Chapter 3

Was this really the son I'd treasured more than my own life and raised so lovingly since he was little?

Naomi kicked me again.

The pain in my body was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

"You old hag, you sure are thick-skinned!

"Let me tell you something. Jon's coming to vocational school with me, and that's final. If you dare try to stop us again, I'll beat you to death!"

Just then, the minute hand on the wall clock reached twelve. The university application portal had closed. Even if he wanted to change his choice now, there was no chance left.

I closed my eyes and said weakly, "From now on, I won't have anything more to do with his life."

Jon laughed on the spot. "Mom, you really were asking for it. Seems all it took for you to behave was one good beating."

Naomi wrapped her arms around his waist. "Jon, let's go. I promised to take you to a bar to see a bit of the world. We can't let this old hag ruin our mood."

As I watched my son follow her out without a moment's hesitation, the last shred of hope I had for him shattered.

I took out my phone and called a real estate agent. "Sell the house I'm living in. The sooner, the better."

"Laura, didn't you just buy this place two years ago? You spent over 40,000 dollars on the renovations alone. You'll lose a lot of money if you sell it now."

I had made up my mind. "As long as it sells fast, I don't care how much I lose."

I had bought this house in the first place to give Jon a safety net, something to fall back on.

But now, there was no need for that.

The agent moved fast. Early the next morning, he brought over a couple to see the place.

He was startled when he saw the state I was in. "Laura, what happened to you?"

I smiled. "I just got bitten by a dog I'd raised for years. I've decided I don't want that dog anymore."

The agent looked confused, but he could tell I didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't ask any further.

The sale went smoothly. I sold it for ten percent below market value, renovations included.

The buyers quickly transferred the deposit, and we agreed to complete the title transfer the next day.

As I saw them out, I happened to run into Jon, who had stayed out all night and was only now coming home.

He reeked of alcohol and had suggestive red marks on his neck. He looked at me and asked, "Mom, who are they?"

I pulled my gaze away from his neck and said flatly, "Friends."

Jon didn't think twice. He plopped down on the sofa and yelled at me, "I'm starving. I've had nothing but alcohol and soda since last night. Hurry up and make me something to eat."

I stood there and looked at him for a few seconds, then turned and walked into the kitchen.

I would let today be the last lunch we ever shared as mother and son.

I made all of Jon's favorites: chicken-fried steak, garlic butter shrimp, sautéed snap peas, and a baked egg custard with ground beef.

Jon wolfed it all down. When he was done, he tossed his bowl aside and grinned. "Mom, give me 1,500 dollars! Tomorrow's Naomi's birthday, and I want to get her the newest iPhone."

I looked at him quietly, and the whole thing struck me as laughable.

The son I'd raised with my own hands had never given me so much as a single flower. Now he was asking me for 1,500 dollars to buy a present for the person who had beaten me the day before.

When I didn't say anything, Jon's face darkened.

"What's with the silence? Are you itching for another beating? Believe me, I'll call Naomi over here to beat you up again.

"Hurry up and give me the 1,500 dollars, or don't expect me to take care of you when you're old!"

I gave a self-mocking smile, picked up my phone, and transferred the 1,500 dollars to him.

Once he got the money, Jon was finally satisfied. "That's more like it!"

The next day, Jon and I left the house at the same time. I went to the county recorder's office to complete the title transfer, while he went to celebrate Naomi's birthday.

Two hours later, the transfer was done. I looked at the extra 140,000 dollars sitting in my bank account.

Then I took a taxi straight to the airport and bought a plane ticket abroad to Freugen.

When I was young, I never let myself relax for a single moment, all for the sake of my child and for the sake of getting by.

Starting today, I was going to live a life that was truly my own.

Three days later, after he'd had his fill of partying, Jon finally remembered to come home.

But when he entered the code on the door lock, it kept telling him it was wrong.

Jon banged on the door and leaned on the doorbell like a madman. "Open the door! Open it right now! Why the hell did you change the code?!"