The Tiger Mom's Tale by Lyn Liao Butler

Author:Lyn Liao Butler [Butler, Lyn Liao]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

• • •

Inside the apartment, Pin-Yen had seen Jing Tao grab the pack of cigarettes before slamming out the front door. She knew he’d probably sneak one, but she let him go. Let him have his little guilty pleasure. She’d gotten what she wanted.

He’d sat in stunned silence right after Lexa and her American mother had stormed out of the apartment, not even a half hour earlier. Pin-Yen hadn’t said anything, knowing she needed to play the part of the supportive wife now. Instead, she’d rubbed his back and brought him a shot of scotch, which he’d tossed down before burying his face in his hands. She’d sat next to him for a few minutes, her physical presence a reminder that she was his wife and would always stand by his side. When at last he’d looked at her, she’d seen the resignation in his eyes.

Taking his face between her hands, she’d said in a gentle voice, “It’s better to know now the true nature of that girl.”

He’d nodded, his mouth turned downward, but hadn’t replied.

“You’ll see, it’s for the best,” Pin-Yen had cooed, stroking her husband’s hair, loving the silky feel of it and proud that he still had a full head of black, black hair. “When you feel better, you’ll see this was a blessing. You can take her out of your will, and the Chang money will stay in our family, where it belongs.”

He hadn’t replied, but she’d seen from the stoop of his shoulders that he knew she was right.

Now, with a small, satisfied smile, she turned to the room where Lexa had stayed. She would get rid of all evidence of Jing Tao’s other daughter. Her plan had worked. She’d gotten rid of that girl.

Stripping the bed of the sheets and the quilted comforter that Ah-Ma had made when Hsu-Ling was born, Pin-Yen considered burning it but knew Hsu-Ling would be upset. She’d insisted her jie jie use her prized comforter for the summer. Pin-Yen’s mouth twisted in displeasure when she caught a whiff of the fruity scent from the shampoo Lexa used. Pin-Yen couldn’t wait to get everything in the wash and erase all traces of that girl. Her baby was the only daughter who counted in their family.

Her Hsu-Ling, the most perfect daughter. It had been Pin-Yen’s fault that she’d been born with only one leg. Pin-Yen had worried herself to death, knowing something she’d done while she was pregnant had caused Hsu-Ling’s amniotic band syndrome. Even though the doctor had told her it hadn’t been her fault, she knew he was wrong. It had been her fault. She’d devoted her life to getting the best for her daughter.

And now, she’d made sure Hsu-Ling would inherit this building from her father, the eldest son of the Chang family. Since Jing Tao didn’t have any sons, the building should rightfully go to the eldest son of the next brother in line. But Jing Tao’s brother had two daughters, so Hsu-Ling would inherit. Not Lexa, that bastard daughter, even though technically she was the eldest daughter.

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