As she spoke, she began taking off her jewelry. “Here, these are yours. I just have one small request: can I still be your daughter?”
Her voice sounded heartbreakingly soft.
Claudia’s eyes were filled with visible sorrow. “Enough! Phoebe is already being so humble, what more do you want? She only wishes to stay with us as our daughter. Why can’t you accept that?”
“Even now, you still refuse to call me Mom. I’ve tried to understand you, but you still won’t show Phoebe any respect. You must have been taught poorly!”
Phoebe held on to the angry Claudia, looking heartbreakingly fragile. She offered the earrings, necklace, and ring she had just removed with both hands.
“Freya probably hasn’t seen jewelry this fine before. Any one of these costs more than you could earn in a lifetime. I’m not trying to show off how well Mom and Dad treat me, but since you’re coming home, don’t upset Mom.”
Her words hinted that I was making a scene for money. I looked down at her gifts. Jewelry like that? My brother could buy me a room full of it, there was nothing worth comparing.