My Mom’s Low-Cal Meals Killed Me In My Past Life Chapter 05

My Mom’s Low-Cal Meals Killed Me In My Past Life Chapter 05

When I got home, I found the hallway outside our apartment packed with neighbors. Mom’s broken

sobs drifted from inside.

Someone shouted, “Elaina’s back!”

Everyone turned to look at me.

“Lainey, hurry inside. Your mom has been going crazy looking for you.”

“What were you thinking, scaring her like that? Look at her. She’s been crying her eyes out.’

The moment Mom saw me, she froze for two seconds. Then she burst into tears as if her world had

collapsed.

“Lainey, you’re finally home. You scared me to death.”

“If you died, I wouldn’t be able to live either.”

Watching her put on that frantic, heartbroken performance, I felt completely numb.

“Mom, are you disappointed that I’m still alive?”

Before I finished speaking, Serena slapped me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side, the blow echoing in the narrow hallway.

“Elaina Mercer, what the hell are you saying? If you had the guts, you should’ve actually died. What was that suicide note supposed to do, scare everyone?”

“Do you have any idea how worried Mom was? She almost broke down and wanted to follow you.”

“If Mom really wanted you dead, would she work herself to the bone every day taking care of you?”

Serena’s face was crimson with anger, and she glared at me, breathing hard.

The neighbors began talking all at once too, each word dripping with judgment and disgust.

“If you ask me, Lainey is completely ungrateful. Her mom works so hard making her healthy

meals, and she still sneaks junk food.”

“Exactly. I heard she went to that boot camp and still couldn’t keep her mouth shut. She knows she

gains weight easily, but she’s greedy all day long.”

“Look at Serena. She listened, didn’t sneak around, didn’t make trouble, and she slimmed down so

fast.”

“Poor Denise. Her husband died young from obesity-related illness, and now Lainey is putting her

through this. Denise has to help her use the bathroom, bathe, get dressed, every single day.

Honestly, if she was going to die, it would’ve been easier on everyone. Why come back and make

more trouble?”

Mom curled into the corner of the couch, fat tears streaming down her face, her expression full of

wounded grief.

I took two steps forward and asked her, “Mom, how many hours has it been since I left?”

Mom froze, then lowered her head and lit up her phone screen.

“Five hours.”

“What were you doing for those five hours?”

She lowered her head, and her voice dropping to a defensive mumble. “Looking for you, of course.

Serena stepped between Mom and me, her face full of anger and impatience.

“Elaina, what exactly are you trying to say?”

I turned to face the neighbors crowded by the door.

“Everyone, if your child went missing, what would be the first thing you did?”

They went quiet for a second before answering over one another.

“Call the kid, obviously.”

“Contact her coworkers or friends.”

“Call the police. Yes, absolutely call the police.”

A contemptuous smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. I took my phone out of my bag and held it

up for everyone to see.

“For five whole hours, there wasn’t a single call from my mom on my phone. Isn’t that hilarious?”

As confused murmurs rose around us, I walked toward Mom.

“Mom? Care to explain? If you were looking for me, why didn’t you even call once?”

Mom’s face shifted from red to white, then from white to green.

Serena, however, stayed calm. She came over and jabbed her finger right into my face.

“Elaina, who the hell knew you’d take your phone with you when you went off to die?”

“Mom saw your suicide note and panicked so badly she could barely think. How was she supposed

to remember to call?”

I sneered inwardly.

What a convenient excuse.

“Fine. If you didn’t call me, then you must have called the police, right?”

Mom’s eyes trembled. For a long time, she said nothing.

The neighbors seemed to sense that something was wrong.

“Denise, you really didn’t call the police?”

“Then what were you doing for five hours?”

“Lainey was missing, and you weren’t worried? Or was she right? Were you hoping she’d die?”

Pressed too hard, Mom suddenly snapped and started cursing at the neighbors.

“This is my family’s business. What the hell does it have to do with any of you? Get out. All of you, get out!”