Chapter 5

The next day at noon, my cousin Muriel called.

"Charlotte, we're visiting the ancestors' graves today. You're back, right? Hurry over—everyone's almost here."

"Got it, I'm on my way."

After hanging up, I quickly got ready and headed to the cemetery.

When I arrived, I could see from a distance that all the relatives had gathered. My parents were there too.

But as I got closer, I stopped in my tracks—Laura was there too, standing beside my mom.

Muriel saw me first and waved. "Charlotte, over here."

I walked over and asked quietly, "Why is she here?"

Muriel sighed. "Your parents brought her."

After the ancestral rites were finished, everyone went to a pre-booked restaurant for a meal.

The whole extended family sat around a large table. During the meal, my mom said:

"Since all the relatives are here today, Casseres and I have something to announce."

My dad took over, looking at everyone. "We're planning to officially adopt Laura as our daughter."

As soon as those words came out, the table fell silent. Relatives exchanged glances.

My mom continued, "Laura is truly thoughtful. She's with us every day, serving us tea and water, cooking and cleaning. She's more attentive than Charlotte."

After my mom spoke, relatives instinctively looked at me. I held my knife and fork but said nothing.

My dad glanced at me, his tone growing heavy. "Unlike some people who can't be seen all year long. When she finally comes home, all she talks about is money. Not thoughtful at all."

"We asked her to quit and come back to take care of us—she refused. We asked her to go on blind dates and settle down—she won't do that either."

"Her wings have grown hard. She doesn't care whether we live or die anymore."

Muriel quickly tried to smooth things over. "Charlotte does care about you. She really is busy with work—the pressure is intense. Don't talk about her like that."

My mom immediately waved her hand, her expression sour. "Busy, busy, busy—all she knows is being busy! What's the point of all that money if she can't be here with us?"

"Laura's different. She knows when we're cold or hot. When we're not feeling well, she's the one running around, buying medicine, bringing water, taking such good care of us. She's so much more reliable."

My dad got more worked up as he spoke, his voice rising. "Since we can't count on Charlotte, we'll adopt someone thoughtful!"

"If Laura takes care of us in our old age and when we die, we might as well leave this house to her!"

The whole table was shocked. Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to speak.

Some wanted to offer advice, but seeing how determined my parents were, they swallowed their words.

The meal ended in a strange atmosphere.

After everyone dispersed, Muriel pulled me aside, her face full of worry.

"Charlotte, have your parents been brainwashed by that housekeeper? How can they say they'll leave the house to her?"

"You need to go back and talk to them properly. You can't let them stay confused like this."

I looked at Laura in the distance, laughing and chatting with my parents, and gently shook my head.

"Maybe they always wanted a caring daughter who could be with them every day and obediently listen to them."

"I can't be that person. If they want someone else to do it, I can't stop them."

The vacation ended quickly, and I prepared to return to New York.

Before leaving, I called my dad—no answer. I called my mom—she hung up immediately.

I tried several more times. All rejected.

I looked at my phone and didn't persist. I pulled my suitcase and went to the station, boarding the train back to New York.

Over the next few weeks, I kept seeing my parents' Twitter posts.

Today they were eating hot pot with Laura, the three of them leaning together intimately for a photo.

Tomorrow they were walking in the park together, Laura holding my mom's arm, smiling obediently.

The captions all radiated the warmth and harmony of a family of three.

I scrolled through the posts without liking or commenting, pretending I hadn't seen them.

Then, a few days after another vacation ended, a call suddenly came in. It was my mom.

As soon as I answered, I heard her dissatisfied voice come through directly.

"Charlotte, why haven't you sent this month's living expenses yet? And Laura's salary—why haven't you paid her either?"