Chapter289 I tried to smile, but tears took over first. "Tyler, no one''s taking Mom''s things away.


    "If you feel like giving Michelle stuff, you can give away whatever you want from the Parrish family."


    "What good stuff could the Parrish family possibly have..." Tyler''s voice trailed off.


    He was right. What good stuff could the Parrish family possibly have?


    There wasn''t a single decent thing or person in the Parrish family.


    I threw the shredded papers in the trash and went upstairs.


    "The day after tomorrow is Mom''s anniversary. Don''t forget it."


    "Forget? No way," Tyler forced augh.


    "You should go to bed. I''m heading to the study to work overtime," he added.


    I didn''t say anything or look back.


    That night, I stayed up, eyes wide open.


    I went through every item in this house that belonged to the three of us.


    Photos? Burned them.


    Anything breakable? Smashed it.


    As for what could be donated, I boxed them up and sent them to the orphanage.


    All that remained was this vi, filled with memories around every corner.


    It was the only vi my mom had when she joined the Parrish family.


    After my mom was gone, Tyler and I just couldn''t bear to leave our home.


    Eventually, my dad left and started living with Michelle''s mom.


    Tyler had not been around muchtely.


    Antonio used to drop by every single day to keep mepany.


    Buttely, he had been a no-show.


    There I was on the terrace, clutching a picture of my mom.


    I cried until I finally drifted off to sleep, tears still wet on my cheeks.


    The day after my birthday was my mom''s anniversary.


    Back then, she made it through my birthday and then let go.


    I was heartbroken, crying my eyes out.


    Antonio didn''t leave my side, staying up with me through it all.


    He had been there for eight birthdays since then.


    This year, he wasn''t around. It hurt, but I was learning to live with it.


    Antonio didn''te.


    Michelle, on the other hand, was all over the ce.


    Her social media had been going non-stop all night.


    Some nosy people even streamed it to me live.


    "No real reason to party, but Antonio suggested we just have a birthd


    for


    y tablet.


    "It''s just a ploy to gobble up some cake."


    Sto


    There was this fancy, expensive double-decker cake, and a pyramid of champagne.


    Michelle was the center of attention, dressed up like a princess, a crown on her head.


    Her grin


    as all warmth, her eyes


    sparkli Wasa


    as she gazed at the


    standing next to her. Conte


    Antonio


    SWI


    was grinning back at her, a soft look on his face. They looked like they were made for each other.


    60 grinning back at her,


    t belongs to swoont


    I quit WhatsApp and pped my phone down on the table.


    With my eyes shut tight, I made a wish by the candlelight.


    "Mom, please watch over me and guide me through this journey.


    "Mom, please shield me from all the bad apples."