Chapter 3Abandoned Hope

"That's fine," I said. "I don't care about the price. I just want to sell it as quickly as possible. Even if I have to take 10% below market value.

"I only have one condition. Cash purchase, with the closing completed within the next two days."

The agent, Lilianna Foster, paused for a moment before her voice turned businesslike. "Understood. I'll bring a buyer to see the house tomorrow morning at eight."

After we settled on the time and place, I hung up.

Meanwhile, Blaine's extended family group chat had turned into a full-blown session of tearing me apart.

"Just look at this. What kind of daughter-in-law skips out on joining her in-laws on Christmas Eve to stay at the hospital with her own mother?"

"Isn't she just inviting bad luck?"

Rosalia, whose profile picture read "Blessed and Grateful", posted several photos of the half-eaten dinner and began playing the victim.

"Tell me, Diane, how did I end up so unlucky? I got stuck with a daughter-in-law like this."

Blaine's aunt, Diane Ramsey, immediately chimed in, "Exactly. Look at our Hailey. No one even had to ask—she washed all the dishes on her own. That's what a good daughter-in-law looks like."

She proudly attached a photo of her eight-months-pregnant daughter-in-law, Hailey Ramsey, washing dishes in the kitchen. She had married into the family just last year.

My heart ached for her.

I started typing a reply.

Before I could send it, Aviana jumped into the conversation.

"Wasn't the whole reason Blaine married her because her dad was already dead? She only had her mom left, so there'd be no one on her side getting in the way of putting our family first.

"And now, before they've even had a chance to enjoy life, that unlucky old woman goes and gets sick. If you ask me, when people get old, they should have enough sense to die instead of becoming a burden."

Rosalia happily sent several voice messages.

"Exactly! That's my girl.

"When people get old, they shouldn't burden their children. What's the point of treatment? It's nothing but a waste of money."

Blaine silently followed with a thumbs-up sticker.

That was the last straw. I tagged them directly in the group chat.

"Mom, Blaine, Aviana, do you really mean everything you've been saying?"

The group went silent for a few seconds after realizing I'd been reading along.

Then three messages popped up almost simultaneously.

"Yes."

"That's right."

"I mean every word."

Good.

Smiling, I took screenshots of the entire conversation.

When Rosalia received her health screening report, I hoped she'd be just as sincere about not becoming a burden on her family.

…

Christmas was always the busiest as we hosted the family.

In previous years, I'd have been up by four in the morning.

Cooking, setting the table, getting everything ready for the guests—every job Blaine and I were supposed to share somehow always ended up on my shoulders because he could never get out of bed.

Rosalia, meanwhile, would walk into the kitchen the moment she woke up. She'd complain that I was too slow, too noisy, and that I couldn't even manage something this simple.

But this year, I didn't leave the hospital until 7:30 a.m. I met Liliana, and together we headed to the house for the showing.

"This is the property," I said. "The price is negotiable, but I'd like to close today if possible."

"No problem."

The buyers were a middle-aged couple eager to get their child enrolled in the neighborhood school, so they agreed without much hesitation.

"Great. Let's go in."

I pressed the elevator button.

Third floor.

My mom had carefully picked out this unit.

When the front door opened, only Rosalia was home.

"So you finally decided to come back? Who are these people? Who said you could bring strangers into my house?" Rosalia pointed at me as she shouted.

"You two go ahead and look around. I'll grab the paperwork." I brushed past Rosalia and motioned for Lilianna and the couple to come in. "The house was purchased before the marriage, so there aren't any ownership disputes to worry about."

"What house?" Rosalia grabbed my arm, completely confused.

I shook her off and went into the bedroom, pulling the deed and purchase records from the safe.

"Finished looking? Let's go."

I waved the documents in my hand.