Chapter 2No Free House

"Mom... Mom, what's wrong?"

When I snapped back to reality, Chloe's face had moved closer. She squeezed my hand, signaling for me to take the flowers.

I snatched the bouquet from her, pulled out the wish list, and set the flowers on a nearby cabinet.

Then, ignoring her startled expression,

I began reading every item on her extravagant wish list aloud in front of our family and friends.

"Electronics, travel, clothes, shoes, handbags, salon appointments, manicures, gifts for classmates..."

Before I could finish, several people had already started defending her.

"Helena, what are you doing? She's grown now and has her own taste. Those things might cost five or six thousand dollars. So what?"

"Exactly. Is it worth humiliating her in front of everyone over a few thousand dollars?"

One of Chloe's classmates made a face from across the room. "Chloe, your mom is so old-fashioned."

I ignored the scattered criticism and glanced at Chloe, whose face had already turned scarlet.

"Everyone, please be patient. I haven't reached the main event yet."

Chloe panicked, and the carefully practiced smile on her face cracked.

She knew the rest of the list couldn't withstand public scrutiny, so she stepped forward to stop me.

I let her snatch the paper away and tear it into pieces.

Then I calmly pulled out my phone, opened the photo I'd taken of the list, and continued.

"Chloe is also demanding that I give her a house free of charge. It must be at least twice the size and value of our current home. That would put the price at no less than $450,000, before renovations..."

"The list specifically says that once the house is purchased, only Chloe Collins may use it, and no one else is permitted inside."

"Chloe, who exactly does 'no one else' mean? Me?" I asked with a laugh.

Gasps rose among the relatives, and Chloe's face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

"Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars? She really had the nerve to ask for that?"

"Forget the house. Everything else on that list costs a fortune too. What kind of family does she think she comes from? She just graduated and she's already demanding property?"

"Helena, you need to discipline this girl. Look at what she's become, opening her mouth and demanding a house."

Chloe, meanwhile, stared at me with naked hatred, all her earlier pride gone.

"You're trying to ruin me on purpose, aren't you?"

"This isn't even about whether I have the money," I said coldly. "Even if I gave you that house, could you handle it?

"Giving you something you can't handle would be the real way to harm you."

"It was just a joke between me and my friends. I never forced you to buy anything. Why are you lecturing me like this?"

She roared at me, then spun toward the relatives.

"Who do you people think you are? You've probably never eaten at a place this nice in your lives. A bunch of broke country relatives who grew up on canned soup think they get to lecture me..."

Her voice stopped abruptly.

Before she could finish, I slapped her across the face.

"Chloe Collins, apologize to these people right now!" My tone left no room for refusal.

"Who taught you to speak to people that way?"

She clutched her cheek and stared at me through tears.

"What gives you the right to hit me? Dad and Grandma would never treat me like this!

"You don't deserve to be my mother!"

Then she rushed to the dining table, flipped it over, and screamed,

"I meant every word! You're all a bunch of useless old losers!" With that, she stormed out of the crowded ballroom.

I pressed my fingers to my aching temple and continued playing the role of the distressed mother.

"This is my failure as a parent. I didn't raise my daughter properly.

"I apologize to all of you on her behalf. Please continue eating and enjoy the rest of the evening."

Then I bowed deeply and knocked back three shots of bourbon.

The relatives' dark expressions gradually softened.

After everyone had left, I stayed behind to deal with the damage Chloe had caused at the hotel.

Then my phone suddenly rang.

"Aren't you afraid I'll go live with Dad after treating me like this?"

Chloe had obviously been crying.

"Go ahead. See whether he actually wants you," I replied indifferently.

Then I calmly ended the call.