I Was Never Their Daughter—Only Their Tool

Since my wealthy sister and her husband were coming home for dinner, my mother, Isabel Anderson, called me last night to remind. Your brother-in-law loves fresh live snow crab and crayfish. Tell Caleb to go to the market early morning and avoid buying cold storage stockit lacks freshness.

And don't just sit around idle. Come over and start stewing the ribs and brisket.

I, eight months pregnant, bustled around busily preparing.

Isabel glanced at the Arkansas black apples I brought in from the living room and said irritably, Youre not as well-off as Viola, so dont copy her extravagant spending habits. Can you even afford that?

Just as I was about to retort, she cleared her throat and spoke in a serious tone, The compensation for the demolished house has come through, a total of seven hundred thousand dollars. Dont even think about it, Im going to give it all to Viola, not a penny for you.

I doubted I misheard and looked at her in shock, asking, "Seven hundred thousand dollars, all for Viola?"

Mom, you know Caleb and I are struggling to breathe under the weight of our mortgage and car loan payments and my mother-in-law has been diagnosed with breast cancer and needs treatment, I

Isabel interrupted me impatiently. "What are you talking about? In the endisn't it just that you two are useless?"

Ronan knows how to make money work for him, while you two can't even save your dead-end salaries. Giving it to you would be a waste. This is finalno discussion!

I looked up blankly. My husband was still busy in the kitchen, while my sister, Viola Meier and her husband, Ronan Meier, were leisurely drinking tea in the living room.

"Since you've all given your money to Viola, then go find her for anything from now on."

I pulled my husband, Caleb Leinert, who was cooking spicy crayfish, out of the kitchen.

My mother chased after us, her face full of anger.

You get rude and give me attitude after I said a few words? You think you're so great now? Did I say something wrong? You're just not as good as your sister.

"A supermarket warehouse clerk, like you, trying to eat Arkansas black apple like Viola? Will you die if you don't try to save your face?"

I was trembling with anger, gripping Caleb's hand tightly.

Viola called out to me impatiently. "Isla, the meal isn't done yet, what's wrong with you!"

"It's just seven hundred thousand dollars, isn't it? Is that so much? Besides, Mom's money is hers to give to whomever she wants. We're all family. Why are you so fussy?"

I stopped in my tracks, turned to glare at the loathsome face of the vested interest and snapped back.

Yeah, seven hundred thousand dollars isnt much to you. Mom can give her money to whomever she wants, but Im still her daughter!

"Over the years, you've lived a carefree and happy life in the city, while we've been taking care of Mom and Dad around the clock whenever they fell ill, day or night."

"We provide all the daily necessities, from food to seasonal clothing, for them."

"You guys just go home, have a meal and leave right after, while Caleb and I have to work from dawn till dusk."

"I've given everythingpaying off car loans and mortgages, caring for my sick mother-in-law. Why should I receive not a single penny of the seven hundred thousand dollars demolition compensation!"

I spotted the apple in the living room, hurried over to grab it, then turned to Isabel, saying,

"Yesterday, you saw Viola eating Arkansas black apple on Instagram story and commented that you wanted to try it too, so I bought it for you."

Viola might be rich, but has she ever spent a single penny on you!

If she truly cared about you, it wouldn't be mea warehouse clerk making four hundred twenty-five dollars a monthbuying you Arkansas black apples today!

Viola's face flushed crimson as she glared at me and argued back. "Isla! Stop stirring up trouble here!"

My words were like a thorn, piercing deep into my mother's heart.

Years of pent-up resentment had nearly overwhelmed me. I looked at her, tears streaming down my face.

Your menus always only include dishes Viola and Ronan like. Do you even know I'm allergic to seafood?

"You've been favoring Viola since we were child. I've watched over you and taken care of you all these years, thinking you'd at least share some affection with me, but you're still the same."

"The good things always go to Viola. Since that's the case, you can just go to her if you need anything in the future!"

Isabel gasped for breath, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped me hard in the face, pointing at me and yelling.

"You petty, ungrateful wretch! I raised you with blood, sweat and tears and you've turned me against me!"

"I don't know what sins I committed in my past life to give birth to such a wretched thing!"

I stumbled backward, my lower back slamming hard against the entryway.

Caleb's eyes widened as he reached out to catch me, but he was still too slow. I was pushed back and fell to the ground.

"Honey!"

A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen as a warm flow gushed out.

I clutched my stomach, my face contorted in fear. "My stomach hurts so bad, my baby!"

Caleb frantically supported my waist, while my mother stood there sarcastically remarking. "It's just being pregnant, why are you being so dramatic?"

Just then, a burnt smell came from the kitchen.

Isabel slapped her thigh and exclaimed. "Oh-no, Ronan's favorite crayfish!"

She didn't even glance at me again, turning her head and disappearing into the kitchen.

My heart sank.

Too bad, in my mother's eyes, the baby in my womb wasn't as important as a pot of crayfish.

I gave a cold laugh, gripped Caleb's hand tightly and said weakly, "Honey, quick, take me to the hospital!"

Caleb rushed me to the hospital and the doctor's expression changed drastically.

"She is hemorrhaging severely and requires an immediate cesarean section! Family members must sign the consent form as soon as possible!"

Caleb's hands were trembling so badly he could barely hold the pen.

He clung to the moving operating table, his eyes bloodshot. Always cheering me on by my side.

As I was being wheeled into the operating room, my phone suddenly rangit was a call from my mother.

Caleb answered the call, but before he could speak, he heard Isabel's impatient voice.

"Hey, why haven't you come back to wash the dishes yet? Ronan wants some grapes. You might as well buy two pounds on your way backmake sure they're sweet."

"Mom!" The usually good-tempered husband suddenly raised his voice, his tone laced with barely suppressed sobs.

"Isla is hemorrhaging severely and her life is in danger. Don't you have a heart? She's your daughter too!"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Isabel's nonchalant voice came through.

"Making a big deal out of a small problem. Medicine is so advanced now, what could possibly happen?"

"Isla is just having a baby. You come back and do the dishes, buy some grapes too on your way, don't keep Ronan waiting!"

With that, she hung up the phone.

I lay on the operating table, listening to my husband's suppressed sobs, my heart felt like it had been drenched in ice-cold water.

Thankfully, the surgery was smooth and uneventful, with both mother and child safe and sound.

Seeing me wake up, Caleb hugged me tightly and cried.

He told me that the baby had been placed in an incubator because he was premature. He showed me a photo of the baby he had posted on his Instagram feed, with the caption: [Mother and child are safe and sound. Thank God for your blessing. I will do everything in my power to protect my two precious family for the rest of my life.]

I held my phone, looking at it again and again with great fondness.

Below were countless blessings from my husband's colleagues and students.

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed, feeling grateful and blessful, but then I saw my mother's post.

She wore a gold bracelet, grinning ear to ear at the camera, with the caption: [Still, my youngest daughter is the most considerate and generous. She insisted on buying me a gold bracelet, spending over four thousand five hundred dollars. Who would dare say my beloved daughter doesnt have me in her heart?]

Four thousand five hundred for seven hundred thousand dollars that was generous?

Right after, she left a comment under the post in my Instagram feed announcing the good news.

[So poor yet still daring to have a childshould I call it courageous or just plain foolish?]

Upon seeing these glaring words again, I felt no great stir in my heart.

All those years of obsession had faded away in the face of life and death.

She didn't care about me, but it was okay. I had a husband, child -- my own little family.

The maternal love I never received, better off without it.

From now on, I would give all my love to those who deserve it.

Caleb caught a glimpse of my phone and pulled me into his arms with a tender embrace.

I calmly blocked my mother's number, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders and smiled with relief.

"Honey, from now on, we just need to focus on making our own happy life."

The peaceful days lasted for half a month when my mother called, her words brimming with anger.

"Isla, you really have a bad temper! You haven't brought us any groceries or cooked for us for half a month. Do you want to starve us to death?"

"Do you forget that your dad's leg needs a monthly check-up?"

I told her calmly, "I'm on postpartum confinement, so contact Viola for any matters in the future and stop bothering me."

Isabel had barely opened her mouth to yell when I decisively hung up.

Two months later, while celebrating my son's, Chris Leinert, one month birthday party, Viola and my parents, who weren't on the invitation list, appeared in front of me.

Viola, dressed in designer clothes and wearing a flawless makeup, casually took out twenty-eight dollars from her bag and stuffed it into my hand.

"Isla, congratulations! This is a small gift from Ronan and me to wish your baby a happy one-month celebration."

I didn't take it and she wasn't embarrassed either. She simply pushed our parents beside her forward.

Oh, right. Dad and Mom's old house got demolished and they have nowhere to live for now."

"Ronan and I are busy with a big business deal and we really don't have the energy to take care of them. Anyway, you've been taking care of them for so many years and you're used to it, so let them stay at your place."

"Once my business deal is done, I'll bring Mom and Dad over to enjoy their retirement."

I laughed bitterly.

What did she mean by "I'm used to it"?

If it weren't for my parents constantly complaining about growing old with no one to help them, would I have abandoned my beloved teaching career and taken up a job as a warehouse clerk who could be called upon at any time to cater to their needs?

Would Caleb give up his position as a university professor to become an ordinary high school teacher in this small city?

Over the years, I had been working while taking care of my parents, while Viola only needed to marry a wealthy, fat man ten years her senior.

Every weekend she would go home for a meal and she would become my parents' darling daughter, praised for her thoughtfulness, filial piety and competence.

Now that the demolition compensation was all gone and the house was lost, they suddenly remembered me the poor sucker.

Isabel, seemingly oblivious to my displeasure, spoke in an arrogant tone,

Your house is too small. Give us the master bedroom and you and Caleb can sleep in the guest room.

I disagree!

Ive said I wont interfere in your affairs anymore. Besides, my mother-in-law is undergoing chemotherapy and needs a quiet environment to recuperate. I will never allow you to stay in my house."

Isabel didn't expect me, the soft-hearted apple, to reject her so resolutely and she immediately flew into a rage.

"Isla! You ungrateful wretch! We're your own parents, your mother-in-law is an outsider how can she compare to us?"

"Don't you care whether we live or die? Have you lost your conscience?"

At this moment, the silently listening father, Hans Anderson, finally spoke, his brow furrowed and his voice weak, "Isla, my legs have been hurting terribly lately. You used to massage them for me, which always made me feel better. Staying at your house will make it easier for you to massage them for me."

Always the same old routine, the same old trick. Every time they tried to manipulate me, they played the victim to gain sympathy.

"Dad, the medical facilities in the big city are much better than here. If your leg hurts, have Viola take you to a big hospital. It'll be much more effective than my amateur massage skills."

"She took seven hundred thousand dollars in demolition compensation and is now running some big business. She can definitely hire the best doctors and provide you the biggest house."

Viola couldn't hold back her frustration and her tone grew impatient. "Isla, you're not being fair. Ronan and I are busy making big money, we don't have time to take Dad to the doctor!"

"I don't care. I've already brought Mom and Dad here. You can handle it yourself!"

With that, ignoring the embarrassment and astonishment on her parents' faces, she turned and left.

I didn't look at my parents, who were standing helplessly at the door and said to my husband, "Let's go inside. Let's not let unrelated people spoil the fun."

The moment I turned around, I could feel the venomous glares from my parents behind me.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the family group chat exploded.

Isabel was crying and yelling at me in the group chat.

[Isla, that unfilial, heartless daughter! Her dad and I have nowhere to live and she won't even give us a room! She kicked us out!]

[Her mother-in-law is an outsider, but she treats her like a treasure and disregards her own parents. We've wasted our time raising her!]

Several uninformed relatives then chimed in.

[How could you do this, Isla? They're still your parents. It's your duty to be filial!]

[That's right, no matter how hard things are, you can't abandon your parents! It's so inconsiderate!]

[Hurry up and bring your parents home right now, don't let people laugh at you!]

I bluntly told them they had given the entire seven hundred thousand dollars in demolished compensation to Viola, yet still expected me to serve them.

I couldn't be that saintly.

The group fell silent for a few seconds and then my uncle, Dieter Reinhart, came out to mediate.

[Isla, you can't say that. They are your own parents and money is just an external asset. Be generous.]

My aunt and other female relatives chimed in too, telling me not to hold a grudgewe were family, after all. Blood was thicker than water.

I sneered and replied: [Since they gave all the money to Viola, they should go find her. From now on, I have nothing to do with this family!]

"Anyone who thinks I should be filial should first give me half of that seven hundred thousand dollars demolition compensation for my parents. Otherwise, stop talking nonsense!]

Just then, Viola suddenly posted several pictures of the villa being renovated in the group chat.

[It's not that I don't take care of my parents. The villa for their retirement is being renovated. I am doing big business with my husband and will soon bring them over to enjoy themselves.]

[Who knew my sister would be so heartless? She couldn't even wait a few months! Not only did she slander me, but she also turned our parents away. It's outrageous!]

The group chat immediately erupted with compliments.

[Viola is really something!]

[Isabel is so lucky to have raised such a capable daughter!]

[Isla, you should learn from your sister and stop focusing on such short-term gains.]

Puffed up by the flattery, Viola continued to proudly say: [If anyone's willing to take my parents in, I'll talk to my husband, Ronan and we'll get rich together.]

The group chat immediately buzzed with excitement, as everyone offered to let my parents stay at their houses.

My parents, who were full of resentment just now, burst into laughter and didn't forget to tag me: [What did I say? Viola is more capable and more considerate and filial than you.]

I just felt extremely ironic when I look at these words.

With a flick of my finger, I left my family group chat and blocked all of my parents' and Viola's WhatsApp, phone numbers and social media.

I thought, after this farce, I could finally escape the shadow of my family of origin and live my own quiet life.

But I never expect, half a year later, an unfamiliar number would suddenly ring on my phone.

When I answered, it was my father's panicked voice.

Isla, your mom ... she has lung cancer. She's in the hospital now. The doctor says she might not have much time left.

Can you come see her?"

Hanging up the phone, I sat in a daze for a long time.

Caleb urged me to go and see her.

In the hospital room, my parents seemed to have aged ten years overnight and no longer had the energy and spirit of the past.

Hans sighed with a worried expression. Isla, you're finally here. Please talk and persuade your mom. She's afraid of the costs and refuses to cooperate with the doctors.

Isabel choked up in silence, saying, "I'm sorry, Isla. I shouldn't have given all the demolition money to Viola."

It was the first time my mother had said 'sorry' to me.

Years of pent-up grievances and resentment weighed heavily on my chest.

"Ronan, he's a scoundrel! He gambled all the demolition money and even lost the investment money from our relatives."

She trembled and took out a bank card from under the pillow, stuffing it into my hand. "This is the savings your dad and I have saved for half of our lives. It's not much, but consider it as compensation from us."

I have lung cancer now and doesn't have long to live. I don't want to go through the hassle of treatment anymore.

"Then, when I'm gone, you can send your father to a nursing home and visit him once a month when you have time, so that I can rest in peace."

Now, it would be a lie to say I wasn't moved.

Those words, "compensation from us," were like a warm current, instantly melting the ice that had frozen my heart for years.

So, my mother still cared about me.

My throat tightened, tears welled up in my eyes and afraid of losing my composure in front of her, I forced myself to say, "Mom, don't say that. You still need to get treatment. I'll go pay your hospital fees."

I ran out of the ward as if escaping, my emotions so complicated that I couldn't help but shed tears and couldn't calm down for a long time.

As I handed over the last two thousand eight hundred dollars I had and returned to the ward door with the towels and water bottles I had bought, I heard a conversation coming from inside and my steps faltered instantly.

"Isabel, didn't we use all the money to pay off Viola's debts? Where else do we have money?"

My heart sank and my hand, which was about to open the door, froze in mid-air.

I heard Isabel lower her voice, her tone completely devoid of the vulnerability she had shown moments before. "That card was empty. I lied to Isla."