was wrong! Please, tell him to stop! I won't ever dare to do it again!"I just slapped her hard."You're only apologizing now? Too late!"Vivian never thought

  • I'm Just an Outsider in My Mother's Home   Chapter 4

    "How could you do this to us? What have I ever done wrong? Where did I go wrong to have given birth to such a horrible and vicious daughter like you? I don't want to live anymore!" Mom screamed before rushing over to the table to bash her head against the corner.Everyone quickly held her back.Isaac's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me."Irene Sherman! Are you happy only if you completely destroy and tear the family apart like this?"Meanwhile, Mom kept trying to kill herself, and the rest of the family hurriedly brought her out of the room. Soon, only Vivian and I were the only ones left.She pretended to be concerned about me as she said, "You know, Irene, I never thought that everyone in your family would actually stand up for me against you over such a minor grievance."I guess you can pin the blame on me all you want, but you really should stop making Mom and Dad mad. They won't be able to take it."Then, she leaned closer to my ear and whispered, "But don't worry. I

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