My Mom Hid Gold In Her Truffle Box Chapter 09

My Mom Hid Gold In Her Truffle Box Chapter 09

“What is wrong with you?” My aunt stared at me like I was a stranger.

“Your mother just collapsed, and you’re still thinking about money?”

My uncle jabbed a finger at me. “You’d let your own mother die over money? You’re not even human.”

I closed the front door on all of it—the shouting, the sirens, the accusations.

I sat alone in the wrecked living room, surrounded by the wreckage. The silence should have felt wrong, but I was calm.

A little while later, my phone rang. Dad.

His voice was small in a way I’d never heard before.

“Eleanor, your mom’s awake. She’s crying. She wants to see you.”

“Please. I’m begging you.”

I didn’t answer right away. But I went.

Chloe was coming out of the room when I got there. The second she saw me, she planted herself in the doorway.

“What are you doing here? Here to see if she’s dead yet?”

She crossed her arms, eyes hard.

“That total you dumped in the family chat? I’m not paying a cent of it.”

“Mom and Dad gave me that money. I didn’t steal it.”

“You’re not getting a penny from me.”

I looked at her, jaw tight, eyes daring me to push back, and the strangest feeling washed over me. Not anger. Pity. For the version of me who’d believed her.

“Chloe, do you honestly believe Mom and Dad don’t favor you?” My voice was quiet.

Her gaze flickered, just for a second. “Favor me? They love you the most. Everyone knows that!”

“Stop.” I cut her off.

“You know exactly what’s going on. You’ve always known.”

“But as long as you play the unloved daughter, you get to keep taking. And you get to blame me for all of it.”

“That’s the whole game, isn’t it?”

Her mask slipped. Chloe’s whole face twisted.

“You’re full of it!” She shoved me aside and bolted down the hall.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

Mom was lying in bed, eyes closed, breathing evenly, like she’d just drifted off.

Dad got to his feet the second I walked in and pulled me aside.

“Eleanor, your mother’s had a hard life.” He sighed, the sound of a man desperate for this to be over.

“Whatever mistakes she’s made, she does love you.”

“When she wakes up, just say you’re sorry. Then we can put all of this behind us.”

I looked at his tired, lined face and felt nothing.

“This isn’t something you can smooth over.”

“And I’m not apologizing.”

Mom shot upright, wide awake. She hadn’t been sleeping at all.

“What did you just say?” Her eyes locked onto mine, already reddening.

“You won’t be satisfied until I’m dead, will you?”

I held her gaze.

“I’m not forcing anyone to pay me back.”

“And I don’t even want the money.”

Mom went still. For a second, something like hope flickered in her eyes.

“But I’m done. I don’t want to see any of you again.”

The room went so quiet I could hear the heart monitor down the hall.

Mom stared at me like I’d spoken a different language.

“You… you want to cut us off?” Her voice broke.

“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate.

“Get out! Get out!” Mom grabbed a pillow and hurled it at me.

“You’re no daughter of mine!”

I let it hit me.

Then I turned and walked out without looking back.