Chapter 18 — When the Spider Plant Turned Black

Every single item on the reports pertained to gynecology. Along the margin of one test result, a handwritten note caught my eye: *Cryotherapy first, induction later, seven days of bleeding.* My stomach churned, a sudden wave of nausea rising in my throat. My mother snatched the paper and crumpled it into a tight ball.

This household is not fit to live in for even another minute.

I stuffed everything back into the document folder. Just as I reached the door, my mother-in-law scrambled up from the floor, lunging forward to block the exit. Her hair was a tangled mess, and the streaks of dried mud on her cheeks remained unwashed, making her look as though she had aged decades in the span of a few seconds.

Rain, she called by my given name, her voice dropping into a soft, wretched plea.

I was wrong, do not take those papers away, I will get down on my knees and beg you if I must.

You have already knelt, I replied. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes.

Then what would you have me do? I will compensate you, I will apologize to you, just do not let Nyan bear the weight of this crime.

I glanced over at Tran Nyan. He stood a few paces behind her, a glimmer of desperate anticipation flashing in his eyes. In that instant, everything became clear to me. Even now, the two of them cared nothing for what I had endured. Their only concern was whether this reckoning would fall upon Nyan. I pulled the door open.

Whoever deserves to bear the blame shall bear it.

My mother-in-law’s face instantly twisted with malice.

You vicious-hearted woman!

My mother shoved her firmly aside.

Not nearly as vicious as the two of you.

By the time we returned to my parents' home, the clock was nearing eleven. The moment the overhead lights flickered to life, I finally felt as though I were dragging myself up from the bottom of an icy pool. My mother poured me a warm glass of water, then double-locked the front door.

You will sleep in my room tonight, I will take the sofa.

I shook my head.

Mother, I am not that fragile.

She looked at me, her eyes growing red once more.

You have been like this since you were a child, the more frightened you are, the harder you try to appear strong.

I did not answer. My phone buzzed loudly against the coffee table. It was a text message from Nyan. *Rain, do not go to Peace Alley, that place is not as simple as you think.* A few seconds later, another message popped up. *Hand the things over to the police, I will cooperate, but absolutely do not go to see Willow Spring.* I stared unblinkingly at the screen. My mother asked, What does he say? I handed the phone to her. After reading it, her brows knitted tightly together.

The more he tries to stop you from going there, the more deeply troubled that place must be.

I will go to the police station first thing tomorrow morning, I said. My mother nodded.

I will go with you.

That night, I remained awake almost until dawn. Whenever I closed my eyes, the image of my mother-in-law holding out a wooden basin for my foot bath loomed before me. *It is good for your health,* she had said. *An old folk remedy,* Nyan had added. Only now did I realize that hidden beneath every sweet word lay a sharpened dagger.

The following morning, I submitted all the documents to the police. The audio files had also been copied onto a flash drive. As the officer listened to the recording of Willow Spring’s phone call, his expression grew grave.

We will investigate this individual, you must not make contact with them on your own.

Can we investigate number seventeen in Peace Alley? I asked. He shot me a sideways glance.

Yes, but it must go through the proper procedures.

What if she flees in the meantime?

The young officer replied, We have already been in touch with the local precinct. I nodded, yet a heavy sense of unease gnawed at my stomach. Just as we stepped out of the station house, our neighbor called me, her voice rushed and breathless.

My dear, your mother-in-law just crept back, she took a shovel and dug up your entire spider plant!

I halted in my tracks.

What did you say?

I heard a commotion and peeked through the peephole, I saw her and your husband carrying it together, they stuffed it into a burlap sack, went downstairs, and hailed a taxi.

Did you capture the license plate? I asked.

Yes, I am sending it to you right now.

The photograph loaded instantly. In the image, Nyan was holding the car trunk open while his mother clutched a bulging burlap sack tightly to her chest. A few dark green leaves of the spider plant protruded from the top of the bag. I immediately showed the photograph to the police. The young officer glanced at it, his brow furrowing deep.

Didn't we instruct them not to touch anything related to the case?