They Have a Family Group Chat, I’m Not in It Chapter 07
When Mom saw those posts, she was completely stunned.
She showed Nova her phone and asked if it was true.
Nova’s first reaction was denial. She said those accounts weren’t hers.
Someone else had faked them.
But one of the accounts was linked to her phone number. There was no way to deny that.
Mom started crying right there.
She sobbed hard, saying between tears, “I’ve always treated you well, haven’t I? Why would you do such things? Hazel is my own flesh and blood, how could you…”
Nova started crying, too. But this time it wasn’t for pity. It was hysterical.
“Aunt Margaret, I was just so scared! I was scared you’d cast me aside once you had your own daughter by your side.”
Mom froze. “You were afraid we wouldn’t want you, so you pushed Hazel away instead? You made her sleep on the balcony, took her belongings, and stirred up trouble between her and Mateo. Is this how you repay our kindness?”
Nova laughed. “I just can’t get it. Why does she get to have parents and I don’t? Why does she have everything while I have nothing?”
Dad stood nearby, his face pale with anger.
Mateo was in shock too.
He opened his mouth, but all he could manage was, “Nova… how could you…”
He clenched his fists. He wanted to say something else but swallowed it back.
He remembered kicking his own sister for her.
He remembered the blood at the corner of Hazel’s mouth and the bruise on her knee.
Those images now burned in his chest like a red-hot iron.
Mom cried for a long time. Finally, in a hoarse voice, she asked Dad, “What do we do now? Hazel won’t answer my calls.”
Dad didn’t say anything. He couldn’t reach me either.
Those few days, the house was a complete mess.
Nova locked herself in her room and wouldn’t come out.
Mom sat in the living room all night long. Mateo wandered around like he had lost his soul.
Later, Mom called me again. I still didn’t pick up.
She sent a long message: [Hazel, I know I was wrong. I never should have made you sleep on the balcony. I never should have made you give in to Nova. I never should have left you out of that dinner. Please come home. I’m sorry. I swear I won’t be like that anymore.]
I read it several times. Then I put my phone down.
A few days later, I received a call from Dad using an unfamiliar number.
“Hazel, your mother’s been hospitalized.”
My heart jolted, but my voice stayed steady. “What’s wrong with her?”
“The doctor said there’s something wrong with her heart, mostly caused by extreme mood swings lately. She cries all day long and keeps talking about you. Come back and see her.”
I was quiet for a few seconds. “Which hospital is she in?”
Dad sent the address. I didn’t reply.
Jenna asked if I planned to go back after hearing the news, and I told her I needed time to think.
That night I tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. My head was full of memories of Mom rocking me to sleep when I was little.
The next morning, I bought a plane ticket.