Chapter 3

Rafael walked over, his figure blocking my view. “Wrong size?”

I nodded.

Avery’s face instantly went pale as she stammered, “Elena, how long have you been standing there… D-Did you hear anything just now?”

I shook my head. “No.”

I could clearly see the relief wash over Rafael's face. He handed the dress back to the shop assistant. “Could you get one size bigger?”

Then he turned to me and said, “Stay here and try on the dress. Avery drew a prize too. I’ll take her downstairs to get a milkshake.”

Avery immediately pouted. “Elena’s prize is a new dress, and my reward is only a milkshake?”

He smiled as he ruffled her hair. “Elena's just luckier than you are. You have to accept the result when you play the game.”

Avery quietly muttered, “Then I want extra whipped cream on mine.”

“Sure.”

With that, they left the shop and stepped onto the escalator.

As for me, I did not go back to the fitting room. I followed them downstairs.

Avery leaned against a glass display case and pointed at a necklace. “Rafael, I want this one.”

The sales assistant took it out. “This is our newest arrival. It’s 138,000 dollars.”

Rafael immediately handed over his card. “Wrap it up.”

Avery smiled. “You’re the best.”

He gently touched her head and replied in an affectionate tone, “You helped me put on an act today. I know it's not easy for you.”

Pouting, she said in a whiny, playful voice, “I’m not as easy to please as Elena! Besides this necklace, you have to buy me the latest phone too.”

He laughed at her antics and answered, “Okay, okay. Whatever you want.”

After signing the receipt, he put the diamond necklace around Avery’s neck. Then he heaved a sigh. “Elena really is easy to please. She’s always been like that. Give her a little treat and she’ll remember it for a long time.”

Avery suddenly asked, “Do you actually like her?”

He paused for a moment. “Don’t ask meaningless questions."

He let out another sigh. “I’ve been with her for so long. It’s not like I can just break up with her whenever I want.”

Avery lowered her voice as she asked, “What about me?”

He answered, “You’re different. You can’t stand being wronged.”

Avery sounded a little hurt. “Well, are you still buying Elena her dress?”

“Of course.” Rafael added, “She’ll get suspicious if I don’t buy it.”

I was standing around the corner when my phone suddenly vibrated with a message from Mom: [Avery said she wants to go to that pasta place for dinner. Take a look and get whatever you want.]

A moment later, she sent another message: [Don’t order anything too expensive. You've already spent a hundred dollars today. Keep it under 20 dollars.]

I opened the delivery app. The cheapest side dish cost 28 dollars.

I closed the page and replied: [I’m not hungry. Just order for Avery.]

When I returned to the clothing store, Rafael was already waiting with the dress. “Elena, it’s done.”

I took it from him. “Let’s go home.”

…

That night, I got up to get some water. The main bedroom door was not fully closed, and Mom’s voice drifted out.

“We need to put down the payment first to secure Avery's spot in the program abroad. We’ll mortgage the house and take out the money to enroll her.”

Dad questioned, “But what if we mortgage the house and can’t afford to pay it back?”

Mom replied, “What’s there to worry about? Once Elena starts college, she’ll have a 50,000-dollar scholarship, and she can take out a 180,000-dollar student loan. Once the money comes in, we’ll just make her draw something that says, 'Hand Over Everything to the Family.'”

Dad still sounded uncertain. “What if she refuses?”

She let out a soft chuckle. “She’s been accepting whatever she draws since she was little. Besides, doesn’t Rafael know how to handle her? He gave her one dress, and look, she was happy again tonight.”