Chase and Marla had twins, and their bias toward their son meant they left their daughter Harmony completely neglected. In my past life, Mom couldn’t bear seeing Harmony burning with fever and passed out, so she brought her over to me, saying, “You make good money, and since you don’t plan to marry, take her in.” Pitying my niece, I agreed to raise her as my own. Despite pouring all my resources and energy into her, when she grew up, she aired her grievances online, saying I was controlling, that my love was suffocating, and that I wouldn’t even let her stay over at a friend’s house. Egged on by strangers, she rebelled and ran away to a friend’s place, where her friend’s brother assaulted her. When I wanted to report it, she cried and said it would ruin her reputation, and she cut ties with me to stay with her abuser. After they married, she was abused by him and mistreated by her mother-in-law. Over time, she became resentful and convinced him to kill me. He went to prison, and she finally had her freedom—lavishly living off my inheritance. Now, with a new chance at life, I won’t make those same mistakes. My heart has hardened; I’ll live solely for myself. Content
“Quinn, your niece has a terrible fever—she’s burning up! Come back and help me take her to the hospital!” Hearing my mom’s words, just as in my past life, I knew I’d been reborn. I vividly remembered my future niece, Harmony, standing there, watching her violent husband stab me over and over. I’d always been terrified of pain, but even so, I was covered in wounds, blood everywhere, the pain unbearable, and the biting chill seeped to my bones. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my tone and responded as calmly as possible, “Mom, if Harmony’s that sick, where are Chase and Marla?” “Your brother’s at work, and his job isn’t flexible. Marla’s with Tyler and can’t leave him.” I wasn’t the least bit surprised by this. My brother and his wife, with their favoritism, had never given their daughter a thought. In my past life, when my mother had called me in distress, I’d left work immediately, driven back to Pinegrove County, and rushed my niece to the hospital. I stayed days to care for her as she recovered. When Harmony was discharged, the doctor told us, “If you’d brought her any later, the fever might’ve caused brain damage. You were lucky to get her here in time.” Thinking about how Harmony eventually repaid me for raising her… This time, I wouldn’t get involved.
“Mom, I’m out of town on a work trip. I can’t get back quickly, so you should call Chase and have him take her to the hospital.” My response left Mom frantic. She ignored my suggestion about calling my brother and instead asked, “Well, how soon can you come home?” I already knew Mom had a strong preference for my brother, but I never thought she’d prioritize his $3,000-a-month job over her granddaughter’s urgent medical needs. And now, she expected me to drop my own work trip to get back? I held back my frustration and replied, “Mom, I’m far away on this trip, and flights are full. It’d take me eleven hours by train, and then three more hours of driving just to get to the county. Besides, this trip is important, and if I leave now, I might lose my job. And then I wouldn’t have any money left to help with your living expenses.” Hearing that my delay could affect her monthly allowance, Mom finally dropped the idea of me taking Harmony to the hospital. “Fine, I’ll wait until your brother gets off work, and we’ll take her together. But when you’re done with work, come visit your niece.” I agreed and hung up, feeling icy inside. In my mom’s eyes, “looking after Harmony” meant using the poor child as an excuse to drop the three-year-old on me, claiming, “You have a good salary; you can afford a nanny. Since you aren’t getting married, treat her as your own daughter—at least you’ll have someone to care for you when you’re old.” Years ago, I did tell my family I didn’t plan on marriage. When I was nineteen, they’d pushed for an arranged match, but I knew marriage would mean a life revolving around a man and children, losing myself in the process. So I told them I wasn’t interested and would focus on my career. Initially, Mom resisted, but when she realized marriage would end my financial support to her, she stopped pressuring me. In hindsight, Mom’s kindness over the years was purely because I still had financial value. She never cared about me otherwise, or she wouldn’t have dumped her “burden” of a granddaughter on me. Later, when I was thirty and considered dating, she convinced me to think of Harmony’s feelings. Harmony, looking so pitiful, had pleaded with me not to “leave her behind.” I’d felt for her, and, not being one for romantic ties, I never married. I raised Harmony like my own daughter, yet ultimately, she took my life.
After hanging up with Mom, I requested a work trip and left immediately, returning only a week later. During that time, Mom called me repeatedly, stressing Harmony’s critical condition. Each time, I’d ask, “Where are Chase and Marla?” Her parents couldn’t be bothered to tend to their sick daughter, so why should I, the aunt, bear the burden? Mom would cover for my brother, saying, “Your brother’s job doesn’t allow time off, and Marla’s busy with Tyler.” I’d excuse myself, claiming meetings, and hang up.
After a week in the hospital, Harmony was discharged with mild meningitis, likely from the prolonged fever. The doctor said her brain might have suffered some cognitive impact, but only time would tell. After returning from my trip, I made a brief stop in Pinegrove County, bringing fruit and milk for her. Before I left, I handed Marla a cash envelope in front of my mom and brother, maintaining a polite and generous demeanor. I stayed just long enough to avoid any complaints, leaving before Mom could ask about adopting Harmony. Three days later, Mom called again, saying she’d bring Harmony to Brookdale City for a visit over the weekend. I knew what was coming and had a plan.
It was a beautiful spring weekend when I picked up Mom and Harmony from Pinegrove Central Station. Growing up neglected, Harmony had become timid and overly sensitive; after her illness, she seemed even more withdrawn. Since Mom rarely visited, I made sure to play the role of a gracious host, taking them to a nice restaurant and booking a hotel for the night. Mom had wanted to stay at my apartment, but I politely declined, saying I only had one bed. After working for six years, I’d saved enough to buy a small one-bedroom apartment in Brookdale outright, and I never told my family about it until long after moving in. I knew that once Mom found out I’d saved for a house, she’d find ways to drain my funds, saying it was “for safekeeping.” But that “safekeeping” would ultimately go to Chase, so I pretended I’d only been able to afford a “mortgaged” apartment.
After two days of hosting, as I prepared to take Mom and Harmony back to Pinegrove County, Mom finally spoke up. “Quinn, Marla can’t manage two kids on her own, and it’s pitiful that Harmony was left uncared for with that fever…” I interrupted, “Mom, isn’t Harmony staying with you?” “Come on, as her grandma, I’ll do my part, but why can’t you help Marla out by looking after her?” Mom scoffed, “That’s impossible!” Realizing her response was too blunt, she quickly softened her tone. “My age is catching up with me, Quinn. I can help for now, but soon my back and legs will give me trouble. Harmony would do better in the city with you; you make good money, and she’s had it rough in the county.” She considered everyone’s needs but my own. I shook my head. “Mom, you can’t look after her, and I have a full-time job.” “Well, you can afford a nanny, can’t you? If Harmony lives with you, you can treat her as your own daughter. Besides, since you aren’t getting married, she’ll be there for you as you age.” I bit back a laugh, her suggestion too ironic. In my past life, following her words had led me to my death. I interrupted her, “Mom, just because I’m not planning to marry doesn’t mean I don’t want a family.” She looked at me, puzzled. “I’m not getting any younger,” I continued, “and last month, I went through with IVF. In a few months, I’ll have my own child, so I don’t need someone else’s to take care of me.” It was like I’d dropped a bomb, leaving her visibly shaken. After a moment of stunned silence, she stammered, “Something this big…why wouldn’t you discuss it with us?” Discuss? If I’d told them, they would’ve fought it every step of the way. My family didn’t see me as a person; to them, I was a tool. Ignoring her shock, I stated firmly, “Mom, I’ll soon have my own child. Don’t bring up adopting Harmony again.”
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