Chapter 87
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The Ashfords paid out, but they had one condition: Mom and I had to come to their house to sign a formal settlement agreement. Only then would it be over.
Mom thought that was perfectly reasonable. After all, she’d gotten her money.
She dressed me in the one “nice” outfit I owned-a clearance-rack dress from Target-and wheeled me over to their place
Trent’s mom, Vanessa Ashford, was all smiles.
“Come in, come in! You must be Riley. Oh, sweetheart, you’re such a pretty girl. I just feel awful about what happened p>
She patted my head and handed me a fancy stuffed bear, still in its box.
Trent came down the stairs, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Mom, do I really have to do this? This is so embarrassing p>
“Shut it.” Vanessa shot him a look. “Trent. Apologize. Now p>
He shuffled over and mumbled, “Sorry p>
“He’s just spoiled,” Vanessa said with a laugh, like it was charming. “Boys, you know p>
“Oh, totally! Kids will be kids!” Mom grinned so wide I thought her face would crack.
Everyone was acting like everything was fine.
But I noticed something.
The way Vanessa looked at me-it wasn’t warm. It was cold. Calculating.
After the apology, Mom started to leave.
But Vanessa stopped us.
“Oh, don’t rush off! Clara made some snacks, Stay a bit-let’s chat p>
Clara-the housekeeper who’d tried to help me that day-came out carrying a tray of cookies and lemonade. When she saw me, she gave me a small, sad smile.
We were led into a side room off the main living area.
Trent followed us in, sitting across from me, glaring daggers.
Mom and Vanessa started talking. Mom went on and on about how hard it was raising the alone, how she sacrificed everything.
Trent suddenly stood up and walked over.
“Yo, so your mom’s like, a total con artist, right?” He smirked. “Thanks to YOUR little scam, my dad went ballistic on me. Grounded for a month. No car, no allowance, nothing p>
He leaned in close, voice dropping to a hiss.
“I don’t forget shit like this, bitch p>
19:50
You Traded Our Son for Her? Your ‘Happy’ Ending Just Crashed, Asshole!
66.7%
Chapter 3
I didn’t answer.
And then-without warning-he shoved my wheelchair.
There were two shallow steps leading out of the room.
The chair tipped. I went flying.
My head slammed into the corner of a marble tile.
Everything went silent.
I couldn’t hear Mom screaming. Couldn’t hear Vanessa shouting.
I only saw Clara running toward me, her face full of panic.
Next second, she dropped to her knees beside me, grabbed my hand, and pressed something small and hard into my palm.
Her lips barely moved as she whispered:
“Memorize this p>
Then everything went black.
When I came to, Mom wasn’t crying over me.
She was negotiating.
“You people tried to KILL her! If my daughter dies, I’m taking you ALL down p>
Vanessa’s face had gone pale. She probably didn’t expect her idiot son to pull something like this right after they’d just paid us off.
“Please, let’s all stay calm-this was an accident p>
“Accident?! BULLSHIT! I want five hundred grand. Right. Now p>
And she got it.
To keep things quiet, the Ashfords wrote another check.
I was rushed to the ER. Severe concussion. Temporary hearing loss.
The doctor said if I’d hit my head any harder, I might not have woken up.
Mom sat by my hospital bed-not because she cared, but because if I died, her golden goose was cooked.
Once I could hear again, she finally relaxed.
I looked at her. I couldn’t even speak.
In my hand, I was clutching a piece of candy. Wrapped inside the foil was something else.
A tiny slip of paper.
19:50
You Traded Our Son for Her? Your ‘Happy’ Ending Just Crashed, Asshole!
66.9%
Mark Twain