The Villainess's Daughter Chapter 2

I expressionless answered.

"Preparing to die."

He thought I telling lie, angered by me.

"Fine ah, if you have guts go die now!"

"Die I will even look you high one glance!"

I hummed hung up phone, and sent an anonymous message to mom.

[Goodbye.]

Phone screen lit again.

I didn't look, threw into sea, plop jumped into sea.

Water submerged nasal cavity, I seemed had a long dream.

Mother in kitchen, cooking my favorite Sweet and Sour Ribs.

Father diligently carving wood, carving our family of three.

I look what father doing a while, run into kitchen ask mom when food ready a while.

They said I am a little naughty ghost, scraped my nose.

Food on table, father wood carving done, gave me as gift.

I made wish before two-layer high cake.

"Hope I can be this happy all life."

I accidentally read out birthday wish, amused dad mom laughing loud.

I looked their faces, also followed laughing head back.

Picture turned, I pulled by mother to villa back garden.

Mountains and plains red dazzling roses.

I excited scream.

"Wow, Mom, why so many roses, where from ah, is it Dad sent?"

Mother shy smile, scraped my nose.

"Little smart ghost, this is 10th wedding anniversary gift Dad sent Mom."

"Later our Jojo want marry, also have to marry good man like Dad, then okay, know?"

Looking mother heartfelt smile on face, I also followed smile.

"Yes, Jojo later want marry man like Dad."

That afternoon, I pestered mom tell me story meeting dad.

They childhood sweethearts, confirmed relationship in college.

An accidental car accident, grandparents and victim passed away together.

Dad because compensation victim, burdened hundreds thousands debt.

To pay debt, he sold family only old house, since then penniless.

After graduation, junior year father researched a program, urgent need money.

Mother persuaded grandma grandpa, sold house gather money.

Pity program not up, money all lost, grandpa heart attack gone, grandma stroke hospitalized.

Most difficult time, father thought suicide, was mother supporting this home.

Under mother encouragement, father regrouped, wind rose again.

Since then, father career soared straight up, bigger and bigger.

He unlike other sudden rich men keep mistress outside, instead better and better to mother and me.

His phone no password, shares some transferred to mother, as long as holiday will stay home.

To me, even more what want give what.

He said I will be his only daughter.

Our family three so good before, how parents no longer love, mother also don't want me?

I really can't understand.

Just pity.

I no chance think understand.

Trance, seemed someone talking to me.

"Girl, girl, hold on ah."

"You so young, absolutely can't die ah!"

I struggled want open eyes, can't open no matter how.

Open eyes again, I floated to mother side.

She lonely sat bed side, eyes unblinking staring message I sent, muttering to self.

"What she mean, threatening me?"

"I replied question mark, why not reply me? Could it be she really want suicide?"

"No, she just mind deep, bully soft fear hard, no conscience, her heart only glory wealth, follow her dad don't know how good live, how possible bear suicide!"

Glory wealth?

I touched chin serious recall three months following dad.

Doing dirtiest work, eating least rice, sleeping least sleep, still beaten by people, not comparable to happiness with mom a bit.

Such days, I don't like at all.

Mom didn't hear my whisper, put down phone, while rubbing wrist, mouth reading want cook for Lily eat.

Thinking mom skill comparable five star chef, my stomach grumbled once.

Before jumping sea, although ate an apple, but punished kneel small shrine by dad, one day one night didn't eat, still hungry.

I bounce jump followed mom into kitchen, stood beside her watching her skillfully chop ribs.

Even every chop used big strength, but eyes no fatigue.

I stared mother demeanor, somewhat dazed, like back childhood.

That time mother busy in kitchen, I eating snacks secretly watching her.

"Jojo loves sugar, sweet sour ribs need add more sugar, she dislikes sesame, sesame not put."

"Besides sweet sour ribs, she also likes Roast Pork, need stew soft glutinous point."

I licked lips.

So coincidence ah.

I also love sweet sour ribs, also love roast pork, dislike add sesame...

Same taste as Lily.

Mother made another Braised Eggplant and Candied Sweet Potato, gathered four dishes then served table, called Lily eat.

She happy da da da ran come, but seeing dishes on table smile gone.

Mother detected wrong, asked her what wrong?

Lily red eyes, tone extra wronged.

"Mom, I don't like eat sweet sour ribs, like braised, more dislike eat roast pork... last time I mentioned to you, why you forgot again..."

Mother face flashed guilt, dryly said "Sorry", want pour dishes re-cook.

Lily grabbed her hand, eyes stubborn.

"Is this that big sister favorite taste......? Mom... you actually never thought giving up big sister, you always missing her right!"

Hearing this question, my heart involuntarily thump thump disorderly jump, unconsciously rose expectation again!

Could it be like Lily said, mom actually always...

"No, I didn't."

"I just used to it."

She denied, forcefully hugged Lily into arms.

"Jojo, mom adapt new life need time, many things, many habits, change need time, you have to believe mom, give mom point time okay?"

"Anyway, mom this life only have you one daughter, no one can snatch."

Jojo satisfied hug back her.

Watching this mother daughter harmonious scene, I touched heart.

No uncomfortable like before, instead incomparably calm.

Seem, I already slowly accepted fact mother no longer loves me, no longer indulge in past.

Just then, mother phone rang.

She accidentally clicked speaker, police serious voice sounded.

"Hello, ask is Ms. Penelope?"

A bad premonition ignited, mother supported table hold on, replied "I am".

Hearing affirmative answer, police subconsciously replied "Rest in peace" first then slowly narrated.

"Just now, kind person called police, said your daughter jumped sea."

"Impossible, she is faking death, this little girl mind many very!"

Mother pinched phone tight, cold face interrupted.

"No, mom, I didn't fake death, also no mind......"

"Clearly before you praised me cutest, most kind innocent cute, why say I have mind ne!"

I anxious explain to mother pounce her, but body passed through her.

Looking transparent hand.

I then suddenly remembered.

I already died.

Explain again, mother also can't hear.

She hates me more.

I somewhat sad scratched hair, squatted in corner.

Police thought she sad dare not accept truth, continued.

"Kind person is driver drove your daughter to seaside afternoon, felt your daughter wrong, turned back save her, your child fished up sent hospital."

"But on road, she rescue invalid gone. You quickly go Third People Hospital morgue identify body."

Hearing these words, mother like pumped away strength, fell on ground.

Phone clattered fell floor, police voice echoed in quiet space.

"We contacted child father, he insisted say we liars, threw big temper, can you contact him come?"

Mentioning father, mother numb eyes had reaction.

She like stress, replied "Not familiar" then hung up.

Police voice disappeared, replaced by Lily sobbing sound.

She scared face pale, pounced mother arms, trembling said:

"Mom...... this afternoon when sister came... I said words shouldn't say... could she be listened me......"

"No!"

Mother pale face interrupted.

Lily deaf ear, like drowned by guilt, mouth didn't stop.

"But I said let her go die... also said let her later don't pester mom."

"Sister didn't angry, even gave neck jade plaque to me, blessed me safe, also gave me a small notebook, on it recorded mom favorite things, she also......"

"Enough, don't say!"

"I said all irrelevant to you, why you still say!"

"You insist force me death, then happy?"

Mother tore throat, face hideous interrupted.

Lily scared by her ear piercing voice, open mouth dare not speak again, wronged look at her.

Realizing self extreme, mother said "Sorry", went Lily room took jade plaque and notebook, out gate, straight to car parked in garage.

On way hospital, I always sat passenger seat turning head staring her face.

I want see if she will cry for me.

But stared my eyes sour, mother not a drop tear shed.

She always looked front don't know thinking what, lost soul.

Have few times, clearly red light should stop, she still one foot gas went.

Hospital gate, big truck straight go, she right turn almost crashed.

I scared scream, let mom stop.

Lucky brake timely, then escaped disaster.

Truck driver same scared jump, poked head scold her.

"Is family dead person, or rushing reincarnate, life don't want?"

I thought mother won't care, but she lost control opened door scold back.

"Go your mom, mouth clean point, your family then died person......"

She said end, suddenly squatted cover face bitter cry.

"Your... family... then died person!"

"My family... people... all good!"

Driver scolded "Neurotic", one foot gas left.

I stood behind mom, mood somewhat complex.

Dear mom, are you sad for me?

I want step forward hug her, want tell her is myself decided go die, don't sad.

And I died, more relaxed.

Just like now, can still follow her side.

She can't see, I won't cause burden.

She already stood up wiped tears, entered car one foot gas drove into hospital.

Hospital morgue, driver uncle carried me before didn't leave.

He wet all over, eye rims red.

Knew woman dressed magnificent front is my mom, he red eyes excited pointed her scold.

"You this mom how so cruel, same are your daughters, why you favor one over other?"

He pulled her hand, dragged her to me, pointed scabbed wounds.

"Which family girl like her, whole body whip marks, no place good meat, this how painful ah!"

Mother gently pushed up my clothes.

Looking new wounds old wounds at belly, boom sound paralyzed on ground.

"No... how like this?"

Driver uncle sneered, raised my right hand again, ring finger and index finger present strange twisted shape.

"Look right hand, just now doctor said, this is smashed broken by someone hit by hit!"

"Also right leg, comminuted fracture!"

He pointed my dirty terrible school uniform jacket again.

"What kind child, looks pretty, wears dirty, full body wounds, what life she lives ah!"

"This child like this, in car still said you are good mom, she loves you."

"Do you know, me and my wife to want a child, till now still doing IVF, you have such good, such obedient girl, why not cherish, why not treat her well?"

He cried too devoted, caused doctors passersby at door all red eyes, pointing at mother.

Listening their accusing words, I anxious turn circles.

Hurt me, harm me is my dad, what relation with mom, not her business ah......

Seeing more and more people accuse mother, I guilty extreme.

If I die another day.

Will they not anger mother.

I ran to mother side, low voice said "Sorry."

Mother very strange.

She didn't angry because accusation, instead incomparable serious promised to people claiming justice for me:

"You right, I didn't do well what a mother should do."

"I will figure out what happened to daughter, will revenge people bullied her."

"But now, I need space alone with her, can you go out?"

Crowd even angry again also shut mouth, driver uncle closed door.

I thought mother had words say to me, but she wordless just stared me.

Half hour, one hour, two hours... two half hours......

Until dawn.

She stood up also just kissed my forehead, nothing said.

After this day, she side prepared my funeral, side asked private detective find reason I injured.

Three days later, she got evidence straight to father company.