Chapter 4

From that day on, Mom became even more attentive, barely leaving my side. As for those six ungrateful brats, she didn't so much as glance at them.

One night, I was lying in the nursery, half-asleep, when I heard Joshua and the vile hag talking outside the door. "Mom, do you think Robin… has figured something out?"

"Impossible!" she responded confidently. "Everything you do has been flawless. What could she have noticed? She's just extra protective because her baby was born a few days ago. She'll get over it soon enough."

I pouted and turned over in bed. "Two idiots. Mom already knows everything. Just wait and see."

It wasn't long before Mom came back. She walked in and announced, "The kids are getting older. Starting this month, there'll be no more allowance. If you want something, you'll have to earn it."

Joshua and the vile hag instantly went pale with rage.

"Robin, are you out of your damn mind?" she shrieked. "They're still children!"

"Are they, though? Alex is 15 years old. Back in the day, he'd be going to war by now," Mom said. "The Finches don't raise freeloaders."

Ignoring their reactions, she scooped me up and kissed me.

"Yes! That's right! They leech off Mom all the time but try to mess with us? No way!"

Mom gently patted my back as she listened to my thoughts. Then, she turned to the six brats. "You all had better grow up well and protect Meadow. Understand?"

Joshua and the vile hag exchanged a glance and nodded. He smiled at them. "Mom's asking you a question. Answer her quickly."

They muttered an unwilling reply.

Suddenly, Joshua slapped his forehead. "Oh, man. I think I forgot to close the car door."

With that, he rushed out of the house.

"Yeah, right. He's probably running to tip off his mistress."

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, he returned.

"These ungrateful brats live off Mom, and now, they're supposed to protect me? No way. Mom needs to kick them all out immediately!"

Mom patted me gently. Before she could say something, her phone rang. She answered it, and her expression changed immediately.

"Be good, Meadow," she told me. "Something urgent came up, and I have to go."

She carefully laid me back in the crib, then summoned Joshua along to the company. "Mom, kids, please take care of Meadow and the house while I'm gone."

No sooner had Mom and Joshua left than the six brats crowded around the vile hag.

"Grandma, that woman went way too far!"

"Yeah! How dare she cut off our allowance!"

The vile hag spat on the floor. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Your dad calls all the shots in this house, after all. Once you're older, you'll take those shares from that bitch, and she'll be worthless!"

She nudged her chin in my direction. "By then, we can do whatever we want to this little shit."

I kicked my legs on the bed in pure anger and spat in her direction. Her eyes narrowed, and she darted toward me. She pinched my butt through the blanket, and it hurt so much I got tears in my eyes.

The six ungrateful brats exchanged a look. Then, Alex proposed, "Grandma, I think we should knock her silly. Once she becomes brain-damaged, Robin, that bitch, will have no choice but to rely on us."

The vile hag slapped her thigh, as if enlightened. "You're a genius, Alex!"

They snickered and ran to the bathroom, returning with a wet towel, grinning viciously as they advanced toward me. Alex grabbed my little legs and lifted me upside down.

"If anyone's to blame, it's your over-indulging mommy, little shit," Alex seethed. "Now that she's gone, no one's here to save you."

Seeing his ugly face, I shut my eyes tight, clenched my fists, and squeezed my bottom as hard as I could. A stream of yellowish pee splashed right onto his face.

"Ew! Grandma, she peed on me!" he spat and gagged, his eyes turning red with rage.

The cold, wet towel was swinging toward my face. This time, I couldn't hold back and let out a loud wail.

"Mom, save me! They're going to kill me! Mom!"