"And also, don't you have a few vacant apartments under your name?"
"Transfer one to Carrie as her dowry. A little gesture from Georgia."
"Mom!"
I shot to my feet.
"Are you selling your daughter?! Colin has already given plenty. That three hundred thousand is my own money!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Mom flew into a rage, grabbed the ashtray, and hurled it at me.
Bang.
It hit my forehead. Warm liquid ran down, and my vision turned blood-red.
"Georgia!"
Colin rushed over and caught me, pressing the wound as he glared at Mom.
"Ma'am! What are you doing? She's your biological daughter!"
"Biological daughter?"
Mom pointed at me.
"Would a biological daughter side with an outsider? Back then, it was because we got fined for having her that the family was so poor. Carrie couldn't even go to school! Now she's living the good life and doesn't care whether her sister lives or dies. Something like this deserves to be beaten to death!"
Leaning in Colin's arms, I didn't even feel angry.
So it was the fine. Caroline dropped out and ran off on her own, yet it became the crime I'd carried for years.
"We're leaving."
Colin's voice was ice.
"Whether this marriage happens isn't up to you. Worst case, we'll go to court and change the household registration."
"You wouldn't dare!"
Mom tried to stop us, but the driver blocked her.
At the door, I looked back. Mom was squatting on the floor picking up the ashtray, cursing nonstop. Caroline was flipping through the gift boxes, complaining there were only supplements and no bag.
In the car, Colin wiped the blood from my face, his eyes red.
"Georgia, we're done with them. From now on, you'll live with me."
I watched the snowy scenery outside. Only calm in my heart.
Colin, I'm sorry. I don't have a future anymore.
I touched my empty pocket. The withdrawal made my whole body tremble, the ringing in my ears sharp.
I leaned on his shoulder.
"Colin, if one day I disappear, don't look for me."
He gripped my hand.
"What stupid thing are you saying? We're going to get married and live a whole lifetime together."
A whole lifetime was too long. I couldn't hold on.
Only two days passed before Mom called Colin's phone.
I was at his apartment watching him cook porridge. From the speaker came Mom's piercing wail.
"Colin! Save us! Otherwise the whole family can only go die!"
He frowned.
"What happened?"
"Carrie's boyfriend Dylan beat someone into serious injury! They want one million in compensation, otherwise they'll sue Dylan and send him to prison! And they're going to find someone to get Carrie killed!"
The porcelain spoon in my hand knocked against the rim of the bowl.
One million.
"Ma'am, this is a criminal case. You should call the police."
"Call the police for what!" Mom screamed. "If we call the police, Dylan is finished! Carrie is pregnant with his child! The child can't be without a dad! Aren't you rich? Lend it to us first, and later let Georgia pay you back!"
"Georgia has no obligation to pay back this kind of debt."
Colin refused.
"Put Georgia on the phone!" Mom's voice turned vicious. "Georgia! Your sister is about to be forced to death and you're still playing dead? Don't you have three hundred thousand in your hands? Take it out first! Let your fiancé make up the rest!"
I took the phone.
"That three hundred thousand—I already donated it."
Dead silence on the other end. Then a burst of cursing.
"Donated it? You'd rather donate to outsiders than save your own sister? You animal! If I'd known, I would've strangled you to death in the toilet the moment you were born!"
I hung up and blocked the number.
