Chapter 5. A Plaything

My mom's eyes appeared swollen. She must have been crying for a long time. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Not a single word escaped our mouths.

I felt my eyes starting to well up, and so did my mom's, her eyes becoming watery. She gazed at me without blinking, showering me with a disappointed look.

My mom's face looked incredibly tired. Probably because she came straight here from the airport. But who informed her about my whereabouts in this apartment?

"Did you...not invite me in?" my mom asked, holding back her tears.

"I-It's mm—my apartment, Mom. Did you need to ask for permission?" I awkwardly replied, wiping away my tears with my fingers.

"No! I never bought you an apartment or even gave you extra money to rent such a luxurious one," my mom said, closing her eyes, and causing the accumulated tears on her eyelids to flow down together.

My mom's words sliced through my heart painfully. I sighed, trying to be strong and