Mary finally returned home in the dusky evening, her spirit worn to a threadbare fatigue. With a dazed stride, she ascended to her room, bypassing her usual detour to greet her mother. The housemaid sensed an unusual ripple in Mary’s demeanor that evening, a curious oddity she felt inclined to probe but held herself back. After all, she reasoned, it was not her place to intrude too deeply into the owner of the household.
Mary collapsed heavily onto her bed, a top-tier mattress with excellent elasticity that provided a gentle bounce. She tossed her phone to the side and lightly closed her eyes to savor a rare moment of comfort.
Each day weighed heavily on her, the money she had borrowed growing alarmingly, quickly ballooning into an intimidating sum. Mary was straining under the burden, grappling daily with creeping negative thoughts.
Days flowed like this, with no apparent resolution presenting itself. Another late evening found Mary returning home, worn out. She silently ascended the stairs, passing the living room without meeting her mother, who, she assumed, had rested early for the night.
Minutes later, sounds of argument and crashing furniture from below startled her. She dashed downstairs to find a group of menacing, burly men wreaking havoc, turning her living room into a chaos of shattered pieces. Mrs. Frank and the maid were genuflect on the floor, pleading with them to stop, to no avail.
Mary surmised that these were undoubtedly of her creditors, yet she hadn’t expected that the man, who otherwise seemed quite cultured and well-mannered, could be capable of such actions.
Mary yelled, “Stop immediately, or I’ll call the police!”
The ring leader motioned for his minions to halt and stepped toward Mary. His face contorted into a provocative smirk.
“Not paying your debts on time, and you dare to call the police? Trying to wriggle out of your responsibilities, are you?”
His eyes held a sinister gleam as if harboring an evil scheme. With every passing moment, he advanced closer, causing Mary to retreat in fear. Unfortunately, she stepped on a shard, causing blood to seep out. A cry of pain escaped her lips.
“No!”
Undeterred, the man’s eyes darkened, his lips curling into a lewd smile.
“Not so bad looking, are you? Perhaps there’s another way you can pay off your debt?”
Summoning every strength, Mary stood her ground, staring him in the eye as she roared, “Don’t you dare, you scum!”
Incensed, he raised his club, intent on striking her down. Instinctively, Mary ducked, averting her face. A familiar cry resounded as he struck. Mary felt someone embrace her before falling, a strange liquid soaking her clothes and a heavy body pressing her down, causing her to topple over.
Opening her eyes, she found the woman who had cared for her all those years lying across her arm. Ana Madam had taken the blow, her blood pooling around them. Mary and Mrs. Frank sobbed uncontrollably in sheer terror. As for that infamous man, he calmly departed as if nothing of significance had transpired. Before he left, he tossed back a warning.
“Should you fail to pay me in full within a week, I will return, and at that juncture, circumstances will be far worse than they currently are. Bear that in mind.”
Chaos, both material and emotional, fear a spectral shroud enveloping everything. Ana Madam still resided within the protective circle of Mary’s arms, her voice trembling as she struggled to articulate something. Mary reached for her phone to call for an ambulance, but Ana Madam stopped her.
“I… I have something to tell you both.”
Mary and Mrs. Frank leaned in, straining to hear the feeble words.
“I’m sorry for hiding all of this, but please forgive me… and the truth is, Mary is not your child. She’s my granddaughter. I didn’t mean to deceive, but at that time, I had no choice but to switch the two children. I know I have made a grave mistake. You may not forgive me, but Mary is innocent. Please, let her be.”
These words struck like thunder, leaving Mrs. Frank dumbfounded. The daughter she had always cared for and loved was not of her blood. She slowly stood up, her hands trembling, her gaze meeting those of the two women before her as if they were strange creatures. A lump formed in her throat, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face, loneliness wrapping around this deeply hurt woman.
Mary was just as stunned. She could not understand why this was happening. She had recently lost a loved one and was about to lose another. Worse, she could not determine who her kin were and who were strangers.
The dying moments are often when hidden secrets are brought to light, as this becomes their final opportunity. Ana Madam grasped Mary’s trembling hands and faintly uttered,
“I’m sorry, my dear, but all I have done was for you. It would be best if you left here immediately. This family is no longer a haven. If you continue to stay, you’ll be the one who suffers.”
Mary was heartbroken to realize she had no familial ties to those who had always loved her. If she were to leave now, her conscience would never allow it.
Mary watched helplessly as Ana Madam gradually fainted in her arms. She screamed and cried desolately but to no avail. She called out of fear, confusion, and powerlessness.
Mrs. Frank was still reeling, attempting to comprehend the situation, when she rushed towards the lifeless body, shaking it vigorously and interrogating it in unbearable grief.
“Where is my child? You can’t die. You have to tell me. Speak! Speak!”
The house echoed with mournful wails. The usual warmth and cheer had evaporated. Everything shattered like soap bubbles, torn apart by the relentless waves of life.
Mrs. Frank was desperately trying to awaken a soulless body. She hoped it would suddenly come to life and tell her about her lost daughter, but the more she tried, the more despair set in.