Chapter 4: Your Mother left you a Letter.

The crowd went quiet, each person trying to come up with their own conclusions, and yet no one spoke up for her.

Because it meant cutting ties with their business partnerships…millions of investments. They’ll rather trample on her innocence.

“Today is my birthday. Have you heard anyone among them wish me a happy birthday or give me a gift?” Sally continued, her brows furrowing as she looked around the crowd again.

“My mother is dead, and you all caused her death. She raised me single handedly and you think that you’re that special?” She sneered.

That's when Billy climbed up the podium and took the microphone from her.

“We're sorry about that. She's a little emotional. The years in prison haven't been easy on her.”

What the hell?

Even now, he was still taking their side.

“But we didn't forget her at all,” Billy added, a fake smile curling on his lips. “We have a very special present for her.”

Sally looked at them, surprised.

Not something again that had been discarded by Rita.

But she'd learned never to expect anything from them, and she didn't want anything.

Her dad held a cheque worth ten thousand dollars.

 “We love her as much as we love Rita, but we couldn't bring two cakes, so we are giving her this cheque instead.”

“Sally, just take the cheque and keep quiet. You're distracting everyone from Rita's birthday.”

Sally smiled as her mother's words twisted in her heart.

She reached out a hand, grabbed the cheque and tore it into several pieces before throwing them to the ground.

That money was enough for her to start something. In the past she’d begged for this. They’d told her she only came to the family for the money.

She swallowed her Saliva and never defended herself.

But now, she was not going to wash away their guilty conscience.

The sweet and easily manipulated Sally was dead and buried ..and she’ll earn her own money.

“I'm not to be bought with some cheque money. Listen, a family doesn't treat their own like you do. From today onwards, I disown this family in public. I'm no longer part of this family.”

This would cause a media uproar.

It would give the Weston family a scandal, Mathew's worst nightmare.

But she didn’t care ..because caring landed her in jail. Now that she held the employment contract in her hands, they’ll take her nowhere.

Sally produced another shaky laugh.

“I want to change my last name. It will never be something to do with the Weston family,” Sally said, placing the microphone on the table before exiting the podium.

The moment she went outside, the cold air hit her face. She took in a heavy breath, relieved to have the air sting her lungs.

It has been hours of tension, not knowing how she’ll defend herself.

“I did it…” she whispered.

“To hell with all of them? I got my revenge…but it isn’t enough. I’ll be a thorn in their flesh, working in the same company with them and living in the same house.” she said, hugging herself.

She wished it hadn't come to this. But she wasn't going to stand and watch them bully her.

She thought getting back at them would make her feel better, but it didn't.

Instead, she felt broken, empty, and a void deep inside her chest that she couldn't name.

Slowly, she stood on her feet and started walking.

She needed her mother. She needed to hear her voice and feel her hug…but she knew it would never happen, not in this life.

Anyway, she hailed a taxi and paid the fare with the only money she had.

Without thinking, she muttered, “To Pine Ridge.”

It wasn't far from the city. The car quickly made its way towards it, but she directed the driver to a place where she knew she would find her mother.

The cemetery.

She met an attendant, who looked at her and asked, “Can I help you with something?”

“I'm looking for my mother…” she said, her voice trembling. Her hands shook, and her body felt weak.

“Name?”

“Beatrice Willow” her voice cracked, blinking so that the tears wouldn’t flow on her face.

They denied her a chance to come to her funeral. She didn’t even get to hug her one last time …and now, she could only imagine her alone.

She paused, and that was when the attendant pointed towards her mother's resting place.

She knelt down and spent an hour simply crying, apologising for not being there when her mother needed her.

“It's my birthday, Mom. Won't you give me a hug? Won't you give me a kiss?” Her voice cracked.

She sat beside the gravestone and brought her knees to her chin, picking up dried leaves, dirt sticking under her nails but she didn’t mind.

The tears soaked her dress and as they travelled down her legs.

“If you were here, would I be this broken, Mommy? Why didn't you stop me from going to them?” she asked. “I know you told me to go to my parents, and now I regret it.”

She sniffed and discovered that it had already turned dark and she was the only one left in the cemetery.

“I don't care what time it is. I'll spend more time with you, Mom. I wish you could tell me what to do right now. I don’t want to see them …but I have to get back what they took from me .”

Staring into the darkness, a flashlight flashed from a distance, and the attendant she’d met before emerged from the shadows.

“You should go home. It’s not safe to be here.”

She didn’t even give him a look, instead her eyes remained fixed on her mother’s grave. “It’s been four years. Let me be with her for another thirty minutes. I promise I’ll leave.”

As long as she got an opportunity to escape that hellhole of a house…she’s more than okay.

“I have news for you,” he said, and Sally slowly raised her head and nodded once.

“Did my mother tell you something?” she asked.

“She knew she wouldn’t make it. So, a day after you were arrested, she gave me a letter. She instructed me to give it to you if you ever came to visit.”

“A letter…” She wiped her tears and grabbed the letter, stuffed it into her pocket, and exited the cemetery.