Chapter 2

Cecilia frowned as she heard it. "Aunt Daphne, you really don't know how expensive everything is nowadays. Just makeup alone costs me at least 100 to 200 dollars a month.

"I have to buy clothes and shoes, right? Hanging out with classmates means spending money, and if my roommates want to go out, I can't be the odd one out, right?

"200 dollars? That's barely enough for two meals at a good place like Olive Restaurant. What can I even do with that?"

Maybe I really was getting old. I just didn't understand how young people thought anymore.

I thought college was supposed to be about learning. But it seemed like all anyone talked about was eating, drinking, and having fun.

I sighed. "So, how much do you think would be enough?"

Cecilia jumped in eagerly. "Just like Braden. One thousand dollars a month would be perfect."

I was stunned. Braden only got 500 dollars a month.

Cecilia protested, "Sure, Braden has to pay for travel since his college is out of town, but he's a guy. He's not fussy about food.

"As long as he's full, he's good. Plus, he doesn't need makeup or new clothes. Why would he need so much spending money?"

Seeing me lost in thought, Cecilia grew even more frustrated. "Aunt Daphne, I know Braden is your biological child, and I'm just the adopted one.

"Ever since I learned I was adopted, I've never tried to compete with him.

"I never had fancy toys, a beautiful princess dress, or have a spacious room of my own. I'm used to all that, since I'm not your biological daughter.

"But now that I've made it into such a good college, can't I have just a little something as a reward?"

I looked up at her, stunned, just staring in disbelief.

All these years, I'd treated her like my own daughter. I wondered if she really felt so left out here at home.

Seeing how shocked I was, Cecilia let out a bitter laugh. "Aunt Daphne, do you really think I had it good here? When I was little, all my toys and backpacks were just Braden's cast-offs.

"The big room always went to him, and I was left with the small one nobody wanted.

"That year, I really wanted a princess dress for my birthday. You promised you'd get me one, but in the end, you brought home a knockoff.

"Do you know how embarrassed I was when my desk mate laughed at me for wearing a fake?"

Cecilia got angrier and angrier as she spoke.

For a moment, I caught a glimpse of real hatred in her eyes.

But this was the girl I'd poured my heart into raising, doing everything I could for her.

When they were kids, our family was really struggling.

Cecilia was always sick, and we were at the hospital almost every other day.

To afford her supplements, I had to cut corners everywhere else.

When Braden outgrew his backpack, Cecilia got his hand-me-downs. The toys Braden didn't want anymore always ended up with her.

Back then, when money was tight, that was just how it was for families with several kids. So I never saw anything wrong with it.

And even though Braden's room was bigger, it hardly ever saw the sun, and it got really damp and miserable whenever the rainy season hit.

Cecilia's room was smaller, but it was bright and sunny, so it was much nicer to stay in.

I never expected that all the ways I tried to care for Cecilia ended up feeling to her like proof I was treating her differently.

It was like my heart was tight with bitterness, and I let out a long, heavy sigh.

I said, "No wonder you always kept that dress buried in your closet and never wore it. I used to think you cherished it, but now I see you were just ashamed.

"But even that dress you looked down on? I spent countless summer nights working a street stall, frying snacks just to save up enough for it.

"It wasn't until today that I realized it was supposed to be a designer brand, and only then did I figure out I'd bought a knockoff.

"But even the fake would cost so much. Imagine how expensive the real thing must be.

"Maybe you should really think about it. How could you ask for something so expensive when our family was struggling just to get by?"

Cecilia was stunned for a moment, and her cheeks suddenly turned bright red.

She shot back, "It was just my birthday! I only wanted to splurge a little for once. So just because I'm not your real daughter, I can't even ask for a birthday present?

"Aunt Daphne, you always say you treat me and Braden the same, so why is there such a huge gap in our monthly spending money?"

I frowned. "Braden gets 500 dollars a month, just like you. I've told you this so many times. Who told you I was giving him one thousand instead?"

Cecilia curled her lip, and she looked totally unimpressed.

She snorted, "Braden told me himself. He barely scraped into a second-tier college. Finding a job will be tough for him.

"But I got into a top university, and my future's looking bright. All the bragging rights you have are thanks to me, aren't they?

"You keep saying you treat us the same, but why is there such a double standard? I'm the one who's making you proud.

"However, I only get half the spending money he does. So adopted kids are just supposed to get the short end of the stick?"