16
That night, the house caught fire.
Fast. Furious.
Flames engulfed my room. I stood outside, wrapped in Michael’s jacket, frowning.
If it hadn’t been for Michael, I wouldn’t have
gotten out.
The fire seemed to have started right outside
my door.
It spread quickly, down to the first floor.
<
But Janet, Sarah, and my dad weren’t coming
out.
I hesitated. Should I go in? The first floor
wasn’t fully engulfed yet.
I didn’t care about Janet or Sarah, but…
He was still my dad.
I started toward the house. Hate him or not, I
couldn’t watch him burn.
Then, they stumbled out.
Janet, barefoot, panicked. Sarah, carrying my
く
She was small, struggling under his weight.
He was slumped over her shoulder, either
unconscious from the smoke, or still asleep.
I was relieved.
Alive. That’s all that mattered.
WE
My dad was drunk, passed out cold, and
inhaled smoke.
Sarah?
Burned her arm “saving” him.
Michael told me the story. I barely looked up.
<
they came out.
My dad and Janet were fine. Sarah’s hair
wasn’t singed, her face wasn’t touched. Just
a conveniently burned arm.
A kindergartener could see through it.
But my dad, the sentimental fool, bought it hook, line, and sinker.
A few days later, he called, said he had an important announcement, wanted me at the hospital ASAP.
Curious, I went.
<
sacrifice, her scarred arm a testament to her
love.
In contrast, I, his daughter of twenty–odd
years, had abandoned him.
So, he’d had his will drawn up. Everything to
Janet and Sarah.
I got a grand total of eight thousand, six hundred, and twenty–five dollars.
Sarah, the little hypocrite, put on a show.
“Dad, my arm’s fine. I didn’t even think. I just
saw you were in danger…”
く
family. Maybe give her a few thousand…”
My dad’s voice was still raspy from the
smoke. He looked at Sarah adoringly.
“Sarah, don’t defend her. I’m heartbroken.
Twenty years, and I raised a viper!”
His face hardened. “That’s final. The will is
done. It won’t change!”
He glared at me, expecting… what? Regret?
Anger?
He was going to be disappointed.
I almost laughed.
<
After all the money he’d let Janet and Sarah
squander, he only had two million left. And
some company stock.
He thought that would hurt me? Hilarious.
I pulled up a chair, lit a cigarette, and smiled.
“That’s it? After all those years with Mom?
That’s not even worth a second glance.”
I turned to Janet, my smile cold. “Twenty
years as a mistress, a secret child, a burned
arm, and this is all you get?”
“Did you forget that Mom left me a company?
And a nine–figure inheritance?”
<
My dad’s jaw dropped.
“Company?” His voice rose several octaves.
“Your mom stayed at home. What company?”
I laughed. “Twenty years of playing house
with your mistress, and you have no idea
what Mom was doing.”
“You should know this company, though…”
“Your biggest rival. The one that always beats you. Everbright. Mom built it.
“And its mysterious, reclusive CEO? That was
Mom. Now, it’s me.”
く
“Mom’s twenty–year gift. Delivered today.
Surprise!”
I smiled, but my eyes were cold.
Everbright reminded me of Mom.
The smartest, and the stupidest, woman I
knew.
Proud. Intelligent.
She’d known about his affair within months.
She’d even confronted Janet.
But Mom was too proud to make a scene.
She stayed silent.
And she started planning. Building a
company, saving money for me. Every penny
of the profits went into my account.
She built Everbright into a powerhouse,
always one step ahead of my dad.
Smart, because everyone thought she was
clueless, while she was playing the long
game, securing my future.
Stupid, because after all the betrayal, she still
loved him.
She stayed married for me.
And for him. The man who broke her heart.
<
mouth. Proud. Stubborn. No one understood
her.
Not even me.
How could she love him, betray him, protect
me, all at the same time?
Waiting for him to come back.
Her whole life was a gamble. Would he
return?
If he did, she’d have Everbright, a gift, a
reunion, a happy family.
If not… she’d lose. But I’d be safe, with
<
I didn’t know any of this until after she died.
Sometimes, even I didn’t understand her.
She knew about his lies, his betrayal. But she stayed proud, silent, never causing a scene.
Plotting in the shadows, waiting in the light.
