Chapter 10 I no longer bothered to hide and answered the video call right there in the manor's living room . The last time I saw them , my parents and Celie had strutted arrogantly before me . Now , all three looked gaunt - my parents especially , their cheeks sunken , faces etched with hunger . On their end of the screen , they froze when they caught sight of me - radiant , healthy , and , if anything , a little rounder than before . " Isn't it the apocalypse out there ? How is it that you ... look like you've gained weight ? " I sighed and rubbed my chin . " Strange , isn't it ? Maybe I've just had too many pork ribs and chicken wings lately . " At the mention of pork ribs and chicken wings , my parents and Celie gulped . Still , Celie tilted her chin in defiance . " Impossible . There's no way you could be eating like that . " Her protest barely ended before Felix appeared , carrying lunch . " Honey , how about pork knuckle and tomato scrambled eggs today ? " he asked . " I guess ... but after this , we really need to go on a diet . We've been eating so much meat lately , I can practically feel my rounding out . " The steaming , tender pork knuckle landed squarely in front of the camera . My parents and Celie gaped , struck dumb . " You - you're eating pork knuckle ? " My mother's voice trembled , her mouth watering despite herself . With deliberate cruelty , I smiled faintly and patted Felix's shoulder . " Of course . You should thank your good son - in - law . He has a gold mine . " Felix , earnest as always , shook his head and corrected me . " No , Honey . No gold mine . Just a mountain . " stomach " Mm , right , just a mountain , " I said sweetly . " And on that mountain , just a modest little two - thousand - square - meter manor . " On the other side of the screen , their faces twisted as though they'd swallowed poison . Celie's rage boiled over . She lunged at our mother , fingers clamping around her throat , eyes bloodshot . " Mom ! This is what you called the good life ? Why ? If I'd married Felix , then all of Avery's good fortune would've been mine ! Why did you lie to me ? " My mother clawed at her hands , nearly fainting before she broke free . Even then , she scrambled to defend her precious Celie . Dropping to her knees right in front of the camera , she sobbed , " Avery ... it's our fault , your father's and mine . You don't know- in the last life , Felix and Celie were married ! " Her voice broke as she pleaded , " I'm begging you , give Felix to Celie . Celie's frail . She can't survive hardship ! "