Chapter 3

I took a few days off.

On one hand, I was busy talking to a lawyer about problems with my salary card. On the other hand, I wasn't in the mood to show up at the office.

Claire's wedding was set for the 18th of next month, and rumor had it the whole thing was going to be extravagant.

The reception was booked at the priciest hotel in town, and her wedding dress was custom-made.

Word about the 150 grand wedding gift had already gotten around. Everyone in the family group chat was praising Mom for being so generous and saying Claire was really lucky.

No one asked about me. It was like that money had never been mine to begin with.

On Thursday night, Dad called. "Julia, can you come home for a bit? Your mom wants to talk to you."

"Talk about what?" I asked.

"About the money," he said.

I stayed silent for a few seconds. "Alright."

Guess it was time for this conversation.

When I got home, the atmosphere was awkward.

Claire wasn't there. Only my parents were sitting in the living room.

There were some of my favorite fruits on the table, but I had no appetite at all.

"Julia, have a seat," Dad said, gesturing toward the couch.

I didn't sit down. "Let's cut to the chase. When are you going to give me my money back?"

Mom's face darkened. "You're really coming at me with that attitude?"

"So what kind of attitude do you expect from me?" I looked her straight in the eye. "Should I beg you to give me back the money I worked so hard for?"

"You!" Mom shot up from her seat, fuming. "Julia, after all these years I've raised you, this is how you repay me? You're such an ungrateful brat!"

"Raised me?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Mom, ever since I started working, I've been sending you $1,500 every month for living expenses. I never missed a single holiday cash gift.

"In the past five years, I've given this family nearly 60 grand.

"What about Claire? She's been living here and hasn't given you a dime in three years of working, and now she's taking my 150 grand."

Mom said, "That's different. Her—"

"Her parents died, so she's the tragic one," I finished it for her. "So I'm supposed to let her drain me dry? I'm expected to sacrifice everything to keep her afloat?"

The living room fell into a suffocating silence.

Dad let out a heavy sigh. "Julia, that's not fair to say.

"Claire is your cousin, after all. We have a responsibility to her."

"And what about me?" I demanded. "What about your responsibility to me?

"That 150 grand was supposed to be my down payment for a house."

I said calmly, "Eric and I had our eyes on a cozy two-bedroom apartment. The down payment was 300 grand. I'd saved up 150 grand, and he'd saved the other 150. Now, my 150 grand is gone."

Mom turned her face away. "What's the rush with buying a house? You two are still young..."

I snapped, "So Claire's wedding is a big deal, but my future doesn't matter? She gets to walk down the aisle in style, and I'm supposed to go without a home of my own?"

"Julia!" Dad raised his voice. "Mind your attitude."

"My attitude is a reflection of yours." I looked them dead in the eye. "I'm here for one thing: you need to return the money from my card within a week. If not, I'll take legal measures."

"You wouldn't dare!" Mom's eyes went wide. "You're actually going to take your own mother to court?"

"If my own mom steals my money, why shouldn't I?"

"Steal? That's not stealing. It's... It's just borrowing it for a while."

"Borrowing?" I pulled out my phone and started recording. "Mom, say that again. Borrowing? Where's the written agreement? When are you paying it back? And what about interest?"

Mom froze, unable to say a word.

Dad put a hand on her shoulder and looked at me. "Julia, does it really have to come to this? We're family."

"The moment you took my 150 grand and handed it to Claire, that's when you stopped being my family," I said.

I put my phone away. "For Claire's wedding, you're willing to empty out everything we have, even go into debt.

"But when it comes to me? I just want my own money back, and you make it this difficult for me."

Dad said, "Julia, Claire—"

I cut him off. "She's the one everyone feels sorry for, and she needs to be taken care of, so I'm the one who has to keep sacrificing, just so she can take everything from me?"

Dad lowered his head.

This man who'd always been so strict suddenly seemed so old and powerless.

Mom's gaze wandered, refusing to look at me.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself. "I'm about to get married, too. So, what did you guys get ready for me?"

They stayed silent. But I already knew what the answer was: nothing.

Because I was independent, because I was the sensible one, because I was the unbreakable "iron bowl".

Suddenly, I let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh. "So now, you have to pick—me or Claire. Which one do you want to be your daughter? Make your choice."

Mom was stunned. "Are you crazy?"

Then they fell silent.

I stared at them for a while, and then nodded. "I get it."

Honestly, the answer had been obvious for years. I had already known it during every single day they played favorites.

"This is the last time I'll ever call you Mom and Dad," I said, word by word. "From now on, I have no parents, no home. I'm an orphan."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Mom snapped.

"I mean it," I replied.

With that, I spun around and strode out.

Mom shrieked behind me, "Julia, if you walk out that door today, we'll pretend you never existed!"

I yanked the door open and left, never once looking back.