The Mother They Used My Daughter's BetrayalChapter 1

In the third year of helping my daughter raise her child, she gave me a box of ginseng.

My health had been declining, so I opened it and brewed the tea. But when my son-in-law saw the open box, he didn't just get angry—he panicked.

"Mom! That ginseng was meant for my mother," Jonathan James snapped, face flushing. "Aria only gave it to you for appearances. How could you actually open it? That thing cost two thousand dollars. Pay me back. Now."

I froze, turning to my daughter. "Is that true?"

Aria Fox wouldn't meet my eyes. "Mom, you're usually so frugal. I assumed you'd insist I return it. I didn't think you'd actually... eat it." She shifted uncomfortably. "So yes. You need to pay us back."

I stared at them both. Then I nodded slowly and transferred two thousand dollars to their account.

The next day, they took that money, picked up Mrs. James Senior and my granddaughter, and went on vacation.

But when they returned, the laughter had turned to tears.

——

It started on my fiftieth birthday. Aria presented me with a beautifully packaged box of ginseng.

I was over the moon. Finally, I thought, my daughter has grown up. She knows my health is failing and bought this to nourish me.

Not wanting to waste her goodwill, I opened the package and brewed the tea immediately. I even posted a photo on social media, captioning it with a proud note about my daughter's filial piety.

Barely an hour later, Jonathan stormed into the house, dragging Aria and my granddaughter with him.

He grabbed the open packaging and bellowed, "Mom! You opened it? You actually drank it?"

I startled at his ferocity. "Yes. It's the birthday gift Aria gave me. What's wrong?"

He looked as if he'd been slapped. "This ginseng was meant for my mother! Aria giving it to you was just a prop! A gesture! How could you be so thick-headed as to actually consume it?"

A ringing filled my ears. My mind went blank.

"Jonathan," I managed, voice trembling. "Are you mistaken? Aria bought this because I've been unwell. It was to help me recover."

He laughed—cold, mocking. "Mom, this costs two thousand dollars." He sneered down at me with absolute contempt. "Did you honestly think Aria would buy something that expensive for you?"

My heart seized. The words lodged in my throat like a fishbone.

I thought back to three years ago, when I moved here to live with them.