Chapter 1
My dad, Eddie Fisher, smashed my birthday cake to the floor during my birthday dinner.
"I told you to buy Devon a house, but you keep making excuses. Why bother raising a money-losing daughter like you?" he shouted.
My mom, Tessa Fisher, and my younger brother, Devon Fisher, stood by, enjoying the show.
I didn't cry or throw a tantrum. I quietly packed my things and left home that night.
My dad spat out, "If you leave, don't ever come crawling back to me."
He had no idea what would be waiting for him the next day.
*****
On Rosie's twenty-sixth birthday, she went out of her way after work to order a two-tiered fruit cake.
When she got home, the table was already set with a spread of dishes.
Eddie sat at the head of the table, his face expressionless.
Tessa kept moving between the kitchen and the living room, her eyes darting away.
Devon was sprawled out on the couch, glued to his phone, not bothering to look up.
This was what her home looked like.
Rosie set the cake down in the middle of the dining table.
She told herself, "Happy birthday, Rosie."
Eddie let out a cold snort and slammed his fork down on the table.
He barked, "You still think you deserve a birthday?
"Devon needs a down payment for his wedding house, and he's still short by 300 thousand dollars. As his sister, you haven't done a thing to help!"
Rosie met Eddie's gaze calmly. "Didn't I send you my salary last month?
"That's ten thousand dollars. I didn't keep a single cent for myself."
Eddie's eyes widened in anger. "Ten thousand? What are you supposed to do with that?
"I told you to buy Devon a house, but you keep coming up with all sorts of excuses.
"What's the point of raising a money-losing daughter like you?"
His voice grew louder, spittle flying everywhere.
Devon finally put down his phone and drawled lazily. "Rosie, Dad's got a point.
"If you don't buy me a house, my girlfriend's gonna dump me.
"You wouldn't let your brother stay single forever, would you?"
Tessa came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands.
She said, "Rosie, your dad is doing this for Devon's sake.
"You're a girl. What do you need so much money for? You'll end up married sooner or later.
"But Devon is the backbone of the Fisher family."
The three of them acted like a well-rehearsed team, always echoing each other's words.
It was the same old story, like every single day for the past twenty-something years.
Rosie stared at the cake on the table, and suddenly found the whole thing absurd.
She couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Eddie was instantly enraged by her laughter.
"You think this is funny?" he snapped. "You ungrateful brat!"
He shot up from his seat, his rough hand lunging for the fancy cake.
Then, he slammed it hard to the floor.
Cream, fruit, and the cake itself splattered everywhere, along with the last bit of Rosie's pathetic hope, all smashed to pieces.
The whole world went dead silent.
Devon was left gaping in shock.
Tessa clapped a hand over her mouth.
Eddie was breathing hard, thrusting his finger right at Rosie's nose. "You're out of line!"
Rosie didn't cry or make a scene.
She quietly looked at the mess on the floor.
Then she lifted her head, her gaze sweeping over the so-called family in front of her.
Her eyes were as calm and lifeless as dead water.
The days of being obedient and putting up with everything were over.
Without another word, Rosie turned and headed straight to her room.
Tessa finally realized what was happening and tried to block her way.
"Rosie, your dad's upset. Don't take it to heart," she said.
Rosie ignored her.
Five minutes later, Rosie walked out, rolling a small suitcase behind her.
Inside, there were only a few changes of clothes and her documents, nothing else.
Seeing this, Eddie's anger boiled over.
He snapped, "What? Planning to run away from home now?
"Let me tell you, Rosie. If you dare walk out that door, go ahead.
"But if you leave, don't ever come crawling back to me."
Rosie stopped in her tracks.
She turned back and gave Eddie one last look.
Her eyes were full of pity for him.
She didn't say a word.
She grabbed her suitcase, opened the door, and walked out.
Rosie closed the door gently behind her.
It made no sound at all.
Eddie was shaking with rage.
"Fine, so you think you're all grown up now, huh?" Eddie spat.
Devon sidled up to him.
"Dad, don't be mad. Rosie's throwing a tantrum. She'll be back in a couple of days when she runs out of cash," he said.
Tessa chimed in, "Yeah, she's just a girl. She won't last long out there."
Eddie flopped back into his chair, staring at the mess on the floor, his anger finally starting to cool.
He figured the same thing.
He thought this family would keep running fine without Rosie.
But he had no idea that every single bill in this house, every dollar in his bank account, all came from Rosie.
Rosie paid for everything.
Little did he know that the moment Rosie walked out that door, the Fisher family was already starting to crumble.
The next morning, Eddie woke up with a pounding hangover.
He grabbed his phone out of habit, ready to check the stock market.
But what jumped out at him was a stark text from the bank.
It read: [Dear Mr. Eddie Fisher, your credit card has a statement balance of 9.5 thousand dollars, which is now one day overdue.
[Please make the payment as soon as possible to avoid affecting your credit score.]