Suzy's POV
Franco didn't waste any time giving me orders, as if I were his assistant.
"Pack up the luggage for me and the kids by tomorrow. We're leaving at 9 AM sharp," he said, with barely a glance in my direction. "And don't forget Ingrid's luggage. She's not feeling well enough to handle the heavy stuff, so go to her place and pack for her as well. Don't forget her ID, passport, and visa."
Before I could even respond, he turned and walked off, leaving me no room to argue.
...
The next day, I packed all their luggage into the car by myself.
Afterward, I followed them to the airport to see them off. They were all laughing and chatting, fussing over Ingrid and checking on her like she was some fragile doll.
Meanwhile, not a single one of them noticed that I was throwing up from motion sickness, fifteen times to be exact.
But who was counting, right?
Just before they boarded the plane, my daughter, Karla, gave me a fake, overly sweet goodbye.
"Mom, take care of yourself at home. I'll bring you a gift when I come back," she said, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness.
I didn't say a word. I just stood there and watched them, holding back everything I wanted to say.
Then, suddenly, Ingrid screamed, "Oh no! My necklace is missing! That was the keepsake my mom left behind me!"
Franco's parents had adopted Ingrid after her biological mother died, saving her from a cliff. She had kept the necklace as a memory of her mother, and it was worth a lot of money.
Knowing that, Franco immediately panicked and organized everyone to search for it.
Clutching her bag, Ingrid began crying, her eyes focusing on me.
"Suzy, you were the only one who touched my suitcase. Tell me honestly, when you packed my things yesterday, did you steal my necklace?"
I couldn't even blink before Franco slapped me across the face. The sting of his blow, afterward, was sharp and cruel.
"Suzy, how low can you go, huh?" he berated, "You really can't stand Ingrid, can you? Now, you have to steal her necklace. Give it back now!"
Right then, Andrew and Karla looked at me, their faces twisted with shame and judgment.
"Mom, yeah, we're broke, but not this desperate. Give Aunt Ingrid her necklace back already!" Karla spoke out, exasperated.
I furrowed my brows as I replied, "Do you even know me, Karla? When have I ever stolen anything? I saw her taking out the necklace earlier, and Marian saw it too."
Everyone's eyes shifted to Marian.
But instead of defending me, she just shook her head and said, "Come on, Mom, don't drag me into this. I didn't see any necklace."
Just then, Dylan came at me, slamming a punch into my stomach. "You old hag, give Aunt Ingrid her jewelry back!"
My granddaughter joined in, biting my hand. "You thief, Grandma! Hand it over to Auntie!"
Besides Franco, Ingrid was crying so dramatically, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
She sobbed, "That necklace is the most important thing to me. I want to take it with me when I'm buried."
Franco's face darkened, and he pointed at me like he meant business.
"Suzy, you've got three seconds to hand it over. Or I swear, I'll rip it off you myself."
I frowned, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
"I didn't steal it."
But Franco didn't believe me.
Without hesitation, he ordered the staff to strip me naked.
Before I knew it, my clothes were being torn off, exposing my worn-out undergarments to the sunlight. I felt a rush of humiliation unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
Still, I held my head high, wrapping my arms tightly around myself, trying to shield what little dignity I had left.
Then, out of nowhere, a staff member from the airport approached me.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, is this the necklace you're looking for?"
She held up Ingrid's necklace, the one that was supposedly missing.
Ingrid rushed over, grabbing it from her hands.
Almost breathless, she demanded, "Where did you find this?"
The staff member explained, "You dropped it while rummaging through your bag. This necklace looks quite valuable, so please be more careful next time."
Ingrid's face turned red with embarrassment.
Franco, however, remained filled with anger and couldn't let this go.
He snapped, backing Ingrid up. "If you didn't steal it, Suzy, why'd you stay quiet? What's the use of a mouth if you're not speaking up?"
Andrew and Karla jumped in, mocking me.
"Mom, if you're trying to make Aunt Ingrid look bad, just say it. Housewives aren't impressive, but you sure know how to stir up jealousy!"
"Yeah! You're always starting drama and craving attention!"
I could feel the sting of their words like a slap across my face.
Even my grandchildren, Tommy and Thalia, spat at me.
"Bad Grandma!"
"Grandma, lying is wrong!"
It felt like a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up.
Then, finally, the boarding call came.
Without a second glance, they rushed onto the plane, leaving me behind.
One of the airport staff, noticing my disheveled state, gently draped a coat over my shoulders. I wrapped it tightly around myself, bought a fresh outfit from a nearby shop, and grabbed my already packed suitcase.
It was time to leave.
On the flight to Silverstone, I sat by the window, watching the ground fall away beneath me. I exhaled slowly, deeply.
Goodbye, nightmare.
