Chapter 4 59 % X Franco didn't waste any time giving me orders , as if I were his assistant . " Pack up the luggage for me and the kids by tomorrow . We're leaving at 9 AM sharp , " he said , with barely a glance in my direction . " And don't forget Ingrid's luggage . She's not feeling well enough to handle the heavy stuff , so go to her place and pack for her as well . Don't forget her ID , passport , and visa . " Before I could even respond , he turned and walked off , leaving me no room to argue . The next day , I packed all their luggage into the car by myself . Afterward , I followed them to the airport to see them off . They were all laughing and chatting , fussing over Ingrid and checking on her like she was some fragile doll . Meanwhile , not a single one of them noticed that I was throwing up from motion sickness , fifteen times to be exact . But who was counting , right ? Just before they boarded the plane , my daughter , Karla , gave me a fake , overly sweet goodbye . " Mom , take care of yourself at home . I'll bring you a gift when I come back , " she said , her voice dripping with feigned sweetness . I didn't say a word . I just stood there and watched them , holding back everything I wanted to say . Then , suddenly , Ingrid screamed , " Oh no ! My necklace is missing ! That was the keepsake my mom left behind me ! " Franco's parents had adopted Ingrid after her biological mother died , saving her from a cliff . She had kept the necklace as a memory of her mother , and it was worth a lot of money . Knowing that , Franco immediately panicked and organized everyone to search for it . Clutching her bag , Ingrid began crying , her eyes focusing on me . " Suzy , you were the only one who touched my suitcase . Tell me honestly , when you packed my things yesterday , did you steal my necklace ? " I couldn't even blink before Franco slapped me across the face . The sting of his blow , afterward , was sharp and cruel . " Suzy , how low can you go , huh ? " he berated , " You really can't stand Ingrid , can you ? Now , you have to steal her necklace . Give it back now ! " Right then , Andrew and Karla looked at me , their faces twisted with shame and judgment . M.Chapter 3 3/3 10.0 % Mon , Aug 59 % X " Mom , yeah , we're broke , but not this desperate . Give Aunt Ingrid her necklace back already ! " Karla spoke out , exasperated . I furrowed my brows as I replied , " Do you even know me , Karla ? When have I ever stolen anything ? I saw her taking out the necklace earlier , and Marian saw it too . " Everyone's eyes shifted to Marian . But instead of defending me , she just shook her head and said , " Come on , Mom , don't drag me into this . I didn't see any necklace . " Just then , Dylan came at me , slamming a punch into my stomach . " You old hag , give Aunt Ingrid her jewelry back ! " My granddaughter joined in , biting my hand . " You thief , Grandma ! Hand it over to Auntie ! " Besides Franco , Ingrid was crying so dramatically , her eyes wide and filled with tears . She sobbed , " That necklace is the most important thing to me . I want to take it with me when I'm buried . " Franco's face darkened , and he pointed at me like he meant business . " Suzy , you've got three seconds to hand it over . Or I swear , I'll rip it off you myself . " I frowned , not wanting to give him the satisfaction . " I didn't steal it ." But Franco didn't believe me . Without hesitation , he ordered the staff to strip me naked . Before I knew it , my clothes were being torn off , exposing my worn - out undergarments to the sunlight . I felt a rush of humiliation unlike anything I'd ever experienced . Still , I held my head high , wrapping my arms tightly around myself , trying to shield what little dignity I had left . Then , out of nowhere , a staff member from the airport approached me . " Excuse me , Ma'am , is this the necklace you're looking for ? " She held up Ingrid's necklace , the one that was supposedly missing . Ingrid rushed over , grabbing it from her hands . Almost breathless , she demanded , " Where did you find this ? " The staff member explained , " You dropped it while rummaging through your bag . This necklace looks quite valuable , so please be more careful next time . " Ingrid's face turned red with embarrassment . Franco , however , remained filled with anger and couldn't let this go . He snapped , backing Ingrid up . " If you didn't steal it , Suzy , why'd you stay quiet ? What's the use of a mouth if you're not speaking up ? " Androw and Karlo iumnad in mookina ma Chapter 4 OX Andrew and Karla jumped in , mocking me . " Mom , if you're trying to make Aunt Ingrid look bad , just say it . Housewives aren't impressive , but you sure know how to stir up jealousy ! " " Yeah ! You're always starting drama and craving attention ! " I could feel the sting of their words like a slap across my face . Even my grandchildren , Tommy and Thalia , spat at me . " Bad Grandma ! " " Grandma , lying is wrong ! " It felt like a nightmare , and I couldn't wake up . Then , finally , the boarding call came . Without a second glance , they rushed onto the plane , leaving me behind . One of the airport staff , noticing my disheveled state , gently draped a coat over my shoulders . I wrapped it tightly around myself , bought a fresh outfit from a nearby shop , and grabbed my already packed suitcase . It was time to leave . On the flight to Silverstone , I sat by the window , watching the ground fall away beneath me . I exhaled slowly , deeply . Goodbye , nightmare . 3/3