7
The next morning, Mom called.
“Anya, what on earth are you doing? How do you know Young Mr. Donovan?”
“I met him through a part–time job.”
“A part–time job?!! Who told you to get a part–time job?”
I gave a cold laugh.
“As soon as you left, you cut off the allowance to Uncle Paul, and he kicked me out that very day. If I don’t work, how am I supposed to live?”
Mom was momentarily choked, then quickly changed the subject.
“Why are we talking about this? I’m warning you, don’t try to flirt with Young Mr. Donovan!”
A chill ran through my heart.
What kind of mother talks to her daughter like that?
I didn’t back down.
“Then you better keep Chloe in check. I heard she’s always trailing after him. I think she’s much worse than me.”
Mom grew agitated.
D
9:15 AM
<
CO
0
11
“Chloe is not like you! She’s destined to marry into a wealthy family; only she is worthy of Young Mr. Donovan.
“Anyway, I’m telling you, if you dare see Young Mr. Donovan again, don’t ever call me Mom.”
“Oh! Sarah!”
Mom exploded.
“You… you good–for–nothing, Anya! Originally, you were put into your dad’s custody, so I had no obligation to take care of you. Now you’re so disobedient, I won’t pay for you to study abroad!”
I took a sip of water, trying to quell the nausea in my gut.
“You only cared about me because you wanted the eight hundred thousand dollars from the accident compensation.
“And studying abroad? That was just a lie to keep me quietly in our hometown. Do you really think I believed it?”
In my last life, I only found out after arriving at the Donovan household that Mom had told Mr. Donovan she only had one daughter and wanted to bring her to live with them.
Mr. Donovan agreed, even promising to let her attend school with Caleb.
She made it seem like she was giving us two choices.
But in reality, she only wanted to take Chloe, and the study abroad option was just a pretense to appease me.
Otherwise, in my last life, after I arrived at the Donovans‘, she wouldn’t spend a single penny on me.
This life, she cut off my allowance as soon as she left.
From beginning to end, she only ever considered Chloe her daughter.
Having her secret exposed, there was silence on the phone for a long time.
It was almost nine. I carried the phone and walked into the living room.
A vintage clock hung in the living room; it chimed every hour during the day.
At exactly nine, the chime rang out.
The person on the other end of the phone sounded as if she’d seen a ghost.
“Anya, you… where are you?”
“I don’t know where this is. Caleb brought me here and told me to stay for now.”
“Impossible. That’s Mrs. Donovan’s old house. How could Young Mr. Donovan let you stay there?”
Mom used to come and tidy up this house, she knew better than anyone Caleb’s feelings about it.
I smiled softly, lowering my voice.
“It seems this house is very important to Caleb. Doesn’t that mean I’m also very important to him?
“Morn, I’m your daughter too. If I marry into the Donovan family, won’t you also be related to them?*
Mom’s tone seemed to waver slightly.
“But what about Chloe?”
My heart stirred, and I dangled the bait.
“Actually, there’s another way for Chloe to also bask in the Donovan family’s glory.”
<
“Actually, there’s another way for Chloe to also bask in the Donovan family’s glory.”
“What way?”
“The Donovan family doesn’t just have Caleb. Mr. Donovan has been single for many years too.”
The other end of the phone went silent.
“You… what are you suggesting?”
“Isn’t it common for housekeepers to marry their employers? You’ve worked for the Donovan family for so many years; you’ve already figured out Mr. Donovan’s temperament.
“Besides, you had children young, so you’re still quite beautiful. Haven’t you ever thought about becoming the mistress of the Donovan household?”
Mom was clearly shocked by my words, her voice fading.
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
1
*
“I’m not talking nonsense. Chloe has no chance anyway. If you marry into the Donovan family, Chloe would become a Donovan heiress.”
“What good intentions could you possible?”
“I just want to tell you, why push your kids when you could push yourself? If you truly love Chloe, how can you not try your best to make her a
Donovan heiress?”
F
“You…”
“You should think about it carefully. This kind of thing is better sooner than later; after all, age waits for no one.”
Hanging up the phone, I stretched languidly.
In my last life, Mom had similar thoughts, but she didn’t act on them for Chloe’s sake.
Now, Chloe was out of the picture; it was her turn to take the stage.
