Chapter 68
Mom came up with a simper. I noticed she was holding a small gift box. Why was she delivering a gift at this hour?
your appetite
she said to Grandma, “Mom, I know you’re feeling down these days, and I hear decreased. That won’t do. Amber is thoughtful enough to bid for two sets of bone china kitchenware for you at an auction.”
“Take them away. I don’t need these, especially not when they’re from Amber,” Grandma replied, stone–faced.
“Mom, take a look first.” Mom pulled out the kitchenware–a lovely set of blue and white pottery. The blue patterns sat gracefully atop the white background.
However, the bowl in the set did not have paintings of plants or animals on them. Instead, it carried some writings in the Erstonian language
“What is this?” Grandma asked.
“Do you know how precious this bowl is? It’s a collaboration between two masters of their respective fields,” Mom explained.
“An inter–field collaboration?” Doubt surfaced on Grandma’s face.
“Indeed. See, a pottery master created the bowl, and a renowned religious master wrote the scriptures on it. This bowl is sacred.”
Grandma’s attitude shifted at the mention of religious elements. “Is that true?”
“Of course. Amber put in a lot of effort to win the bid; she knows you’re very religious. This is a highly coveted bowl because two masters worked on it, and Amber spent a huge fortune on the bid. I’m sure you will be blessed with longevity if you use the bowl for your meals.” “Well, leave it here, then.” Grandma was unhealthily obsessed with religion at the end of her life, but it was understandable. The more powerful someone was, the more they feared death. Grandma, who had enjoyed a comfortable life and received love from her offspring, seemed traumatized by the concept of death ever since she witnessed the death of her spouse.
Science and medicine were a temporary fix for the pain brought by her illness. That was why she turned to religion in the hope of extending her life. People in this country would rather believe in religion and superstitions than brush them off.
Grandma shot a look at Mom. “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
Rubbing her hands, Mom blurted out, “Mom, I’m here today to deliver the bowls and to
about because th you. Allison is married now; she’s a
discuss something with Lundberg. I have nothing to worry
Lundberg family is the perfect place for her, and Shane is her childhood
sweetheart. As for Amber…”
Sighing, she added, “The Schultz family has not been the same ever since Dad passed away. We are helpless in the face of our declining fortunes. I’m just worried Amber will have trouble finding a good man to marry, especially when I know you’ve always wanted to leave Allison your stocks.”
Grandma and I immediately understood what Mom was getting at. Grandma’s expression fell. “Don’t you dare dream of taking my stocks from me! I would rather donate everything under my name than leave them to Amber!”
“Mom, you shouldn’t play favorites! Both Allison and Amber are your granddaughters! Don’t you have an ounce of sympathy for poor Amber after Allison shoved her into the water and forced her to live a miserable life all these years?
“I’m not asking you to favor Amber over Allison, but at least be fair to both!“.
I thought I had recovered from my failed marriage with Shane and that I could keep my cool no matter what he and Amber did. But I finally realized that nothing hurt more than my family’s betrayal.
Grandma spoke up for me. “Aren’t you playing favorites too? You blamed Allison after hearing Amber’s story. Who could prove that Ally pushed Amber into the water? Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Chapter 69
