All Chapters of Mom, I Wouldn't Go Back to You: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

After I shoved her away, Audrey Newman stared at me in shock. "Ella, it's me, Mom!"When I showed no reaction, she assumed I didn't believe her and quickly pulled a photo from her handbag. "Look. This was taken on the day you were born."As she spoke, she pointed at the heart-shaped birthmark on the baby's neck in the photo, then pointed at the matching mark on mine. "You've had this birthmark since you were little, haven't you?"My gaze landed on the photo and froze. The background was lavish, and even the blanket wrapped around the baby gleamed in gold. It was just that…I looked away. "My name's Salmonella, not Ella. This place is filthy and messy. You should leave as soon as possible, ma'am."Audrey looked flustered, panic crossing her face. She instinctively reached for my hand. "No, that's not right. You're my daughter. I—"Her words suddenly died in her throat. She lowered her head and looked at my hands—filthy, calloused, and covered in chilblains—then immediately let go.

Chapter 2

I coughed violently, feeling like my lungs were tearing apart inside my chest.I had no medicine, no cancer treatment, or even painkillers. Just getting diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer had already drained every penny I had managed to save over the past 18 years.I scooped up some dirt and covered the bloodstains on the floor. Otherwise, when my foster parents came home, they would lay hands on me again.My lips were pale, and cold sweat soaked my body from the pain. All I could do was grit my teeth and push through it. Somewhere along the way, I fell asleep.When I jerked awake again and saw the sun sinking toward the horizon, my body was jolted with fear. I stumbled into the kitchen in a hurry to start dinner.If they came home without a hot meal waiting for them, I would be…Before I could finish chopping the ingredients, the old wooden door creaked open with a groan. Then came the drunken voice of my foster father, Jack Lawson."Ella!" he growled. "Get your ass over her

Chapter 3

"Ella, welcome home!"Freya came out from a door engraved with a golden swan, smiling brightly as she grabbed my hand. She didn't seem disgusted at all. Audrey watched on with satisfaction."Come on. I'll show you around," Freya said, leading me around the estate.As we passed through a yard overflowing with flowers, she pointed to a swing set in the distance. "See that? Mom and Dad built it for me by hand when I was five!"I looked over. A small plaque hanging from the swing read, "Baby Freya's Personal Swing Set".Further inside, there was a round, marked platform with a pink airplane parked on it. I stared at it for a moment longer, wondering why it looked so different from the ones in the sky.Freya noticed my gaze and smiled. "That's the helicopter Mom customized for me when I was 12. I still can't fly it yet, but once I learn, I'll be able to."She tilted her head playfully. "For now, I just take it to school sometimes. Oh, right—the garage! They've bought me so many cars

Chapter 4

The dining room fell into a dead silence, broken by Audrey's quick, uneven breaths. "What did you just say?"She shook her head in disappointment. "You don't know how to be grateful at all! All these years of effort were for nothing!"Freya immediately stepped forward to steady her, gently patting her back to soothe her breathing. "Don't get too worked up, Mom."She frowned and turned to me. "Ella, how could you say that to Mom? She's been working herself to exhaustion for you all these years, to the point that her health deteriorated!"The welcome-home party is just to let everyone know that you're the true Robinson heiress! Why can't you appreciate the kind thing she's doing for you?"Freya's words came out so sharp and righteous.By then, Audrey's breathing had gradually calmed as she held Freya's hand with obvious affection. After taking a few deep breaths, she looked at me again."What did they even do to you? What could they possibly have done? I've been taking care of eve

Chapter 5

Audrey went upstairs and, under everyone's watchful eyes, knocked on my door. "Ella, are you ready in your dress? It's time to meet the guests."There was no response from inside.Her lips pressed into a tight line. Her gaze slowly dimmed into impatience, and her voice rose. "Ella, answer me!"At that moment, Freya came over, looking radiant as ever. She stood by the door and advised gently, "Ella, everyone's waiting for you downstairs. Mom even came up herself. Stop throwing a fit and open the door, okay?"Downstairs, the guests exchanged glances and began murmuring among themselves."See? The one raised at home is just different. Look at Freya. That's real upper-class grace.""Yeah, I agree. As for Ella, well…"Whispers and sighs made Audrey's expression grow darker by the second. Her knocking turned more forceful. "I'm counting to three. Open this door and get out here! One… Two… Three!"Silence.Audrey was so angry her breathing turned ragged. Freya quickly patted her back

Chapter 6

The sudden tragedy stunned every guest in Robinson Estate."My goodness! Something bad actually happened.""But how? Isn't it supposed to be her welcome-home party? How could she die in her own home?"Voices broke out everywhere, panic and disbelief spreading through the room.Freya simply stood there blankly, stunned to the core. Audrey wasn't, though. She kept rubbing my hands, her voice already hoarse. "Ella, you're scaring me. This isn't funny, okay? You're getting colder… Don't… I'm here. I'll warm you up!"At that moment, she didn't seem the least bit revolted by my calloused, cracked, and rough skin. For once, she held my hands as any mother would.I stood beside her, unable to describe what I felt.For 18 years, the concept of maternal love was foreign to me. Ingrid had always been abusive, laying hands on me at the slightest thing. No matter how obedient I was, she never once looked at me kindly.Back then, I thought it was my fault and that I wasn't good enough. So, I

Chapter 7

At Kingston Forensic Center, Audrey stood motionless in front of a set of heavy doors. It was as if she believed that if she blinked, the body inside would disappear forever.Arthur wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. We'll wait for the forensic report and finally bring Ella justice. I won't let anybody who hurt her get away with it."She nodded, but her face was ashen. There was almost no light in her eyes.Freya sat nearby, her fingers tightly intertwined in her lap. Every so often, her gaze drifted toward the autopsy room, her expression unreadable.I had come, too, not because I wanted to, but for some reason, my soul seemed bound to Audrey. I couldn't move more than a few yards away from her.A weightless sigh escaped me. I had no idea when this absurd situation would finally end.Audrey stared at the floor, her eyes unfocused. "Why were there so many scars on Ella's body? Do you think that couple abused her?"She looked up, tears gathering in her eyes. "Do y

Chapter 8

Audrey sat quietly beside me. Taking my stiff, lifeless hand, she wrapped hers around it and pressed it against her cheek. "It was my fault."A bitter laugh escaped her lips. She showed no disgust toward the hand covered in chilblains, scars, and years of hardship. Instead, she raised her free hand and slapped herself across the face.She kept thinking about everything she had overlooked. She had seen the signs, so why hadn't she asked or looked deeper? Why wasn't the first thing she did after bringing me home a full medical examination?The regret twisted through her chest like a knife. "It was all my fault, Ella…"She choked on a sob. "When I was growing up, my father placed all his hopes on me. I was raised under strict expectations. But no matter how hard I worked, he only ever loved my brother and never me."Pain filled her eyes. "When you were born, your uncle's baby was born, too. I wanted to prove myself. I couldn't win the things I wanted for myself, so I wanted you to wi

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