Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke up before dawn to head to the grocery store.

When I returned to make breakfast, I saw Chloe standing in the kitchen.

She had the refrigerator door open, meticulously counting the eggs and checking the measurement lines on the cooking oil bottle to see how much was left.

As she counted, she noted everything down on her phone.

She was treating me like a common thief.

A surge of anger rushed through me. I yanked the kitchen door open.

"Chloe, what are you doing? What, are you afraid I'm stealing your food?"

Chloe jumped, a flicker of panic crossing her face.

"Mom, I'm just looking out for our family. You were already spending Leo's money yesterday. Who knows if you're sneaking food behind our backs or taking things out of the house to sell?"

I had lived here for seven or eight years. Just because I drank one buy-one-get-one-free boba yesterday, she was acting like this today.

"If you're so worried, then I'll just leave."

"Oh, please, Mom, stop playing the hard-to-get card. I invented that trick," Chloe said, screwing the lid back onto the oil bottle without taking my words seriously at all.

Before I could speak again, Justin called Chloe to leave for work.

They left, leaving only me and my sleeping grandson in the house.

Helpless, I walked Leo to school as usual.

To my shock, when I returned home, I ran into a crew outside the front door coming to install security cameras.

I watched with a cold heart as they mounted cameras in every corner of the house. They even put three inside my cramped, tiny storage room.

I desperately wanted to pack up and run, but when I checked my bank account, I realized I barely had enough money to afford a motel for a night or two.

"Mom, my in-laws are coming over tonight. Buy plenty of fresh seafood and make a nice spread. They love seafood."

In the afternoon, right after I picked up Leo, I got a text from my son.

"I don't have enough money." All my retirement savings were in Justin's hands, and whatever personal savings I had left were nearly depleted from subsidizing this family every month.

Since they insisted on calling me greedy, I might as well act the part.

"Chloe was right. You really are cheap and obsessed with money."

"Fine, I just sent you some cash. Make sure you prepare a few grand dishes tonight. Don't embarrass me."

He sent me eighty dollars via PayPal.

I accepted it and ignored his snide remarks.

This was the only way I could survive in this house for now.

With one hand holding Leo and the other carrying several heavy grocery bags, I navigated the crowded supermarket aisles.

While I was busy haggling over the price at the seafood counter, Leo suddenly let go of my hand.

I reacted instantly and chased after him.

He ran so fast that my aging legs couldn't catch up.

Seeing him dash straight toward the street with a car speeding right at him, an adrenaline rush came out of nowhere. I lunged forward and threw my arms around him, pulling him to the curb.

The car screeched to a halt inches in front of us.

The driver rolled down the window and cursed me out. All I could do was nod repeatedly and apologize.

Collapsing onto the pavement, I realized my arms and knees were badly scraped. Thank God Leo was unharmed.

Ignoring the stinging pain from my wounds, I gathered our scattered groceries and limped back home to cook. After all, I didn't have the means to leave just yet.