When The Phone Rings

"Why can't I speak harshly to you, Mom?"

"You…!"

"You used your daughter to secure your position. But I can't do the same to you?"

"……."

"If you're going to play dirty, at least make it fair!"

Her sister In-ah, who had been dozing off nearby, jolted awake at the loud voice. She instinctively stepped between them, but it was no use.

Heeju’s eyes burned with a defiance that wasn’t born overnight. Even In-ah felt momentarily overwhelmed by the force of her presence.

"You don’t even like me, Mom."

"……!"

"You hate me, don’t you? Because I’m the product of your past, all bundled up into one inconvenient reminder. You couldn’t stand seeing me live in a chaebol’s house, eating good food, wearing good clothes, sleeping in a nice room."

Kim Yeonhee’s face turned as pale as a sheet.

"When people whispered about your background, you always came looking for me afterward. You picked fights over nothing, mocking me for things I couldn’t control."

"……."

"Watching me get treated better than you ever were? That was the only thing that kept you breathing in this suffocating house. In this cold, cruel chaebol family, I was your only solace."

"……!"

"You wanted me to be miserable—"

Heeju straightened her back, standing tall.

"But it’s you who can’t live without me, Mom."

Kim Yeonhee couldn’t muster a single word in rebuttal. She stared, wide-eyed and stunned.

"Stop sacrificing me to keep yourself afloat."

"You…"

"I won’t be your offering anymore."

Heeju deliberately took a step back, widening the distance between them. When her mother reflexively reached out, she swatted the hand away without hesitation.

"I’m telling you I don’t need you anymore."

"……!"

"I’m telling you I won’t love you anymore."

She thought of the empty urn—so light, so hollow it almost didn’t seem real.