- 6.
Ashley brought a group of reporters to the
company, right after my meeting.
She burst into tears, kneeled in front of me.
“Mom, I’ll be good, I promise. Take the videos
down, please. I’m begging you.”
The cameras were right in my face, trying to
catch my “evil smile.”
I put on a look of deep sorrow.
“Ashley! The videos I released didn’t show
your face, nothing explicit. Nobody knew it
was you.”
“You’re the one who told everyone the truth!”
Boom!
Everyone stopped, realized what was going
- on.
That’s right!
The earlier videos only mentioned a high
school girl, didn’t show anything to identify
her. The clearest photos were of the thugs.
Everyone knew the victim because Ashley
threatened to jump.
For a moment, everyone was quiet, even
Ashley.
My lawyer showed up, telling the reporters
they were violating my rights by filming me.
Several news outlets, the ones I had invested
in, deleted the videos.
One reporter asked, “Can we release the
audio if we blur her face?”
The lawyer smiled. “That’s not against the
law!”
Several faces lit up. They were desperate to
leave and edit the videos.
When my words came out, even the online
trolls went silent.
Г
Ashley was the joke.
“It’s so funny, she outed herself.”
“She’s trying to guilt trip her mom. Her mom’s
trying to put the bad guys away and get her
justice. She’s afraid nobody knows she’s the
main character.”
“I can’t believe it, this has been the funniest
thing all year! Ashley is too stupid!”
Someone who knew the story said, “I heard
the thugs have mob connections, and they’re
mixed up with the government. Evidence was
destroyed. Her mom wanted to find the guys,
so she asked for help from the internet.”
People believed the things they figured out.
<
The internet frenzy faded away.
Ashley was shocked. “Are you happy now?
You ruined me.”
I couldn’t believe how stubborn she was.
I said, “Didn’t you ruin yourself?”
“I said I’d get you justice. Exposing the story
was just a way to do that. I didn’t give away
any information about you. You’re the one
who jumped and said you were the victim.”
Ashley’s eyes filled with hate. “You shouldn’t
have sued them. I told you to take care of it
yourself. You never listen!”
She was angry, and I felt sad, thinking about
the daughter I used to love.
<
Some people are just born bad.
“I taught you to be kind and reasonable. While
other moms were telling their daughters to
study and get into the best college, I
encouraged your hobbies. I wanted you to live
a happy life, without the stress.
“I never taught you to be selfish, to think I
should always do things for you, to twist the
truth, to try to trick me into breaking the law
to get revenge! When things don’t go your
way, you try to use the internet to make me
feel sorry for you, to get the whole internet to
turn on me. What kind of daughter are you?”
I wanted to ask this last time, but I didn’t.
She couldn’t believe it. She thought I would
love her, no matter what.
<
“You’re my Mom, you should be doing these
things for me!”
I stood in front of her, not pretending
anymore. “I’m not your Mom. You’re adopted.
Remember?”
She went white, looked terrified.
Years ago, I finally gave in and married Mark.
He was so good to me. He’d drive across
town in the middle of the night for the food
that I craved and have it for me, hot and
ready, in the morning.
He’d never let me do chores, he remembered
everything I liked, he took care of everything,
even trimmed my nails.
He remembered all the anniversaries, and
saved up money to surprise me. His whole
world revolved around me.
I said yes when he asked me to marry him.
Summer warned me, “He has no degree, no
talent, just wants your money. He’s a gold
digger. If you marry him, I’ll never talk to you
again.”
“But I have money. I need love!”
Summer couldn’t believe it.
I did what I wanted.
Three years later, we still didn’t have kids.
Then, on vacation, we met a dirty little girl.
She grabbed Mark’s lea
く
She grabbed Mark’s leg.
He told me we should adopt her, give her a
–
name Ashley.
She was well–behaved, tried to please me.
She’d always tell me how much she loved her
Mom.
When did things change?
It seems like it was wrong from the start.
Now the memories were clear.
When she tried on new clothes, her eyes were
jealous. When Mark cooked for me, she
muttered, “Mom’s lazy. Why does Mark have
to do everything?”
く
She tried to please me, then she’d hate me.
Every time she said she loved me, she didn’t
mean it.
I was so foolish. I ignored it, lied to myself.
I even thought love could change her. Instead,
I ended up getting killed.
She’s not my daughter.
My face lost its warmth, became cold and
distant. “Your Dad’s divorcing me. Don’t call
me Mom anymore. I was never your Mom.”
She stood there, stunned.
Mark showed up just then, heard my last
words, and stopped short.
く
He tried to explain. “Leah, what are you
saying? You can’t divorce me!”
I laughed. “But didn’t you say it first?”
I pulled up a video of him on the roof. “T||
divorce her—”
His face went pale. He panicked. “No, Leah, I
didn’t mean it. It was just the heat of the
moment.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m getting a divorce.”
I started to leave, but Ashley said, “Are you
sure you want to do that? Who else would
want you? You’ll never find someone to put
up with you like my Dad.”
So she always thought I couldn’t live without
Mark?
How ridiculous.
Then she said, “If you want a divorce, sign
everything over to me, then I’ll let you.”
She’s so full of herself. I couldn’t believe she
said that.
“Do you think I’ll do that? Why do you think
you can have my money?”
She looked pleased. “Because I’m your
daughter. You have to pay child support.”
I laughed. “Ashley, you turned eighteen a few
days ago. No child support. You’re my
adopted daughter. I raised you. You can’t get
any more entitled.”
<
“Then what about my Dad? He’ll take half
your money when you divorce him.”
I laughed again, looked at Mark’s
disappointed face.
“Didn’t you tell her? You signed a prenup so I
was sure you weren’t just marrying me for
money. Not only can you not get a dime, if
you move any money around, you’ll be
breaking the law!”
“And if the judge finds out you two have been.
sleeping together, what will happen?”
They went pale, realizing I knew everything.
Mark tried to say something, but I didn’t let
him.
く
“Move out in two days, or I can’t guarantee
your relationship won’t be exposed.”
