Chapter 1

I thought I'd finally be free after the SATs.

That was until my mom, Isabelle Carter, handed me an envelope.

Inside was a bank collection letter with my name on it, showing a debt of 6,770 dollars, 183 days overdue.

"I used your ID to get a credit card," Isabelle said. "Ran up 6,700 dollars. Didn't paid it back. Now your credit is trashed, so you won't even qualify for online loans. See? I'm just protecting you."

Emily stood nearby, showing off a Cartier bracelet on her wrist. She tilted her head to look at me and whispered, "Sophia, Mom really thinks she's doing this for your own good."

I gripped the letter, and suddenly felt like laughing out loud.

A 7670-dollar bracelet was her coming-of-age gift. A 6,700-dollar debt was mine.

Her coming-of-age gift was all about the glamour. Mine was all about the debt.

College Acceptance Party.

Isabelle stood up with her wine glass, unable to hide the huge grin on her face. "Today is a double celebration. Both my daughters got into college!" she announced.

The relatives burst into applause.

Emily Carter sat there in a brand-new dress, with a fresh hairstyle, and nails that had just been done yesterday.

Isabelle pulled out two items from her bag.

One was a red velvet box with a gold logo on it. The other was a simple white envelope.

She passed the red box to Emily first. "Em, this is your coming-of-age gift," Isabelle said.

Em opened it and squealed. It was a rose gold Cartier bracelet, the exact one she'd stared at in the mall window for half an hour last month.

"Wow, this must be over 6,700 dollars, right?" Aunt Grace leaned in for a closer look.

Isabelle waved it off with a smile, "As long as she is happy, that's all that matters."

Then she handed me the white envelope. "Soph, this is for you," Isabelle said.

I opened it. It was a bank collection letter. My name was on it, showing a debt of 6,770 dollars, 183 days overdue.

I had to read it three times before it finally made sense.

Half a year ago, in the first semester of senior year, Isabelle used my ID to open a credit card. She spent 6700 dollars and didn't pay back a single cent.

"What is this?" My throat felt dry as I looked up at her. "Mom, what is this supposed to be?"

Isabelle leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial, still smiling like she was sharing a secret, "I'm looking out for you. Now your credit's ruined, you can't get any online loans, and you'll never get yourself into trouble. You're safe for life."

The banquet table fell silent for a moment. Aunt Grace paused, her fork suspended in midair. "Wait, what do you mean her credit's ruined?"

Isabelle straightened up, her voice suddenly bright and loud. "Oh, I'm worried about her. You know how many college kids get caught up in online loans these days? I made sure she has no way to get into trouble with that."

Aunt Sarah frowned. "But you can't ..."

"Why not?" Isabelle's smile faded a bit. "She's my own daughter. I know how to love her."

Emily raised her wrist, letting the light glint off her Cartier bracelet, casting a tiny shadow across her face.

She tilted her head, gave me a helpless look, and whispered, "Sophie, Isabelle's trying to help you. Don't let it get to you."

I gripped the letter so tightly, my knuckles went white.

6,767 dollars for her Cartier bracelet. 6,700 dollars for my debt. She got the shine. I got the bill.