The Shadow of Motherly Love: The Cost of Favoritism

Chapter 1

My mom never really loved me, not like she loved my cousin, anyways.

When I was little, she’d use the money I was supposed to spend on tutoring to pay for my cousin’s useless hobby classes.

Later, she used my college tuition for the money to pay off my cousin’s brawling debts.

She even wanted to move my cousin and his pregnant wife into the apartment my dad bought for me before my wedding.

I was so weak and always gave in to maintain this pathetic family connection.

Until one argument led to me falling from the ninth floor, and she coldly told the doctor to “let me go.”

That was when I finally woke up.

Thankfully, fate intervened, and I was reborn to the day my mom brought her pregnant cousin’s wife to move in.

One

“Ashley, I told you, you can’t have that rug there. It’s too easy for Brianna to trip. And clear out your fridge. I got her a ton of bird’s nest and supplements, and we need to freeze them.”

Hearing my mom, Carol’s nagging, I knew I was really reborn!

Reborn in the apartment my dad bought me with his retirement money!

Seeing the open window on the enclosed balcony, I was still shaken up, and immediately went to close it. I made a mental note to get a handyman to seal it shut!

Last time, I argued and pushed my cousin’s wife, Brianna. She broke a few bottles of olive oil that the company had sent me and I slipped on the glass. I lost my balance and fell from here.

Originally, the ambulance took me to the hospital, and I had a chance.

My mom took my phone and card, which had enough money in them, but she didn’t hesitate, she just chose not to save me.

She turned around and said to my cousin and his wife, “The apartment is yours now! And all her money!”

Just thinking about it made me shake with anger!

Looking up, I saw my mom leading her short, fat cousin’s wife, already bossing me around before they even stepped inside. I quickly sent a text, my hackles raised.

“Ashley! What are you doing? Did you hear what I said?”

When I didn’t react, she shouted at me.

“Yeah, I heard! About the bird’s nest and supplements. Perfect, I didn’t have lunch. I’ll cook some for myself!”

I walked past them, straight for the fridge to take the bird’s nest she just put down.

“Put that down! That’s for Brianna! How can you eat that?”

“Oh, really?”

Every month, she’d ask me for rent the second I got paid, $3500 from my $5000 salary!

She took my money and treated them like royalty, and I, the one paying, could only watch!

“What’s gotten into you today? Don’t just stand there! Go get Brianna’s luggage! And your master bedroom has a bathroom, so move to the guest room. Let Jake and Brianna stay in the master!”

That’s how it was the last time, too. Without even telling me, she brought her newly pregnant cousin’s wife to move in.

Only six months ago, she kicked me out of our old two-bedroom apartment.

She said I had a job and had to rent my own place, and that I couldn’t mooch off them anymore.

My cousin, Jake, was unemployed, and my aunt’s house was too run-down, so he had to move in.

Before I could agree, she packed my few belongings and threw them out.

So I had to spend most of my savings to renovate the apartment my dad secretly bought me.

I never thought she would find out about it after only living there for a few days. At first, I thought of my dad and didn’t agree to let them move in.

But later, she brought up the tragic past of my aunt and started acting like she was dying, so I softened and agreed.

Snapping out of it, I told myself that I couldn’t be so stupid again, and let the wolves in!

“Mom, I thought Jake just moved into your house, in my old room, right?”

“That’s right! Well, you’re alone. Why don’t you move back to your aunt’s place? Then Jake can have this bigger apartment, especially since a baby’s coming. You’ll never fit in here anyway…”

She said it so casually, without a blush! It’s like they say, when you lose your shame, you become invincible!

“Sorry, but this apartment was bought for me by my dad, your ex-husband. They can’t stay here.”

Hearing me throw her earlier bird’s nest comment back in her face, she immediately started throwing a fit!

“Ashley! What the hell is wrong with you today? Turning into some rebel? You ungrateful brat! Have you forgotten how your dad abandoned you? A new apartment bought you off? You need to show respect for your aunt who has passed away! How many years has she been gone?! You’re already so ungrateful! Not caring about your pregnant cousin’s wife! Just caring about being happy!”

Two

“My aunt was good to me? You mean she bought me a few dresses when I was little? How much of the money you spent on Jake over the years came from me? That could buy a house, not just a few dresses!”

“Besides, is my cousin’s wife carrying my baby? What does it have to do with me? Why should they live in my house?”

So she wanted to act like a crazy person, is that it? After so many years of observing her, I can finally try it out myself!

I shouted louder than her, and the short, fat cousin’s wife, sensing things were going south, quickly ran to call her husband.

Carol clearly didn’t expect me to suddenly rebel. After all, before I was reborn, I was a pushover she could manipulate. Even if I showed a little attitude, she’d shut me down with shouts and slaps.

“Why? Because I’m your mother! I raised you, so you should listen to me!”

She glared at me, like a dead person!

Finally, she said it. Time to settle accounts!

“It’s a miracle you remember you’re my mother! You would’ve thought you were Jake’s mother…”

“Don’t think I don’t know, your dad always paid for the house before you divorced. After the divorce, he gave you money for me every month, but you lied and said he abandoned me, never gave me a cent, and gave it all to my aunt and Jake…”

…

I knew my dad was a sailor from a young age, at sea for at least 300 days a year.

But because of his well-paid job, my mom and I never worried about money.

But after my aunt got caught cheating and divorced, my mom started taking care of them.

I told my dad on the phone that I wanted to learn math and English, and he sent my mom several times the living expenses when he got back to shore.

But when it was time for classes, she just took me to watch my aunt play mahjong.

Later I found out she gave all the money to Jake for roller skating, saxophone, and other useless classes.

I cried and wanted to call my dad, but she beat me and brainwashed me, saying I was being a brat, and that I was already doing well in school, so there was no point in wasting money!

Jake was different. He was the only man in the family, and she, my aunt, and I would have to rely on him. He wasn’t doing well in school, so she had to think about his future, the more skills he knows the better!

Nine-year-old Jake already had a stomach full of bad ideas, twisting me, and I nodded in pain…

My dad wasn’t around, and I was afraid they would hit me, so I had to swallow my anger and wait for my dad to come back.

But my dad never came back after that. He hired a lawyer and divorced my mom.

After their divorce, my life got worse every day.

Jake could do whatever he wanted, and I only got a cheap dress from my aunt’s wholesale store every birthday.

During those growing years, Jake was fat, and I was skinny and malnourished.

If I complained or resisted, my mom would beat me with a stick.

I had no choice but to study hard, hoping to go to college and get away from them…

I had good grades, but she always told me that girls didn’t need to study, and started looking for a rich family for me to marry from high school.

I knew she wouldn’t pay for my college, so I worked at a breakfast shop every summer and winter vacation and weekend.

The money I saved was found when I got my college acceptance letter.

Three

I took my ID to open an account to deposit my tuition, but when I got home, my room was a mess!

My mom was holding a wad of money, counting it with her wet fingers…

I screamed, despairing. She glared at me and scolded me.

“You little brat, secretly saving so much money! You had your teachers force me to pay for your high school! Well, Jake hurt someone and needs money to compensate. This is enough! Otherwise, I’m not done with you!”

Jake dropped out of middle school and hung out with gangs. Fighting and causing trouble. As an adult, he was a notorious troublemaker and a regular at the police station.

My aunt was no better, spending her days in mahjong rooms. My mom followed them around, cleaning up their messes, dealing with debts and apologizing to the injured!

I knelt and begged her to give me back my tuition, but she left without looking back.

Before leaving, she told me to stop thinking about college. She found me a family that would pay $200,000 for me to marry into.

Luckily, my homeroom teacher, who had always helped me, contacted me about student loans. I packed my things and left home that day!

My dad found me when I was a junior and bought me an apartment as a dowry.

That’s when I realized my dad had been paying my living expenses and tuition all these years.

He couldn’t take care of me because he signed a 20-year contract with the company when they divorced, so he had to leave me with my mom.

My mom’s condition was that he couldn’t see me until I was an adult…

I thought things were in the past, and I didn’t want to cause trouble between the two of them again, so I kept quiet.

But as it turns out, if you’re willing to be wronged, you’ll never be done being wronged. Injustice always goes for those with a lot of tolerance!

Memories of my mom were like knives, cutting me.

“Shut up! You never say anything, you were quiet, but actually remember everything! I’m your mom, so you should give me money!”

Before I could list all her crimes, she interrupted me, annoyed.

“You’re right, I have an obligation to support you. Legally, children should pay 20% of their salary to their parents. My salary is $5,000, so I’ll give you $1,000 a month, not a penny more! Now, please leave my house!”

I opened the door, fearless.

“You! Ungrateful! I’m not leaving! I’m your mom, so I can live here! I don’t believe anyone can kick me out!” She went to the door and shouted, trying to get my neighbors to hear.

I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. “Okay, stay if you want. You! Leave now! Or I’ll call the cops!” I pointed to the short, fat cousin’s wife.

If she left, my mom would follow.

The short, fat cousin’s wife, who had been acting weak, immediately changed her face.

“Your aunt asked me to come, and I listen to her! If your aunt doesn’t leave, I’m not leaving! I’m pregnant! Try touching me!”

Four

Just as I picked up my phone to call the cops,

An oily hand slapped me hard, sending my phone flying!

“Ashley, you dare bully my wife! I’ll kill you!”

It was Jake, cursing as he pushed me inside. I stumbled and fell.

I reached for my phone, but my mom ran over and kicked it away!

She excitedly encouraged Jake, “Good job, Jake! Teach this brat a lesson!”

“Yeah, honey, kill her! When you weren’t here, she almost bullied your aunt and me to death!” The short, fat cousin’s wife added!

Hearing that, Jake’s eyes turned vicious, like every time he used to hit me…

“You whore, you need to be taught a lesson! I’ll show you!”

He looked around and grabbed the new lamp on the table, ready to hit me.

I closed my eyes, thinking I would die from this lamp. I wondered if I could be reborn again!

I closed my eyes in fear!

After a moment, I was unharmed, but I heard a clear voice and a loud crash.

“You wanna die! You dare hit my sister!”

I quickly opened my eyes and saw Jake, eating a hard kick, crashing hard into the wall, and slowly sliding down.

His face, which was just twisted, was now in a mask of pain, crying out!

The short, fat cousin’s wife ran to hide behind the entryway.

“Who are you! You dare hit my Jake! I’ll fight you!”

My mom quickly picked up the lamp and tried to hit the person!

The person quickly grabbed the hand holding the lamp, and pushed her with his chest, making her fall hard onto the sofa!

“Lady! I hit women! Try moving!”

He squatted down and helped me up. “Sis, are you okay?”

It was my cousin, Kyle, who graduated from sports school and now runs a martial arts class.

He lives in the same complex as me. I guessed my dad texted him to check on me.

“You’re Kyle?” My mom narrowed her eyes and looked at Kyle.

She only saw him when he was five years old.

Now he was tall and muscular!

“Kyle, I’m your aunt! I held you when you were little!”

My mom grabbed Kyle’s arm, crying.

Kyle pushed her hand away, dodging, and looked at her like she was trash.

“I know you. You’re the harpy who forced my uncle to leave with nothing because he wanted to adopt us!”

When my uncle and aunt died in a car accident, my dad wanted to adopt my cousins, but my mom refused, forcing my dad to divorce but keeping me, making my dad pay child support.

It seemed that she didn’t want my dad to see me because she didn’t want him to know that she didn’t spend the money on me.

When I was a pushover, when I reunited with my dad and cousins, I still didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and only saw them in secret, not letting her know.

Five

“Who are you calling a harpy? The one who killed your parents, and you want to come into my house and curse us! You are not related! What qualifications do you have to interfere in my family’s affairs!”

Hearing Kyle call her a harpy, my mom lost her temper.

“Whoever is being crazy!” Kyle countered as he helped me to the couch. “My sister is my family, is this called interfering? What are those two?”

I looked at Kyle, I didn’t expect him to be so savage! Impressive!

As he checked my injuries, Jake, who was sitting on the ground groaning, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and charged at Kyle.

“Careful!” I reminded Kyle!

Kyle turned around in time, grabbed the hand holding the knife, twisted it, and the knife fell to the ground. He kicked Jake in the chest.

This kick was heavier and more brutal than the one just now!

Jake screamed and flew backwards, landing hard at the kitchen door!

“Jake! My Jake!” My mom cried, heartbroken.

She grabbed the short, fat cousin’s wife to watch Jake, and ran into the kitchen to pick up a frying pan as a weapon to fight back.

Kyle gave her a look, scaring her back!

Knowing she couldn’t win, she didn’t dare to move, and started cursing at me with the frying pan.

“Ashley, you heartless thing! You joined outsiders to bully your own mother! I raised you for nothing!”

“Raised me? You used the money my dad gave you to support my aunt and Jake! I went to school by myself, eating your leftovers! Wearing clothes that the neighbors didn’t want! I worked hard to earn money in college, and you came to school every month, forcing me to give you money to pay Jake’s debts. When I got a job and could save money, you sucked my blood every month! Who is raising who?”

I lost my cool, pointing at her and accusing her.

Because I didn’t say anything last time, Kyle didn’t know about this, and was stunned.

“Ashley! Is this true?” Two tall figures appeared at the door.

“You paid for your college? I gave her your living expenses and tuition every year! Why didn’t you tell dad before?”

My dad and cousin Ryan also arrived.

They heard what I said.

I nodded. When I reunited with my dad, I was satisfied knowing he never abandoned me.

Not wanting him to feel guilty, I didn’t tell him what my mom did, which just made my mom worse.

“Crazy! Psycho! Jake, let’s go, don’t listen to this lunatic…”

Seeing her plan fail, she ignored my dad’s question and helped Jake with the short, fat cousin’s wife, trying to leave.

“Carol, explain yourself! Or don’t leave!” My dad stopped them.

My mom gave a look to the short, fat cousin’s wife,

Who immediately shouted, “Oh, my stomach hurts!”

“Ryan! My nephew’s wife is two months pregnant, and we need to go to the hospital! If anything happens to her, we won’t let you go!” My mom said.

My dad looked at me, and I nodded to let them go.

Jake glared at me before leaving. I knew he wouldn’t let it go.

Six

After I told my dad the truth, he couldn’t let go of my hand, saying that he wanted to be with Carol to death.

He looked heartbroken, like when he got to the hospital and found out I was dead.

“Uncle, do you still have the records of the transfers to Carol?” Ryan asked.

“Of course, I haven’t seen her in so many years, and I always transferred money through the bank! And I made notes on every one!” My dad said, grinding his teeth.

He transferred money for my living expenses, tuition, tutoring, and other expenses, totaling at least $1 million.

But I was still malnourished, and had to work to pay for my tuition!

“Don’t worry, I’ll make her pay it back!” Ryan said confidently.

As one of the “Top Ten Young Lawyers” in the city for three years in a row, I trusted his ability.

The next day, I received a video from Jake on my way to work.

In the video, Carol was disheveled, standing at the elevator door of my company with a bitter face.

She grabbed people and asked if they were my colleagues, crying and saying that I was an unfilial daughter!

She raised me alone, and now that I had a job and found my rich dad, I abandoned her.

She had nowhere to live, no money, and was violently kicked out…

Tears, I almost believed her!

“Bitch, if you don’t give us the apartment! We’ll ruin your reputation! So you can’t hold your head up in front of your colleagues!”

“Are you and your cousins sleeping together? If I knew you were so cheap, I should have done it myself, not give it to outsiders!”

…

The video showed his filthy language.

I took a screenshot and sent it to Ryan, asking if he could sue them for extortion…

No opponent, so no fight.

I went to my boss’s office from another entrance and submitted my resignation letter.

I had been doing product reviews on several platforms for months, and had already accumulated two million followers.

I was too busy, so I quit the job!

Since I found out the truth from my dad, I had been careful not to let them know that I had a lucrative side business.

Seeing that I didn’t compromise or respond, my mom was still selling her story downstairs with Jake.

I walked up to them with a “resignation gift” looking sad.

“What’s wrong? Do you know your mistake? Are you afraid? Now take us home, and I’ll leave now!” My mom said, waiting for me to beg.

“Yeah, thanks to you! I’m unemployed, so I have to rely on my dad. If I have no income, I don’t have to pay your support!”

“What?” She looked at Jake, wondering what to do.

They just wanted to threaten me, but they didn’t expect me to lose my job, and they didn’t expect me to use this as an excuse not to give them money.

The three of them were stunned.

Ryan texted that my mom’s old house was repossessed because she couldn’t pay off the mortgage for Jake’s gambling debts!

The three of them had squeezed back into the old apartment, no wonder they wanted to live in my house!