My dad called again around noon. This time, his voice was filled with urgency as he spoke, “I visited Melissa, and she really is missing. I asked the neighbors about her whereabouts, but no one had seen her recently. Do you think something bad might have happened to her?”
In the meantime, my mother was in the kitchen brewing tea for Angel.
When she heard my dad’s words, she snapped, “You’re such a fool! Why are you even looking for her? Do you want her to kill more people? Evil people never die. I’ve wished for her death for years, but she’s still alive. So, what could have possibly happened to her?”
My dad took a few deep breaths, but his voice was still shaky. “Listen to me. When I went to see her, I saw that she was living in a filthy, rundown basement. The landlord told me she barely managed to pay the rent and often fell behind.
“I know you’re still angry about what she did, but she has indeed gotten her punishment for these past five years. It feels different this time. No one knows where she is. I think we should call the police.”
When my mother listened to his reasoning, she became infuriated and swiped a bowl off the counter, causing it to break into pieces.
“A monster like her deserves to live miserably! What is there to be pitied of? She killed someone and feigned innocence about it. Do you think she really knows what she did wrong?”
She inhaled sharply before she continued, “Call the police? I’d be thrilled if she’s finally dead. That way, I will live more happily.”
I shrank into myself and felt my soul tremble at the utter hate in her voice.
I could tell that her hatred for me ran so deep that she genuinely wished for my death.
When Angel tried to pick up the broken bowl, my mother quickly grabbed her hand since she was worried Angel might hurt herself.
Then, she said to my dad, “You didn’t even notice that Angel has been eating and sleeping terribly lately. All you care about is that murderer. Why are you so biased?”
Although I knew that I wasn’t welcome, I still felt devastated to witness the warmth between Angel and my mother.
After all, Angel always had it all.
“Could you please at least contact her?” My dad’s voice was hoarse as he spoke. “It’s just to make sure that she’s okay. She will definitely answer your call.”
“Why should I call her?” My mother’s face was full of resentment as she hung up the phone once again.
At that moment, a sudden knock on the door broke the silence.
Her assistant entered the room and handed her a set of documents. “The police’s autopsy report just came out.”
Angel, who was listening by the side, suddenly spoke, “Mom, doesn’t the timing of Melissa’s disappearance match with this case?”
My mother held her hand and said sternly, “Don’t bother thinking about her. After all, she would be the last person who would go missing. This is likely just one of her schemes.”
My heart ached painfully as I listened to her tearing me down.
To her, my sincerity was nothing but manipulation.
“It might be best to at least check up on her,” the assistant chimed in.
Angel said thoughtfully, “I’m not saying this to curse her, but the timing is just too coincidental.”
