That was why Li Mei’s belongings were nowhere to be found.
That was why his eyes had changed.
That night, we slept in the same house for the first time in ten years.
I asked him if he was tired.
“Yes, Mom,” he said. “But I didn’t want you to suffer.”
I took his hand.
“I don’t need money. I need you.”
He cried quietly in a way that had clearly been waiting a very long time to come out.
The next morning, I made a decision.
I sold everything I had — the improved house, the savings, all of it.
We gathered what we needed.
Then we went together to confront Li Mei.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t a confrontation full of shouting.
I simply told her it was over, and showed her the money.
She looked at me.
Then she looked at Marcus.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
