I also bought a villa in Rosewood Manor, the most exclusive neighborhood in the city. I moved in with my luggage and started enjoying a laid-back life.
One day, my mom called me out of the blue.
“Anabella, what’s the meaning of this? Are you seriously suing your brother, Howard?” Her voice was filled with anger. “You want to take those two houses and make him pay back over 600,000 dollars?”
“Why shouldn’t he pay it back? He borrowed the money, didn’t he?” I replied calmly. “Since you kicked me out, I’m not going to indulge you anymore.”
“Anabella, that’s your brother, Howard! How can you be so heartless and cruel?” she snapped.
“Am I your mother? Are you going to throw me out?” she demanded.
“No, you’re not my mother,” I said with a smile. “Mrs. Chen, you made it clear when you kicked me out—I’m not your daughter anymore. My debts have nothing to do with you, so if Howard owes me money, it’s none of your business.”
“You ungrateful girl! Do you really think you can get away with this? I’m your mother!” she yelled. “As long as I’m around, your money should go to me. I’ve already said it—your brother doesn’t need to repay that money, and those two houses are his! Not only that, but you also have to support me. I’ll tell your brother, and we’ll sue you!”
“Go ahead and sue me,” I replied, not backing down.
“Just wait until your brother finds you—you will be doomed!” she threatened, her voice full of fury.
I couldn’t listen to anymore, so I hung up the phone.
After I hung up, the private investigator contacted me.
“Ms. Elton, we’ve completed the investigation as you requested,” he said. “Your real parents passed away a long time ago. They left you an inheritance, but your aunt had her eyes on it. She and her family took the inheritance meant for you and adopted you.”
Hearing this, I was taken aback. So, the woman I had been calling “Mom” was my aunt. She only adopted me because my parents had left me a large inheritance. As for what happened to that inheritance, it’s obvious—she spent it all.
Growing up, I always had the worst food at home. From a young age, I was stuck doing all the chores while my mother doted on my brother, who barely lifted a finger. He was treated like a little prince, while I was more like the maid.