Chapter 4
It took forever for them to finish picking apart my place. Only then did Daisy finally remember I existed.
She grabbed my hand, looking all pitiful. "Clarissa, we've been on the road all night and haven't eaten a thing. Can you take us out for a meal?"
I frowned. "Go out to eat?"
Daisy nodded eagerly. "Yeah, go out. Your nephew wants lobster. Can you take us to get some?"
As soon as he heard that, Lucas stopped his tantrum and scrambled up from the floor. "I want lobster and abalone. I want crabs, too!"
Irene beamed. "Of course. Your aunt will treat you to everything."
I looked at Irene and shook my head. "Irene, don't say that. I really can't afford all that."
Irene's brows knitted. "You can't afford that?
"Clarissa, what's that supposed to mean? Just because you live in the city, you don't want to spend money on us?"
Paul said, "You little brat! You won't even treat your nephew? Why are you so rude? I ought to teach you a lesson."
Paul rushed over, ready to slap me just like he had in my past life.
But this time, I wasn't the same old Clarissa who used to blindly obey them.
I grabbed his hand and said, "Dad, Irene, do you think this new house just fell out of the sky?
"This two-bedroom apartment cost nearly 700 thousand dollars.
"I put down a 200 thousand dollars down payment and took out a mortgage for over 300 thousand dollars.
"I'm paying over 3 thousand dollars in mortgage payments every month.
"I've been living off nothing but bread for over a year just to make ends meet.
"Since Lucas wants lobster and abalone, why don't you treat us, Dad? Let me get a taste of something good for once, too."
As soon as he realized he'd have to pay, Paul immediately stopped making a fuss.
He just pursed his lips and grumbled, "You're paying that much every month?
"Honestly, Clarissa, if you can't handle it, why would you buy such an expensive place?
"Now look at us, we can't even afford a decent seafood meal because of you."
When Lucas realized there'd be no lobster or abalone, he started throwing another tantrum in the living room.
Daisy, feeling sorry for him, kept nagging at me.
She said, "It's all because your aunt is useless. Don't cry, sweetie. Grandma will buy you sandwiches tomorrow."
But Lucas couldn't care less about sandwiches.
He was so mad that he just started wailing on Daisy's belly.
The place was a total madhouse.
In the end, when they saw there was nothing left to milk from me, Daisy grudgingly headed to the kitchen.
She dug out a bag of spaghetti out of my bag and served it for everyone.
Once the spaghetti was ready, Paul looked at me and sneered, "You worthless brat.
"You can't even afford to buy Lucas some lobster. You're not getting any dinner tonight."
That tone was too much for me.
They totally forgot the spaghetti they were eating were mine, and so was the pot they used to cook them.
After dinner, it started getting dark, but the temperature didn't drop. It actually got hotter.
Jackson was quite heavy. He was complaining about the heat even though he was sitting right under the air conditioner.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and ran off to the bathroom to take a cold shower.
Irene, Lucas, Paul, and Daisy took turns.
Once everyone had finished showering, Irene grabbed Jackson and marched straight into my master bedroom.
"Clarissa, Jackson and I just can't get used to that tiny guest room. Why don't you let us have the master bedroom instead?" she said.
Before I could even get a word in, she practically shoved me out the door.
Just as I glanced toward the guest room, Lucas started spraying me with his water gun.
"Stupid aunt, my mom says this room is mine, so you're not allowed to go here!" he shouted.
I ignored him and walked to the living room.
Paul was sprawled out on the couch in nothing but his boxers.
When he saw me, he said, "You brat, I don't wear anything to bed at night. You'd better not stay in the living room."
I stared at him. "So where am I supposed to sleep?"
Daisy came over, looking all awkward. "Clarissa, the place is just too small. There really isn't any extra space for you to sleep.
"Why don't you just sleep out on the balcony? There are no windows, but it's nice and comfortable."
They were trying to kick me out to the balcony again.
In my previous life, they actually made me sleep out there.
They were so worried I'd sneak in to use the air conditioner at night that they even locked the balcony door from the inside.
I'd spent a whole day out there, with not a hint of breeze, and nearly died from the heat.
That parched, desperate feeling hit my throat all over again.
I looked at Paul and Daisy, who brought me into this world but never once treated me right.
I asked, "You want me to sleep on the balcony? It's boiling out there. Aren't you worried I'll get cooked?"
Daisy wrung her hands. "The balcony's just a bit warm, it's not like you'll die or anything.
"Clarissa, sorry, I just couldn't stop your brother and Irene from taking your master bedroom. If you don't like it, why not just go stay at a hotel?"
As she said that, she sent me 15 bucks.
Daisy was the only one in this family who would be a little bit nice to me.
However, in my previous life, she was the one who actually handed Jackson the knife when he forced me out to buy groceries.
She was so afraid that if I didn't go, Lucas might go hungry.
15 bucks was not even enough for a hotel room.
In my previous life, I'd stubbornly refused to leave since this was my property.
But in the end, they still managed to drive me out, and I literally got cooked to death out there.
Since they wanted me gone this time, I would go along with that.
I looked at this heartless, shameless family and said, "Alright, I'm leaving."
I took out my suitcase and started packing up my things.
Then I stuffed all the food and drinks that had been stockpiled at home into my suitcase.
Irene kept a close eye on me the whole time. When she saw I was only taking a bunch of food, she didn't bother to stop me.
She just mocked me for fussing over some food like a broke loser.
I didn't bother responding to her barking. Once I was done packing, I left without looking back.