Chapter 2

I walked into the living room and asked, "Peter, did you see what I left on the table?" Then I saw Nancy holding my cream, scooping out a big dollop, and rubbing it onto her arm.

Nancy's eyes lit up when she saw me. She exclaimed, "Laila, this body lotion is amazing."

She rubbed her arm and grinned. She said, "Now that it's autumn, my skin gets so dry. I was about to buy some body lotion, but then I saw yours. A little goes a long way. I love it!"

I frowned as I watched her scoop out another big dollop and slather it on her thigh.

"The cream costs 4 thousand," I said.

Nancy froze, her eyes wide. She said, "What? Is a body lotion that expensive? Laila, did someone scam you?"

She jumped up, all fired up. She said, "That's outrageous. They're just taking advantage of you because you're young and don't know any better, charging you crazy prices. I'll go and set them straight for you."

"This is La Mer, a luxury brand. It's not some cheap drugstore cream," I said, taking a deep breath.

Nancy glanced at the jar on the table, her eyes welling up with tears, looking so hurt and pitiful that she seemed about to cry.

She stammered, "T-Then what am I supposed to do? I don't have a job, I don't have any money to pay you back."

She lowered her head, looking like a kid who'd just been caught doing something wrong. She picked up her phone and said, "I'll call Peter right now and ask him to send me the money to pay you back."

I let out a long sigh and snatched the phone from her hand.

Forget about paying me back. If she called Peter, I'd be the one getting yelled at, not her.

"Nancy, you know you don't have a job or any money. Can you stop helping yourself to my stuff all the time? And it's always the pricey stuff you pick," I said.

Nancy said, "It's not on purpose. I don't even recognize those fancy brands."

She raised her hand and added, "Laila, please don't be upset. I swear, I'll never take your things without asking again. Seriously, I mean it."

"I hope you'll stick to that," I replied.

"I really will, Laila, you can trust me!" Nancy said earnestly.

I thought Nancy would actually keep her promise this time, but nope. She didn't learn a thing and just got even more shameless.

One day, I walked into the bathroom and caught Nancy, right after soaking her feet, rubbing my La Mer serum all over her heels.

When I caught her, she didn't even look the slightest bit guilty. She even flashed me a big grin.

She said, "I've been walking to the store a lot lately, and my heels are getting all rough. Your stuff works wonders. Just a dab and they're soft again."

Seeing her totally unfazed, I was done wasting my breath on her and marched straight over to Peter.

I snapped, "Once or twice I could let it go, but seriously, how many times has it been now? She promised she wouldn't touch my things, and here she goes again. Do you have any idea how expensive this cream is?"

Nancy stormed in and yanked Peter away from me.

Peter pointed at me and yelled, "What's the big deal if Nancy uses it? Isn't your stuff basically hers, too? Why are you being so stingy?

"It's like I raised you for nothing!"

Nancy whimpered, "Please, don't fight. It's all my fault. I can't tell those fancy brands apart. Laila, don't be mad at Peter. I'm the one to blame. I'll make it up to you, I promise. Just don't argue with him, okay?"

She was about to burst into tears and beg all over again, but Peter, looking worried and protective, rushed over and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.

Peter snapped, "Laila, what right do you have to go after Nancy? Why don't you blame yourself for buying all that expensive stuff?

"You're always blowing money on luxury brands. Ever heard of saving? Listen up. If Nancy wants something, you'd better hand it over, no questions asked."

Seeing Peter stand up for Nancy like that, my throat tightened, and I couldn't get a single word out.

Peter folded Nancy into his arms and shut the door, leaving me alone in the hallway.

Seeing Peter act so coldly toward me, I felt my heart sink. I even began to think that maybe I really was just being selfish.

I mean, Nancy was family after all.

But the next day, that whole family idea went straight out the window.