Chapter 3

Mary's eyes gleamed with calculation. "Back when your family was rolling in money, your parents bought you a bunch of expensive things, didn't they? Use them to settle what you owe."

With that, she barged into my room, ignoring my protests. "Oh, are you still claiming you're broke? And do you still have the mood to play the violin?"

Mary tutted, then grabbed the violin I'd always treasured.

My face fell, but I tried to appease her with a nervous smile. "Mary, you can't take my violin.

"Give me one week, I swear I'll pay you back. Is that okay?"

Mary brushed my hand aside, her voice laced with mockery. "You might be able to wait, but I sure can't. Your cousin needs his tuition paid right now.

"With your family this broke, there's no point in keeping this violin. I'm taking it, and once I do, we're square."

With that, Mary clutched the violin, shoved me out of the way, and stormed out of the room.

I was about to run after her, but my dad stepped in front of me, his face full of anger. "Did you really get laid off, or is that some excuse?"

I lowered my head, unable to look him in the eye. "It's true. I don't know..."

I clenched the hem of my shirt, the sadness finally hitting me.

Before I could get a word out, my dad jabbed his finger hard at my forehead, his face twisted with frustration. "Why are you so useless? Is there anything you can do?

"You can't hold onto a job that pays one thousand dollars. How could I have such a stupid daughter?"

I rubbed my forehead, apologizing instinctively, "I'm sorry, Dad. I-I promise I'll find a new job."

My dad let out a cold laugh. "And what if you can't find one? Are we supposed to starve with you?

"Sharon, we've fed you and clothed you all these years. Have we ever treated you badly?

"We hired so many tutors for you, and you still can't handle something this simple.

"Are you brainless? We should've kept that money for ourselves.

"Two years and you still haven't saved up for your mom's surgery? You're useless."

I felt more guilty, so I could only promise him, "I'll start doing food delivery and keep looking for a job at the same time.

"If I really can't find anything, I'll take out a loan and pay it off bit by bit.

"Dad, don't worry. I'll do whatever it takes to help Mom recover."

My dad's face showed a hint of satisfaction. But then he suddenly remembered something and pressed me again. "What about that violin?

"Didn't you say you got rid of all your fancy stuff? Why do you still have it?

"I remember that violin cost tens of thousands. If you sold it cheap, you'd still get thousands out of it.

"Why are you keeping it hidden? What are you trying to do?"

I nervously twisted the hem of my shirt. "I... I..."

Seeing that I couldn't give him a straight answer, my dad blew up at me. "Sharon, your mom and I have been pinching pennies to cover her surgery.

"But you, you keep that violin for your own pride while your mom and I go hungry.

"Do you care? Are you hoping your mom and I starve?

"I knew it. You're an ungrateful daughter, acting all dutiful on the outside, but deep down you probably resent us for being a burden."

Seeing my dad getting more and more furious, I could only try to explain, "This violin was a coming-of-age gift from you and Mom.

"I really love it. To me, it carries all the hopes and dreams you both had for me.

"I can't bear to sell it. I'm sorry, Dad. It's my fault."

The whole room fell silent. My dad stayed quiet. I kept my head down and noticed his hand at his side, trembling slightly.

He lifted his hand. I remembered when I was a kid, my dad always did this before patting my head.

His hand hovered in the air, then slowly fell to his side.

In the end, I didn't get the comforting pat on the head I was hoping for.