Chapter 2
David's texts and calls started blowing up my phone on the fourth day after I landed in Berlonia.
He must've realized I'd blocked him, so he kept blowing up my phone with new numbers, relentless as ever.
At first, he was just demanding answers.
[Emily, what's your deal? Are you just ghosting me now?]
[You're on a business trip and you can't even bother to check in with your own family? Think you're too big for us now, huh?]
When I didn't reply, his tone softened, turning into desperate pleas.
[Honey, I messed up. I shouldn't have sent the money to my mom without talking to you first. Can you please just hear me out?]
[Pick up the phone! Mom's really sick! She's in the hospital, waiting for the money that could save her life!]
[I know I screwed up, please, don't stay mad at me. This is life or death!]
Cradling my coffee, I scrolled through his messages one by one, my face totally blank.
To me, those texts were nothing but lines from some cringe-worthy drama they'd performed a thousand times; so fake it was almost funny.
I picked his latest message and didn't bother with words, just sent him a photo.
It was a shot I'd taken at the bank counter, my phone camera aimed right at the computer screen, clear as day.
Account balance: 2 dollars.
The photo went through.
He went completely silent on the other end.
I could just picture David's face when he saw that screenshot; bet it was a masterpiece.
About half an hour later, just when I thought he'd finally given up, my phone buzzed again.
This time, a mutual friend sent me a 50-second voice message on WhatsApp.
I hit play, and Sophia's piercing, tearful voice cut right through the calm of my Berlonia afternoon.
"Emily! How could you be so heartless? My mom treated you like her own daughter, and now she's lying in the hospital, waiting for money to save her life. Why did you take the card overseas with you?
"Are you trying to ruin our whole family? My brother has supported you for years, and this is how you pay him back? How can you be so cold-hearted?"
She was sobbing like I was some unforgivable villain, painting me as the executioner of their family.
After listening, I stayed stone-faced and typed back, deadpan.
[First, the card's already been canceled, so don't bother looking for it.]
[Second, your brother pulls in six hundred thousand dollars a year. He really needs to use a backup card that's basically empty to pay for your mom's hospital bills?]
[Did he blow through all that cash, or does your family treat getting sick like some kind of VIP luxury?]
[Third and this one's big. That limited-edition Hermès bag you showed off on your social media last month? It's worth a lot. If you're so desperate, just sell it and cover your mom's surgery. That'd make you a real good daughter, right?]
As soon as I hit send, the group chat we shared went absolutely exploded.
A few seconds later, a notification popped up: [Sophia has been removed from the group chat by the admin.]
Right after, our mutual friend messaged me privately, apologizing nonstop. [Emily, I'm so sorry! I had no idea Sophia would use my phone to send that. She came over crying her eyes out, and I just wasn't paying attention. I'm blocking her right now!]
I replied: [Don't worry, it's not your fault.]
Then I put my phone down.
I knew this was just the appetizer.
The real drama was still to come.
Sure enough, less than ten minutes later, David called again; this time from a number I didn't recognize at all.
I swiped to answer, put it on speaker, and set it down on the table.
On the other end, it wasn't pleading anymore, just David losing his mind and yelling.
"Emily! You canceled the card? Are you out of your mind? That money was for Mom's surgery! Are you trying to kill her or what?"
His voice was so angry it sounded almost distorted, every word blaming me.
I took my time sipping my coffee, then replied in a slow, almost mocking tone, "Oh? Is that so?
"David, enlighten me. What kind of surgery needs you to clear out all our family's cash half a year ahead of time, leaving not a single dollar behind?
"What kind of surgery is so ridiculously pricey that it empties out a household making nearly one million dollars a year, and leaves me with just 2 bucks for living expenses?
"Tell me, is this surgery supposed to make her immortal, or is it some kind of instant ascension to heaven?"
My questions cut right through his lies, sharp as knives, hitting straight at the heart of his deception.
On the other end, David's breathing turned heavy, almost desperate.
He was completely caught off guard, stumbling over his words, totally flustered.
"I, uh, that's not I mean anyway, Mom's illness can't wait!"
"Heh." I sneered. "Illness? The only thing your family really needs to cure is that bottomless greed."
With that, I hung up on him.
The sunlight outside was just right, perfectly matching my mood as it brightened up with it.
Score one for me. I'd just taken the first round.
I knew they wouldn't just let it go.
But I'd already loaded up every trick in my arsenal, just waiting for them to walk right into my hands, wave after wave.