Mary raised her two daughters alone. Their father passed away when they were still young, and she never remarried. She constantly worried that a new husband might harm her children, and if she had to choose between marriage and her daughters, she always chose her children.
The elder daughter, Catherine, married early and soon bore a daughter named Ivy. Afterwards, Catherine moved into her husband’s flat. Yet the marriage was short-lived, and a few years later, clutching her child, Catherine returned to Marys home.
Her younger sister, Alice, grew upset with Catherine. Alice was convinced Catherine had deliberately come back to their mothers house in order to force Alice out of her own flat. But she was mistaken; Catherines health was failing, and she had been diagnosed with cancer. Ivy was left in the care of her grandmother.
At that time, Alice was married herself and had two children. One of Marys elderly aunts offered her flat to Alice. Without any hesitation, the aunt immediately signed it over to Alice, assuring her that if anything happened, shed never lay claim to Marys home.
Catherine died when Ivy was seventeen. Shortly afterwards, Mary herself became ill. One day, Alice came to Mary and asked, Who will get your flat when you pass away?
What do you mean? Ivy will inherit it. Shes alone now, her mother has left, and her father long since gone. She cant be left homeless, Mary replied.
But shes only your granddaughter, and Im your daughter. I have two children of my own. Ivy will grow up and buy her own flat. Give me back my flat, Alice yelled.
No. We agreed differently before, Mary responded firmly.
Then I will never set foot in here again, Alice declared.
Alice did not care whether the teenage girl had time for her schoolwork or to care for her ailing grandmother. Once she realised she wouldnt receive the flat, she cut off all contact with her mother.
