Mom, They Won't Mock You Anymore

I was abandoned in the freezing stairwell.

The icy wind howled as it billowed down my collar, making my teeth chatter.

Pain throbbed through my arm, the back of my head, and my heart, but it was nothing compared to the discomfort and stress I felt from hearing the word "ridicule".

I hammered my fists on the door and screamed my apologies.

"I've learned my lesson, Mom! I won't do it again! Please let me in! I'll never embarrass you again. I'll never let anyone ridicule you ever again!"

Mom didn't say a word.

I curled up into a ball in an icy corner and listened to Mom's voice resounding from within the house.

"I'm so sorry, Gabriella. It's my fault for raising Claire into a greedy person who loves to lie. I'm sorry that she caused such a commotion."

Aunt Gabriella immediately replied, "The gifts were with me the entire time. I didn't put them in my bag. Amanda's eyes must have been playing tricks on her. Claire didn't do anything."

However, Mom ignored Aunt Gabriella's words. "It's fine. It was time to teach her a lesson anyway. I wouldn't want her to be ridiculed for her immaturity when she goes out in the future."

It was that word again.

However, things were different this time.

My body didn't tremble. I didn't feel suffocated, and I didn't dig my nails into my flesh. The stress had also disappeared.

I only felt numb.

I slowly got to my feet and walked out of the apartment building.

Snow was falling from the sky. The area was deserted. There was only the howling wind blowing past.

I looked at the black bridge that was not too far away from where I stood. A thin layer of ice had frosted over the river under the bridge.

"Jump," a voice in my heart suddenly said. "Jump, and you'll never have to hear the word 'ridicule' ever again. Jump, and no one will ever ridicule Mom because of you ever again."

I stalked toward the bridge, one step at a time.

…

Third-Person POV

Meanwhile, Vera was still conversing with Gabriella and the rest of their relatives in Gabriella's living room.

She looked apologetic as she said, "I'm punishing Claire to teach her a lesson. I also want her to be an example for the other children. Don't embarrass yourself in front of other people. Don't give them a chance to ridicule you."

Gabriella frowned and waved her hand, saying, "It's not Claire's fault. I'm the one who miscounted the gifts. She shouldn't be punished for my mistake."

Vera's smile stiffened. She quickly regained her composure and stopped Gabriella from speaking further.

"Stop. She can withstand a little bit of hardship. This is also a good chance for me to teach her a lesson. This way, she won't embarrass me and give others a chance to ridicule me in the future. She just needs to be disciplined. She'll admit her wrongdoings after staying out in the cold for a while."

Gabriella's frown deepened. She looked at Vera and said, "She's your flesh and blood, Vera. Is your reputation truly more important than your child? Stop being so obsessed with avoiding ridicule. Claire must be feeling terrible. It'll be too late for you to regret your actions if something happens."

Vera's face twisted into an upset expression, but she refused to change her mind. "You don't understand, Gabriella. I'm doing this for her own good. She won't be ridiculed in the future if I'm strict with her now. She'll understand where I'm coming from when she's older."

A glint of self-righteousness flickered in her eyes as she spoke. She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that the word "ridicule" had become a source of deep stress for Claire because of her.

It was also the straw that broke the camel's back.

Vera would have no idea that her precious reputation would ultimately corner Claire into a dead end and force her to do something drastic.

Gabriella looked like she had more to say when Amanda suddenly burst into the living room.

The color had drained from her face. Her voice was shaking and thick with tears when she exclaimed, "Aunt Vera! Aunt Gabriella! Something terrible has happened! Claire… She jumped off the bridge!"