As they started telling their story, they confessed that they did what they did because they won the lottery. It was a lot of money and they wanted a fresh start. They believed that if their families learned about the money they would start asking for it, and they didn’t want any obligations.

Miriam couldn’t believe her ears. How could her daughter be so selfish?

What obligations were they talking about? Paying back the money they borrowed from Frank’s parents? Being there for their cousin’s kids after they parents died? Were those the obligations they ran away from?

Miriam was beyond shocked and disappointed. She somehow knew that one of the real reasons for Pamela and Frank’s stupid and selfish decision was to avoid paying taxes and once she mentioned that to them they started shifting the blame onto each other.

Miriam had it enough. Her vacation was already ruined so she decided to return home and have no contact with her daughter and her son-in-law.

She thought hard and the thought of what they did haunted her, but she eventually decided not to tell anyone about Pamela and Frank and not to report them to the police.

Three years passed by, and one cold and rainy night someone knocked on Miriam’s door. When she answered it, she saw her daughter, all wet and shaking.

“Mom, I have nowhere to go, please let me stay with you.” Miriam was hesitant. The last time she saw Pamela she wore expensive clothes and now she had an old shirt and ripped jeans on.

After a few minutes, she let Pamela in.

“Mom, Frank got involved in some bad investments. He lost almost all of the money and left with what was left. I have no idea where he is now,” she explained. “I miss you, Mom. I’m so sorry. For all of it.”

Miriam needed time to process that information. She was mad at Pamela, but at the end of the day, she was her daughter and Miriam was determined to make her do the right thing.

Explaining to Pamela the severity of the decision to fake her own death and avoid paying taxes, Miriam convinced Pamela to talk to the authorities although she was aware she could get prison time. But those were the consequences she was supposed to pay for forcing her mother and the entire family go through an ordeal.

Pamela agreed it would be for the best if she went to the police, because no matter the aftermath, that was the only way she could get the chance for a fresh start in life.