The folding cot in the storage room, the iron frame rusted through, the mattress so thin it was translucent.

In the corner, a pile of Lucy’s discarded old clothes—my entire wardrobe.

A pair of cloth shoes with holes in them, the soles worn nearly through.

And a photo of my back, taken by Grandma C on the first day she took me in, while lifting my shirt to show a community doctor my injuries.

My back was covered in overlapping scars, both old and new.

Sienna looked at those photos, and her hand paused.

"You preserved them well."

"Grandma C told me to keep them. She said they would be useful one day."

Sienna closed the folder. "I’ll take the case. We’ll start by sending a lawyer’s letter while preparing the litigation materials. We’ll pursue the property first, then the misappropriated portions of the pension."

"The fees—"

"Let’s worry about that after we win." She glanced at me. "I come from a military family, too."

After seeing Sienna off, I sat in my office and zoned out for a while.

Lu knocked on the door and walked in. "Nora, Mr. Cole is here."

When Cole walked in, he was carrying a bag of oranges.

He was four years older than me, quite tall, and wearing a grey cashmere coat, looking like a proper businessman. But the moment he opened his mouth, the image shattered.

"Oranges. Shipped directly from the source this morning. They’re sour—you like those."

I took them, peeled one, and popped it into my mouth. It was indeed sour enough to make me wince.

"I’ve already put in a word with the lawyer, so don't worry," he said, sitting on the sofa. "Also, about that stepfather of yours, I had someone look into him."

"What did you find?"

"His hardware store closed three years ago; he’s buried in debt. He’s living in that apartment of your father's right now. After he got the title, he mortgaged it for a loan of three hundred thousand, then couldn't pay it back and almost got evicted by the bank. Your mother helped him find a way to circumvent that and keep it for now."

"So he transferred my father’s house into his own name first, just to mortgage it for quick cash?"

"Exactly."

I pinched the orange peel and tore it to shreds, piece by piece.

"There’s one more thing," Cole’s tone slowed down.

"What?"

"Your mother’s medical expenses are currently being covered by Auntie Liu. But Auntie Liu’s own situation isn't great, and she won't be able to hold out much longer."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Nothing to do with you. But you need to be mentally prepared—the commotion they make going forward is only going to get louder."

He was right.

That afternoon, Auntie Liu arrived.

She didn't come alone.

She brought my second uncle, my cousin, and a middle-aged woman I didn't recognize at all.

The four of them stood majestically at the entrance of the "Nora’s Kitchen" flagship store, brows furrowed and eyes glaring.

When the waiter reported it, their legs were shaking. "Nora, there are four people outside saying they want to see you. I didn't let them in, but they said they’d just wait at the door. Some customers are already taking photos."

I set down the dish I was testing and took off my apron.

"Let them in. We’ll talk in the private room."

When the door to the private room pushed open, Auntie Liu was the first to charge in, her finger nearly poking me in the nose.

"Nora, give me a straight answer! Are you going to take responsibility for your mother’s life or not?"

Chapter 5

I didn't let her finger touch me.

I took a half-step back, putting some distance between us.

"Auntie Liu, please, sit down."

Auntie Liu wouldn't sit. She stood her ground, hands on her hips, like a debt collector.

My second uncle sat down, crossing his legs, his face practically screaming, "I'm here to be the judge."

My cousin stood to the side, looking at her phone, appearing completely indifferent.

I truly didn't recognize the middle-aged woman; she was short and stout, with a head of permed, curly hair, her eyes darting around as she sized up my shop.

"This is the shop you opened?" Auntie Liu looked around the private room's decor, her tone sour. "It's quite fancy."

"Yes."

"You run such a big shop, you're making money, and yet your mother is in the hospital waiting to die, and you don't care. Does that sound good to tell people?"

"Auntie Liu, you know exactly what my relationship with Beth is."

"What 'Beth'! That’s your mother! Are you calling her by her full name?" Auntie Liu slapped the table.

My second uncle finally spoke, his voice low but heavy. "Nora, regardless of everything, she gave birth to you. You’re doing well for yourself now; helping her out would be an act of virtue."

"Second Uncle, do you remember when I was eleven and ran to your house, begging you to take me in?"

His eyes flickered.

"I was covered in injuries. I ran five miles to your place, pleading with you to let me stay for just one night. Do you remember what you said?"

He fell silent.

"You said, 'Kids shouldn't cause trouble, go on back; your mother hitting you is for your own good.' And then you sent me back."

"That night, Beth locked me in the storage room and didn't give me food for three days."

The room fell quiet.

The middle-aged woman muttered, "It was that serious?"

"Who are you?" I looked at her.

"I... I'm your mother’s coworker, Old Zhang." She looked uncomfortable. "Your mother is actually a very nice person at the factory, she’s always polite to everyone—"

"Of course she's polite to outsiders," I interrupted her. "Beating a child—who would see that once the doors are closed?"

Old Zhang sheepishly shut her mouth.

Auntie Liu took a deep breath—no, she just inhaled and adjusted her strategy. "Fine, I won't talk about the past. But your mother is dying now. Do you really have the heart to watch? Your father’s spirit in heaven—"

"Don't you dare bring up my father."

My tone suddenly turned cold, and even my cousin looked up at me.

"My father left me over five hundred thousand in pension money, plus a resettlement apartment. Do you know where those things are now?"

Auntie Liu was stunned. "What?"

"The pension was spent completely by Beth, and that apartment was transferred to Gary for zero yuan, then mortgaged by Gary for a loan."

"Everything my father traded his life for—not a single cent was spent on me."

Auntie Liu's complexion changed.

She clearly didn't know about this.

My second uncle also sat up straight, his expression complex.

"You... are you telling the truth?" Auntie Liu’s voice softened.

"A lawyer's letter will arrive within three days. If you don't believe me, we’ll see you in court."

"You’re going to sue your own mother?" Auntie Liu couldn't believe it.

"I’m going to take back what belongs to me."

"Your mother is dying, and you’re suing her now? What does this mean? Kicking someone when they’re down?"

"She spent my money on other people for over a decade, and I didn't say a word. Now I’m asking for it back, and it's 'kicking someone when they’re down'?"

"Auntie Liu, I don't understand your logic."

Auntie Liu opened her mouth, but for a moment, she couldn't speak.

My second uncle stood up.

"About this... I’ll go back and look into it."

He tugged on Auntie Liu’s arm. "Let’s go. We’ll leave for today."

Auntie Liu still wanted to say something, but she was pulled away by my uncle.

Old Zhang followed them out, and as she left, she glanced back at me with a look I couldn't quite decipher.

My cousin was the last to leave.

She paused at the door and whispered, "Nora, I really didn't know about those things."

The door closed.

I stood alone in the private room, looking at the untouched tea on the table.

Lu pushed the door open, holding a glass of warm milk.

"Nora, drink something warm."

I took it; the wall of the glass burned my palm.

"You heard everything?"

"The soundproofing isn't great," she said honestly.

"Then help me do some math."

"What math?"

"520,000 in pension, plus a 75-square-meter apartment. Calculate what that’s worth based on current market prices."

Lu pulled out her phone and tapped away for a moment. "Property there is twelve thousand per square meter now, so seventy-five square meters is nine hundred thousand. Plus five hundred twenty thousand, that’s about 1.42 million."

"1.42 million."

I took a sip of the milk.

"She owes me much more than 1.42 million."

Chapter 6

The day after the lawyer’s letter was sent, I received an unexpected call.

It wasn't from Beth, it wasn't from Gary, and it wasn't from any relative.