Chapter 3

The next morning, Allison stood in the middle of the living room with a small rolling suitcase. The moment she saw me walk out of the bedroom, the corners of her mouth turned down in annoyance.

"I'm going out." She didn't even bother looking up, speaking as though she were informing a complete stranger.

As her legal guardian, I asked anyway, "Where are you going?"

She looked at me with undisguised impatience before letting out a scoff and lifting her chin. "You seriously think you're my mom?

"You eat my dad's food, live in his house, and spend his money. Your job is to make sure I'm happy, not stick your nose where it doesn't belong!"

To Allison, my entire existence in this family depended on Tobias, as if I were nothing more than a parasite living off the Bullocks.

I looked at the hostility written all over her face. Oddly enough, I felt a flicker of relief. At least, she wasn't my biological daughter.

Just then, the front door opened. Tobias was back. He reeked of alcohol, his expression darker than I'd ever seen it.

Hearing Allison's raised voice, he barked impatiently, "What's all this yelling first thing in the morning?"

Allison immediately ran over to him as though she'd found her protector. "Dad! You're finally back! She won't let me go out. She's trying to control everything!"

As she spoke, she shot me a smug, provocative look over Tobias's shoulder.

He frowned and turned to me. "If Allison wants to go out, let her go. Stop making such a big deal out of every little thing."

I stood where I was, watching the picture-perfect father and daughter before me. The whole scene felt absurd.

I wanted to tell Allison that if the law didn't make me her legal guardian, I wouldn't care whether she went on a trip or flew to the moon.

But the words never left my mouth.

Forget it.

There was no point.

From now on, they could walk their own road together.

…

Back in the bedroom, I knelt in front of the closet and started packing.

There wasn't much to take. Most of it was things I'd bought with my own salary before we got married.

After that, I'd been too busy taking care of Tobias, making sure he had everything he needed, and supervising Allison's schoolwork. I hadn't even had time to go shopping.

For the past seven years, my entire life had revolved around two people—Tobias and Allison.

Somewhere along the way, I'd forgotten about myself.

As I emptied the bedside drawer, my fingers brushed against a stiff sheet of paper. I pulled it out.

It was the marriage agreement we'd signed all those years ago. The edges had yellowed with age, but every word was still perfectly legible.

Looking at it now, it wasn't a marriage agreement at all. It was a contract hiring a live-in maid who never got paid.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as my fingers trembled. I was about to throw it away when I noticed a black notebook tucked underneath.

The moment I opened it, I froze.

Every page was covered in Tobias's handwriting.

"March 12 — Sofia's dental filling: $500."

"April 22 — Sofia's medicine: $120."

"May 8 — Shampoo: $35."

"June 15 — Sofia bought fruit: $42."

Every dollar I'd ever spent—from my dental bills down to a single bottle of shampoo—had been meticulously recorded.

I stared at line after line of expenses. Then I laughed.

After packing the last of my clothes, I zipped up my suitcase. Dragging it behind me, I walked out of the bedroom.

Tobias was the only one in the living room, sitting on the couch. The moment he saw my suitcase, annoyance flashed across his face.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Before he could accuse me of throwing another tantrum, I spoke in a calm voice, "Mr. Bullock, your free maid officially just quit."

He blinked, as though he couldn't quite process what I'd just said. "What?"

"Meet me at the courthouse tomorrow morning at eight. Don't disappoint me."