Mom's Favoritism Made My Sister Drink Death

Every time Miranda Turner cleans her daughter Andrea Colson's apartment, something vanishes. A silk scarf becomes a gift that wins Andrea's younger sister, Sheryl Colson, a promotion; eight premium apples reappear in Sheryl's photos; imported mineral water disappears just as Sheryl, after five years, finally conceives. Andrea, a microbiology researcher, has learned to look the other way, even paying her mother to keep the peace.

But the missing water was never for drinking. It came from the Gorga River in Esithra, a toxic ecosystem of E. coli, V. cholerae, S. typhi and parasite eggs, meant for Andrea's research. When Miranda refuses to return it, Andrea warns that the thefts over the years are enough to bring the police. Miranda admits she took it, saying she cannot stand Andrea living better than Sheryl.

Summoned to Miranda's house, Andrea finds relatives demanding she apologize. She sends them a file: years of meticulous records of everything taken from her home.