Chapter 3
After leaving the family group chat and blocking everyone, Lydia finally felt a sense of peace in her world.
No one would ever call her during meals to criticize her for not buying the latest toys for Alex. No one would send her messages on WhatsApp late at night, reminding her to send money home.
At first, it felt a bit odd. On payday, her fingers would instinctively reach for the bank transfer page, but her rational mind pulled her back.
Instead of sending the 800 dollars meant for her family, she deposited it into her own bank account.
As she watched her balance slowly grow, a sense of security wrapped around her like never before.
She started pampering herself a little. The pretty clothes she used to pass up? Now she'd grab them without a second thought. Even those pricey skincare products, she finally let herself splurge.
She signed up for yoga classes and spent her weekends working up a sweat at the gym.
She also dived into finance books, learning how to manage her money and keep her savings neat and tidy.
In less than a year, she paid back everything she owed her friends and managed to save up a good chunk of money. Her health bounced back, and she looked better than ever.
She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes bright and full of confidence. She was a far cry from the girl who had sobbed in despair on a hospital bench just a year ago.
Amelia always said Lydia seemed like she'd become a totally different person. Lydia would smile and say, "I didn't change into someone else. I finally got myself back."
Letting go of her old life wasn't as tough as she'd thought. It was having the guts to finally do it that took everything she had.
But once she made that move, the rest was smooth sailing.
Over the past year, she never once went back to that so-called home during the holidays.
Instead, she and Amelia would pick a scenic spot and go on a trip together. Or, they'd stay in, whip up a feast, and watch a favorite movie. It was freedom.
*****
On Christmas Eve, Amelia went back to her hometown, leaving Lydia alone in her empty apartment.
Outside, the sound of fireworks and laughter filled the air.
Lydia cooked some food and turned on the TV.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Amelia. [Lydia, Merry Christmas. In the new year, make sure to love yourself more.]
Lydia smiled and replied, [Merry Christmas.]
With all the drama and toxic folks gone, even Christmas Eve felt so much more peaceful. Days like this were absolutely perfect.
Time flew by, and before Lydia knew it, another year had gone by. Thanks to her hard work, she got promoted to manager, and her paycheck shot up.
With the money she'd saved, Lydia put a deposit on a cozy little place right in the heart of the city.
When she finally got her hands on that certificate. She hugged it tight and bawled like a kid in her bare, unfinished apartment.
From that day forward, Lydia finally had a place she could truly call her own in this city.
Her new life was unfolding like a fresh canvas. Everything was finally going her way.
She thought she'd left her old life behind for good until a phone call came.
It was another weekend afternoon, and Lydia was busy cleaning her new place. Suddenly, her phone rang, a number she didn't recognize.
Lydia hesitated for a second, but picked up anyway. "Hello?"
On the other end, there was that old, familiar silence. Lydia's heart gave a jolt. She knew this feeling, too well. It had to be someone from her so-called family.
"Lydia?" An aged, tentative voice came through the line. It was her father, Frank Sullivan.
It had been almost two years. She could barely remember his voice anymore.
"Is there something you need?" Lydia's voice was cold.
Frank was caught off guard by her icy tone. He paused, his voice growing hesitant. "Lydia, why haven't you come home to visit in the past two years?
"You haven't even called. Your mom keeps asking about you every day."
Lydia felt like laughing. They were probably nagging her again about not sending more money.
"I'm fine. No need to worry about me," she replied, her tone cool and distant.
"That's good," Frank said flatly, his voice stiff and awkward.
An awkward silence hung between them.
Lydia was about to hang up, her finger hovering over the end call button, not wanting to waste another second, when Frank finally spoke up about what he really wanted.
"Lydia, I need to ask you about something," Frank said, sounding cautious and trying to be friendly.
"Alex took his SAT this year, and he did amazing. He got accepted into a top university overseas."
Frank's voice was bursting with pride and showing off. "The whole family is thrilled. He's the first one from our family to study abroad."
Lydia listened, expressionless. "So?" she asked.
"Well, the cost of studying abroad is pretty high." Frank finally got to the point.
"Tuition and living expenses add up to over 100 thousand dollars a year. For four years, that's almost 500 thousand dollars.
"You know Liam and Linda. They've spent everything raising Alex, so they don't have much saved up.
"We talked it over." Frank paused, as if trying to find the right words. "You're a manager now, making good money. You must have saved up a lot.
"So, maybe you could help out a little? You're his aunt, and with Alex doing so well, it reflects well on you, too. Think of it as an investment in Alex's future."
Hearing her father's entitled demand, Lydia couldn't help but laugh.
She remembered that afternoon two years ago, lying alone on a cold operating table, desperate for 4000 dollars to save her life, and not even a word of comfort from any of them.
But now, when Alex needed 500 thousand dollars to study abroad, suddenly they remembered she was his aunt.
They remembered the tool they'd tossed aside. Seriously, they were shameless and absurd.
"Oh? How much do you want?" Lydia wiped away the tears from laughing and asked, her voice calm.
Frank, thinking he had a shot, perked up right away. "You don't have to cover everything. Liam and Linda will borrow some of it.
"You need to come up with 300 thousand dollars for now. After all, you're his aunt. It's only fair you contribute more."
He tossed out the number like it was nothing. Lydia's smile grew even colder. "Dad," she said quietly.
"Yeah," Frank replied in a hurry.
"I remember two years ago, when I needed 4000 dollars for surgery," Lydia said, her words slow, each syllable cold as ice. "I asked for help in the family group chat, but nobody even cared enough to respond.
"I called you and Mom. Mom told me the family was broke, and I should deal with it myself. And now you want me to hand 300 thousand dollars?"
Lydia paused, then enunciated every word. "You couldn't even spare 300 dollars to save my life back then. Where do you get the nerve to ask me for 300 thousand now?"
On the other end, there was nothing but deafening silence.