Rift in the perfect picture

She shot a hateful gaze at me, which made me feel as if a thousand tiny blades had cut into my heart.

I retorted, “What was I supposed to do? Should I stand by and watch you be bullied? Do I let you run around like a headless. chicken with no solution? I’m your daughter! How can you simply hit me without considering the situation?”

Mom clutched her chest while breathing heavily. “Aren’t your married? Is your husband dead? If you really cared for me, why get help from someone who’s practically a stranger when help is so close?”

My heart palpitated painfully when she said that. “Mom, I told you, I’m divorcing him!”

My voice was filled with anger and anguish as I stressed, “He doesn’t love me!”

Slap! My ears buzzed, and the world seemed to go silent.

For the second time, my mother hit me. I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. I just stared at her in shock as my tears fell silently.

“Do you think marriage is a joke? Do you think you get married and divorced whenever you want? Don’t you know how much this would embarrass me?” my mom yelled at me.

My throat felt stuffy, and my voice came out hoarse. “Mom… Is keeping up appearances more important than your daughter’s happiness?”

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Perhaps those who toiled in the business world day in and day out were doomed to become ruthless and merciless. Both Nicholas and my mom were like that.

While pointing at me, she admonished, “Firstly, you cannot get a divorce. I’ll call Nicholas to come and get you now. Secondly, you can get anyone to be your godfather but not Nelson. I’ll repay him for this favor today. But if you contact him again, we might as well cut ties!”

“Why, Mom? Dad entrusted us to Nelson because he was

worried. Why can’t I have him as my godfather? If there’s some kind of grudge between you and him, can’t you tell me about it? Don’t command me to do things! I’m a grown–up now, I can judge for myself!”

My knuckles turned white from how hard I was clenching my fists. I wouldn’t back down about Nicholas. “It’s impossible for Nicholas and I to work things out. If you force me to stay with him, we might as well sever our ties as mother and daughter.”

I ran out while sobbing uncontrollably. Outside, it started raining. Icy drops of rain pelted my body. I never thought I’d say such harsh words to my mother. Every word she said had cut me deeply and shattered my soul.

I couldn’t understand why my mom had hit me. As a child, I had been mischievous, but she never hit me no matter how angry she got. I always thought I would always be loved and pampered as I was brought up.

Her two slaps stripped away my deep love for her.

As I drove, my vision blurred with tears. I fantasized about getting into an accident, where I would lie in a pool of blood, and kind strangers would call an ambulance for me. When the medical staff called my family, I wondered if Nicholas or my mom would shed a tear for me.

I didn’t remember how I got back to the apartment. Although I hadn’t been there many times, it felt more familiar than Coral Villa, which I had lived in for four years.

As soon as I entered, I collapsed onto the floor. My body had long gone numb from the shock of the earlier events.

I was woken in the middle of the night by the alarm of the smart lock. Someone was repeatedly trying my house’s code. The rusty gears in my brain started turning, and I felt scared.

This was my first time staying somewhere alone. I’d read one too many news stories about single women getting into dangerous situations.

“Who is it?” My voice was hoarse