Jane’s expression.
Jane looked surprised at first, but when no one else was watching, she shot me a smug, victorious smile.
In this competition for family affection, I had lost.
“Here, drink some water. You must be thirsty.”
Mom offered me a glass of water and gently brushed my hair back, her smile soft and sweet.
I nearly cried.
Why was it only when I gave something to Jane that Mom treated me like her daughter?
I couldn’t help but wonder…
After I was gone, and when they finally saw who Jane really was—
Would they regret how cold they were to me?
–
When I returned home from the hospital, my son and mate were having dinner at the table.
“This cream of mushroom soup is amazing, Dad,” Mark said with a grin.
“Your Aunt Jane loves it too. We’ll bring her some after dinner.”
They were laughing and chatting, looking like the perfect little family. But the second they saw me walk in, everything changed.
“Why are you home?”
Leo Ashford set down his spoon, staring at me in confusion. The spread of food on the table seemed to hurt my eyes.
Mark’s gaze was distant, as if he were looking at a stranger.
That was when I realised that Leo knew how to cook, and he was good at it too.
I never knew that.
I used to be the one who cooked. The one who worked long hours to pay the bills. The one who held the house together.
But Leo always complained that my cooking was terrible.
Even Mark picked up on it. He started acting like I wasn’t good enough to be his mother.
I gave everything to this family—my time, my energy, my whole life.
And in the end, not one of them respected me.
Back then, if they gave me the cold shoulder like this, I would’ve snapped. I would’ve shouted, “Why can’t I come home? Why do you look at me like I don’t belong here?”
But not anymore.
I didn’t answer. I just started packing my things quietly.
When I didn’t answer, Leo hesitated for a moment, then walked over to me.
“Viola, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
His voice was softer this time, almost guilty.
“Your sister just started her treatment, and the Miracle Elixir is affecting her emotions. Makes her feel down. To keep her spirits up and to help with her recovery, your parents suggested that she and I go through the Marking Ceremony.
“They hope it’ll make her feel better.”
