The Ungrateful One Chapter 2

A small girl was curled into a ball in the corner, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. A chill crept up from the soles of my feet.

Chloe.

The events of the past few weeks came rushing back in a disorienting flood. My brother-in-law had died in a car accident not long ago. When his wife heard the news, she grabbed their newborn son, took what little money they had left, and ran.

My husband, Mark, his eyes red-rimmed, had tugged at my sleeve. He adored his younger brother and wanted to step up, to hold their shattered family together. He hadn’t slept a wink the night before.

After the funeral, Chloe was the only one left. Our in-laws had passed away years ago. Chloe’s maternal relatives hadn’t even shown up for the funeral, making it clear they wanted nothing to do with her. If we didn’t take her, young Chloe would be sent to an orphanage.

Mark, remembering the years he and his brother had depended on each other, swore an oath to raise Chloe as his own.

In my last life, I had readily agreed. I never imagined I was inviting a wolf into our home.

According to our previous discussion, this was my cue to step forward and officially agree to the adoption. The other relatives would then offer their performative praise.

“Chloe is crying so hard, it seems she doesn’t want to come live with us. In that case, let’s just forget it.”

I watched coolly as the little girl’s eyes widened in disbelief. A cold smile touched my lips.

So, you want to play a part?

Her father’s household had been a bastion of misogyny. Chloe had been forced to do chores from the moment she could walk, and she hated it. And now she was pretending she couldn’t bear to leave? As if our home were some kind of dungeon.

The relatives exchanged uneasy glances. Those who knew the real story were just enjoying the drama.

Chloe’s face flushed with shame.

My husband, Mark, was too embarrassed to contradict me. He tugged at my collar so hard it choked me. I swatted his hand away impatiently.

“We just bought a house in town,” I said, my voice cold. “Taking on another child will be a serious financial strain. How about this? You can all pitch in.”

Who would want to pay to raise someone else’s child? They were all working-class people, living paycheck to paycheck. They had no extra money. They were happy to be the good guys, to morally pressure us, but not to actually do anything.

My blunt words stripped away their masks of decency. They glared at me with righteous condemnation.

My son, Richard, old enough to read the room, blushed beet-red and said nothing.

Mark couldn't take it anymore. “Honey,” he whispered, mortified. “We already agreed on this!”

“She’s just a little girl. It’s just one more plate at the table. I’ll work more overtime, I’ll earn more. I promise it won’t affect your and Richard’s quality of life.”

His words opened the floodgates. The very people who wouldn’t lift a finger to help now chimed in to persuade me.

“A daughter is so sweet! You have a son, so you’ll have one of each. It’s a perfect set! So many people would kill for that kind of blessing!”

“If it’s such a blessing, why don’t you take it?” I shot back. The woman who’d spoken also had only a son. It’s easy to talk when you have no skin in the game.

Seeing I was resolute, the others backed off, not wanting to get drawn in.

Just then, Chloe finally stopped crying. She stood before me, nervously twisting the hem of her shirt. “Auntie,” she mumbled, her lower lip trembling, “I want to come live with you. I won’t cost much. I can do chores. I won’t take any of my cousin’s things…”

Her little speech softened the hearts of everyone in the room.

Everyone but me. I knew her true face.

“I don’t want to adopt you,” I said, my voice hard. “Can you understand plain English?”

“I don’t want anyone sharing my son’s affection. I didn’t even have a second child for that reason. Richard is about to start middle school. I don’t have the extra energy.”

“Since no one else wants to take her, let’s just send her to the orphanage.”

Mark saw the unyielding look in my eyes and buried his head in his hands, squatting in despair.

Chloe’s face was pale. She stood there, speechless.

After more bickering, no one stepped up.

In the end, Chloe was sent to the orphanage.