I pulled out my SIM card and locked myself in the bathroom . Mark wouldn't give up . He'd stake out the villa every single day . He was jobless now , so he could sleep outside my door all night , hoping I'd change my mind . But he had no idea I'd already left on vacation . P < When Mr. Davies sent me the surveillance footage of Mark lying sprawled outside my house , I was on a beach , sipping coconut water and admiring handsome guys . " Let him lie there . Put that villa up for sale for me . " My parents watched me from the screen , worried . " Chloe , can you really bear to let Leo suffer with Mark ? " Leo was just like his dad - a master manipulator . He knew exactly how to charm his grandparents . They'd even planned to leave all their assets to him once they retired , their only grandson . " Mom , Leo is old enough to know right from wrong . I poured my heart and soul into him , raised him for years , and what did he do ? Conspired with his dad to drug me and frame me for cheating ! " " After that , he's no longer my son ." My parents didn't say anything more . A few days later , Mr. Davies called , saying someone was interested in the villa . It was a young man who insisted on signing the contract in person . " That's my absolute lowest price . If you want to haggle , look elsewhere ." I had plenty of properties ; I wasn't worried about selling . The young man's voice was pleasant . " No haggling ." To show his sincerity , he personally flew to the coastal village where I was vacationing to sign the contract . The young man who bought the villa was named Julian . He looked incredibly young . Dressed in a suit , he looked like a wealthy young heir , clearly loaded . " Sister , I bought a villa from you . Any chance I could add you on SnapChat ? " His intention was so obvious , I even suspected he bought the villa just to get my SnapChat . I heard that on the day Julian moved in , he saw Mark lying outside the gate . He assumed Mark was some beggar and had him beaten up . Mark returned home , covered in bruises . The lights were off , the house cold and empty . He looked around ; no one was in any of the rooms . No matter how late he came home before , I would always leave a night light on for him . I'd wake up to make him a cup of hot milk . But now , Tiffany was out all night , spending his money . He hadn't had a hot meal in a long time . Only then would he desperately recall all the good times we had , and all I did for him . He used to hate my nagging , how I'd tell him to take care of his body , to eat on time , three meals a day . His clothes were always washed clean and hung on the balcony . PP . < I'd collect them , fold them neatly in the closet , smelling fresh and sun - kissed . Mark looked at the messy , chaotic house , clothes scattered everywhere , leftover fruit peels emitting a putrid smell . He finally couldn't hold back , bending over in anguish , sobbing . Leo crawled out of his room . His dark circles were thick . He hadn't eaten in days , playing video games non - stop , now trembling from hunger . He was crouching on the floor like a gaunt , shivering shadow . " Dad , I'm so hungry , and I hurt so much . " Mark frantically called for an ambulance . On the way to the hospital , he got my number through my parents . " Chloe , Leo has acute gastroenteritis . He collapsed . Can you please come see him ? " I listened to his anxious voice and replied coldly , " He's sick ? Call a doctor . What do you expect me to do ? I don't have superpowers ; a glance from me isn't going to magically fix him . " Ugh , I'll have to change my number again . Honestly . 10 . My parents had a habit of getting too involved , so I sent them abroad . That way , even if Derek wanted to find them , he couldn't . I was still traveling , exploring the world . As I traveled through a remote , impoverished region , the stunning beauty of the landscape caught my eye . Yet , due to the harsh living conditions , the area remained in a surprisingly primitive state . I decided to stop and poured a year of my life into transforming this struggling community into a thriving tourist resort . Finally , the tourism business was booming . The villagers ' lives improved dramatically because of it . Those who had left for the cities came home to work , and families gathered , sharing happy meals . Every time I saw their smiling faces , my empty heart felt a rare sense of fulfillment . Then , one day , just like any other . I woke up early , hauling feed to the chicken coop , when I saw two familiar figures standing by my front door . A year later , Derek and Noah were nothing but skin and bones . Their eyes were deeply sunken and ringed with black , as if they'd pulled countless all - nighters and walked for miles to find me . Their clothes were wrinkled and grimy , clearly hadn't been changed in ages . Noah saw me and burst into tears , dropping to his knees . " Mom , I'm so sorry ! Mom , please don't leave me ! " " Chloe , why would you rather spend your money helping these strangers than us , your own family ? What can they even do for you ? Noah is your biological son ! " Derek had lived like a dog this past year , searching everywhere for my whereabouts , but he couldn't find me . 4.17 PM P Brittany had blown through all their money . She even complained that Derek couldn't make enough money , and that he couldn't work as hard as younger men . To keep Brittany happy , he'd sold off their only home . That whole year , Brittany never cooked a single meal . He and Noah lived on takeout every day . Noah had a delicate health condition , needing a hospital visit every few days . The money from selling the house was all gone , and he couldn't find a job . Mr. Harrison had made it explicitly clear to every company in the industry that hiring Derek would be seen as a direct challenge to him . Big companies wouldn't touch him , and small companies thought he was too old . What finally broke him was when Brittany , disgusted by his poverty , abandoned him again . So , he spent the last of his money to come and find me . " Derek , we're divorced . Stop trying to emotionally blackmail me , and please , stop bothering me ." " Chloe , how can you be so heartless ? Noah is your biological son ! Even if you hate me , how can you abandon the son you raised for ten years ? Look at him now ! Doesn't it break your heart ? " Noah had stopped going to school , spending his days holed up in his room , gaming . His meals consisted of potato chips , and his thirst was quenched with soda . In just one year , his eyes were deeply sunken , and his skin had a sallow , sickly pallor . He was nothing but skin and bones , a far cry from the cute , vibrant child he used to be . " Mom , I was wrong ! I know you only disciplined me for my own good . Aunt Brittany never cared for me , and look what I've become because of her . I absolutely hate her ! Mom , please , come back and take care of me , okay ? I promise I'll be a devoted and obedient son ! " Despite my objections , the father and son insisted on staying . I refused to let them in the house , so they simply camped out on the street nearby . Every day , they tried to win me over , cleaning the chicken coop , carrying water , tending to the plants - they'd do any tough , dirty work I asked . The villagers even complimented my ' good fortune , remarking on how I had such a loving husband and son . I just smiled and stayed silent . If I hadn't overheard their conversation , I might have been fooled too. " Dad , you and Mom are divorced . If she dies , would we get any of her property ? " See ? A leopard can't change its spots . 11 . Arthur and Leo intended to poison the chicken , then presented the cooked bird to me . " Ava , I know you won't change your mind about us . After this meal , let's just end things peacefully . I promise I'll never bother you again ." " Mom , I made this for you myself ." They both watched me with such fake sincerity , waiting for me to eat ... waiting for me to die . Suddenly , a profound sadness washed over me . My life felt utterly pathetic . " Leo , can I ask you something ? Why do you hate me so much ? " P P . < Leo's face shifted , his eyes darting away . " I don't hate you , Mom . What happened before ... Brenda forced me to do it . I didn't want to set you up . " " You never let me play video games , and you never let me have snacks - those are my favorite things ! You wouldn't even let me touch them . That's why ... that's why Brenda got to me . " " Did you ever stop to think why I didn't let you eat junk food ? Look at what you've been eating this past year , look at what it's done to your body ! " " I know I was wrong , Mom . I promise I'll eat healthy from now on . " I spooned a large chicken leg and some soup onto Leo's plate . Leo's face instantly drained of color . He was just a kid ; he couldn't hide his guilt . He immediately turned to Arthur for help . " Ava , we cooked this especially for you . Please , eat up . Don't let it go to waste . " I just stood there , my arms crossed , unmoving . Arthur , looking uncomfortable , placed it in front of me . He beckoned to Leo :