Chapter 4

I didn't touch dinner that night.

Vivian came over and started lecturing me again, going through the same old logic about saving while we were young, only spending on what was necessary at the grocery store, and cutting out everything else.

I'd had enough. I shut my eyes, rose to my feet, and stormed straight into the bathroom. That was when my salary hit my account.

For the first time, I didn't transfer it to her immediately. I simply stared at the number on the screen. That money was enough for a decent set of clothes, a proper backpack, and even a solid gaming setup if I wanted it.

Because I had been handing all my money over to Vivian every month, I was still wearing the same clothes I had worn back in school—ones that hadn't completely worn out yet.

My backpack was a cheap canvas one worth barely 20 dollars. Even my so-called entertainment was just sitting at home doing nothing.

A sudden sense of emptiness hit me. I started to wonder what the point of all these years of working so hard and earning money even was.

The bathroom door was pushed open. Vivian leaned against the frame and looked at me. "You usually get paid around this time every month. Why haven't you transferred the money yet?"

"I won't. What are you going to do about it?"

I looked up and met her calculating gaze. A wave of nausea rose in me.

"What do you mean, what am I going to do?" she asked. "I've been managing it for you. It's not like I spent it. Why won't you transfer it?"

There it was, the entitlement that came from getting so used to receiving.

"It's almost New Year's. I want to buy some new clothes," I said.

"You need your salary for that?" she countered with a scoff. "Look at you. You don't need something that expensive. Transfer the money first. When you actually buy them, I'll give you the money."

I walked out of the bathroom. She followed behind me, still talking incessantly. It felt as if I wouldn't make it to the next day if I didn't hand over my salary right then and there.

I froze for a second, then hardened my tone. "I'm going to start managing my own salary."

Vivian immediately panicked, stepping right up to me. "You're reckless with money and can't save anything on your own. With me controlling it, it's safe, at least. If I leave the money to you, we'll both end up broke!"

I let out a bitter laugh. "How am I reckless when I only have 300 dollars to spend every month?"

For a moment, she looked caught off guard, perhaps due to guilt. Then, an urgent call broke the silence.

It was Vivian's younger sister, Janine Spencer, who needed 500 thousand dollars for a down payment on a house. It was urgent, and the money had to be transferred immediately.

I watched as Vivian unlocked her phone. The moment her finger touched the screen, I knocked the phone out of her hand. "Did I say I agreed to lend her the money?"

She gave a cold laugh. "That's my savings, not yours. I didn't touch your money. Besides, we already lent your portion to Brian!"

How ridiculous. Her sister could get half a million instantly, without even discussing it with me, but when it came to my brother, we had to go through a huge fight and giving each other the cold shoulder. Why?

"Tell Janine to call me. If I agree, you can transfer it."

Vivian's anger became visible. "What's this? Is this even necessary? You're pushing your luck!"

She bent down to pick up the phone from the floor. I ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and rushed back toward her, shouting, "I said she only gets the money if I agree!"

A sharp slap landed across my face. In the next second, the knife was snatched out of my hand.

Vivian glared at me. "I'm giving my sister money, and you don't get a say in it!"

I stood there, numb, touching my cheek. For the first time, I seriously thought about leaving. Without another word, I grabbed my phone and bolted out the door.

Behind me, Vivian screamed, "You've got one minute to transfer your salary!"

I looked back at her, still standing there with her head down, trying to make the transfer. Something inside me burned.

From then on, I wouldn't let her take another penny from me.