Chapter 4

Just then, Brian's door swung open.

He came out holding a cup of milkshake, his hair all messy, and threw a jacket over his pajamas. He didn't bother to look at me and took a lazy sip of his milkshake.

"What's all the fuss about?" he said, sounding half-asleep. "It's just 100 thousand dollars. You make over 10 thousand a month. Save up for a year, and you'll get it back. It isn't worth all this drama, right?"

I stared at him. "Do you realize that's every penny I've saved up for two years? That's my wedding fund."

"Well, I managed to survive eight years, didn't I?" He slammed his milkshake down on the coffee table, raising his voice. "I've been buried in books and exams every single day.

"Do you have any idea how stressful that is? What's so wrong with me playing a game to relax?"

"Stressful? All you did was sit at home and play games."

"I was stressed out. Can't I chill for a bit?" He stuck his chin out, defensive. "If you think it's so easy, why don't you try taking those exams yourself?

"You think those prep courses and study materials are free? You're the one who's paid for everything I've needed all these years, aren't you?"

"So, you're spending my money and acting like you're in the right?"

"Come on, we're family. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" He waved his hand impatiently. "When I make it big, I'll look out for you. Everyone will want a piece of me, but you'll be the only one I protect."

I looked at him, then at my mom, who was with that look that said this was how things worked in our family, and then at my dad sprawled on the couch, cigarette dangling from his lips, giving me that "you're so naive" look.

Suddenly, I couldn't help but find it all absurd.

"Mom, Dad, that 100 thousand dollars is all I have for my wedding," I said, making sure they heard every word. "If I hand it all over to Brian, what am I supposed to do? Is my wedding canceled now?"

My mom's face dropped. "How can you be so selfish? Brian is your brother. If you help him now, he'll be grateful to you. Why can't you see the bigger picture?"

"Grateful to me?" I laughed out loud. "Was he ever grateful when he was blowing through my money?"

"You!" Brian jabbed his finger right at my nose, looking like he was ready to eat me alive.

"Brian, enough, stop wasting your breath on Weston," my dad said, crushing out his cigarette in the ashtray, his face darkening. "This is final, Weston. You have to pay up.

"If you don't, you're a disgrace to the family. And you won't be allowed to set foot in this house again."

"Fine, I don't care." I grabbed my suitcase by the door. "I'll handle my own wedding. Keep the 10,000 dollars. Consider it my gift for Brian's new job. As for the rest, don't think about it."

With that, I turned and walked out.

My mom shrieked behind me, "Get back here. Think you're all grown up now, huh? You ungrateful brat."

My dad roared, "If you walk out that door today, don't ever call us your parents again."

Brian chimed in. "What's the big deal about having a little money?"

I didn't look back.

When I got to the end of the alley, I stopped and glanced back at the house I'd called home for more than twenty years.

Standing in the wind, I laughed, but my eyes were stinging.

So, all these years, I was never really their family. I was just an ATM they could dip into whenever they felt like it.

*****

After a four-hour train ride, I finally made it back to my apartment. When I pushed the door open, Sophie was curled up on the couch, ironing the suit I was supposed to wear for our wedding.

Hearing me come in, she looked up and smiled, "Hi, honey. How did it go with your parents? Did you guys get all the wedding details sorted out?"

My suitcase crashed onto the floor. All the frustration and anger I'd been carrying on the way home suddenly turned into anxiety the moment I saw Sophie.

I spilled everything to her, like how my mom had skimmed another 10,000 dollars from my account, how Brian's place was full of expensive stuff, how they demanded 100,000 dollars for a house down payment, and how my dad told me to postpone my wedding.

I thought she'd get mad, freak out, or maybe regret saying yes to me.

But instead, she walked over, pulled me into a gentle hug, and gave my back a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, the money is ours. They can't touch it. We'll keep the wedding as planned. Don't let them get to you."

I nodded, burying my face in the crook of her neck, feeling both warmth and a sting in my chest. At that moment, I was naive enough to believe that as long as I kept the card with me, they wouldn't waste my money.

I never imagined they'd find a way to get my card and wipe out everything I had.