Chapter 2

They came home from dinner around ten that night.

Tessa was carrying a takeout container. "Here. I brought you something. That place was crazy expensive. I didn't even want to order too much, but I made sure to save you a few pieces."

I opened the container. Inside were four shriveled sushi rolls, the rice around the edges already hard.

No salmon. No shrimp.

Just a few strips of cucumber and some cheap shredded meat.

One look was enough to tell me they were leftovers.

"Thanks." I closed the lid and pushed the container aside.

Tessa frowned. "I carried that all the way home for you, and you're still going to sit there looking miserable?"

Mom heard us and came in. "What's all the arguing about now?"

"Mom, I brought her food, and she won't even touch it!" Tessa clung to Mom's arm, whining.

Mom looked at me, her eyes full of impatience. "Lia, Tessa was thinking of you. Don't be so ungrateful."

"I'll leave it here and heat it up for breakfast tomorrow," I said calmly.

Mom couldn't be bothered with me anymore. She turned to Tessa instead. "Tessa, weren't you looking at that new skincare set? I'll take you to buy it tomorrow."

"Thanks, Mom!"

They walked out together, laughing and chatting. The door swung shut behind them, cutting off the light from the living room.

I tossed the sushi into the trash can under my desk.

Early the next morning, I got ready to leave.

Dad was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper. He didn't look up. "Where are you going?"

"I have an interview for a server job at a restaurant on South Street."

"Okay." He turned a page. "Stop by the dry cleaner while you're out and pick up your brother's suit."

"Sure." I put on my shoes and walked out.

I didn't go to the restaurant. Instead, I took my bag and went to the the local government office that handled residency records. Inside were my ID and the family registration documents I'd quietly gathered after everyone went to bed.

I handed my documents to the clerk. "I need to change my permanent address."

The clerk looked over the agreement. "That's a pretty remote place. Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure." I looked straight at him and nodded.

He entered the information into his computer, then printed out the completed paperwork and handed it to me.

Just like that, my parents' house was no longer my legal residence.

Afterward, I stopped at a print shop to scan and upload the documents, along with the paperwork for my background check.

Every last requirement was done.

On my way home, I stopped at the dry cleaner and picked up Dylan's suit.

When I walked through the door, Mom was coming out of the kitchen with a plate of pot roast. "How did the job search go?"

I hung Dylan's suit on the rack behind the door. "I start tomorrow. A hundred and twenty dollars a day."

"Good." Mom set the meat down in front of Dylan. He helped himself to a piece.

"Oh, Mom, that big loan I'm applying for is still being processed. But I need to take some investors out tomorrow and bring them gifts. I'm still short several thousand dollars."

The table went silent for a second.

Dad set down his fork. "We don't have much spare cash right now either. Tessa needs spending money when school starts."

Dylan sighed, poking absently at the food on his plate. "I guess I could go to a loan shark."

Mom immediately panicked. "You can't get involved with people like that!"

She thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to me. "Lia, didn't Grandma leave you a gold bracelet when she died?"

My fork froze halfway to my plate.

Grandma knew I was the least favored child in the family. Before she died, she'd secretly slipped me the gold bracelet she'd worn her entire life. She'd meant it for me to have when I got married.

"That bracelet has to weigh at least two ounces. At today's gold prices, you could easily get over $5,000 for it." Mom stared at me.

"Grandma left that to me," I said, looking up.

"Can't you let Dylan use it to get through an emergency?" Mom's expression hardened.

Dad tapped the table. "Enough arguing. We're family. What's yours is ours. Everyone in favor of using the bracelet to tide Dylan over, raise your hand."

Dad's hand went up first.

Mom immediately raised hers too.

Dylan's gaze flickered away for a moment before he raised his hand as well.

"Lia, I'm only borrowing it. Once the company turns a profit next month, I'll pay you back double."

Tessa bit down on her fork, grinning as she raised her hand.