Chapter 126 Not Surprised
BELLA'S POV
“What do you mean by — so?” I asked sharply, sitting up straight on the edge of the couch. My body stiffened as I stared at her. “I just told you that, and you’re acting like it’s not shocking at all?”
Mom barely reacted. She adjusted her robe, sat on the chair opposite me, then leaned back, her expression calm—almost annoyingly so.
“Because I’m not surprised,” she said. “Years ago, when she found out I wasn’t her real mother, she came here with a woman who claimed to be her biological mother. From the way that woman carried herself, from her clothes to the car she stepped out of, it was obvious she was filthy rich. Since then, I had a feeling Anna was going to rise to great heights, even though I hated to admit it.”
My lips tightened.
So I was right all along.
Just as I thought, she had been living a fake life. Borrowed wealth. Borrowed privilege. She only got to where she was because of parents she didn’t even grow up with.
I scoffed softly, shaking my head.
“Hold on,” I said suddenly, lifting my hand as something clicked in my mind. “When we went to get my medication at her pharmacy for the first time… do you remember the name of that place when it had just opened?”
Mom glanced at me briefly but didn’t respond.
“It was called Anna’s Med Care,” I continued. “Did you know she was the owner back then?”
Mom frowned slightly, then shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I knew she was living in a rich environment, but that doesn’t mean I was keeping tabs on her. Besides, she’s not the only person named Anna in this city.”
She had a point.
There were countless shops, salons, and stores with the name Anna plastered across their signboards. We never cared enough to assume that every business with that name was hers.
“But,” I added, leaning forward, “you do realize that the doctor who gave us the medicine that day was her, right?”
She gave a short laugh, folding her arms across her chest. “So what? You want me to applaud you for being right? For maybe recognizing her eyes that day?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but she didn’t give me the chance.
“That isn’t even the important matter right now,” she cut in sharply. “The important matter is that you should never have quit that job.”
There it was.
I exhaled loudly. She was back to this again.
“I shouldn’t have quit?” I repeated. “Even after everything I just told you? If that wasn’t enough, Anna told me with her own mouth that she was going to put me through the same hell I made her go through while she was still with us. I’m not ready for that. It’s just a janitor job, I can apply somewhere else.” I said stopping my eyes from rolling to the back of my head
Mom stared at me like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Bella, what is your problem?” she asked. “Why are you thinking and behaving like a child? This is childish behavior — behavior I expected you to outgrow by now.” She said.
I squeezed my brows together, completely lost.
“How am I behaving like a child?” I asked.
She leaned forward more, this time, her voice firm. “You said she would put you through hell. So what? When you were sick and I had to do things I’m not proud of just to keep us going, didn’t you realize that I was going through hell too?”
I looked away.
“But did you see me stop?” she continued. “No. I didn’t. Because I had responsibilities. I had someone to take care of. I kept my priorities straight and I endured it because that’s what family does for one another.”
My chest rose and fell rapidly.
“Did I say I wasn’t going to work again?” I snapped. “I just said I’ll find another job starting tomorrow.”
My voice came out louder than I expected.
“You know how difficult it is to get a job at this time?” Mom shot back. “Do you think the water bill will wait for you to find a new one? Or the light bill? Do you think food will magically appear on your plate while you’re job hunting? Did you even think about any of that before you decided to quit?”
Anger surged through me.
“Oh, so now you want to backlash me for quitting?” I said bitterly. “Last time I checked, these bills wouldn’t even be an issue if you still had your job. It’s okay for you to quit and stay at home, but it’s horrible if I do the same right?”
Her eyes flashed.
“Don’t you dare speak to me in that tone, young lady,” she snapped. “I am still your mother, and I will not tolerate such disrespect under my roof. Since your father died I have been the one working and providing for you. The one time I decided to ease the burden on my shoulders and place it on you, you couldn’t even carry it for one month.”
Silence fell between us, thick and suffocating.
“So what are you saying?” I asked quietly.
She didn’t hesitate. “I’m saying you’re going back to that company to ask for your job back.”
My head snapped up. “No. I’m not doing that. And I’m standing by my decision, Mom.”
Her jaw clenched.
“It’s not a request, Bella,” she said coldly. “You’re no longer sick, and you’re old enough to go out there and make money. I am not going to be taking care of you at this age.”
She stood up, pointing a finger at me.
“It’s either you go back there and beg for that job back and while you’re there, you can apply to other places if you want or you leave my house.”
The words hit me like a slap.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.
So now she was using that against me.