Chapter 1

Three days later, an unfamiliar number kept calling me persistently.

"Vivian Sullivan, why did you block all your family's numbers? How can you be so thoughtless?"

It was Eunice Lowry, my maternal aunt.

"Aunt Eunice, is something the matter?" My voice was so calm that it surprised even me.

"Your mother is so angry she might have a heart attack! You'd better unblock them right now!"

"But I don't think there's anything left to say between us."

"Is it just because your parents used the money from selling the hotel to buy Harry a villa?" Aunt Eunice asked dismissively. "So what if your parents help Harry out a little? Your uncle, Freddie Sullivan, passed away young, and both Harry and his mother, Dora Hodge, hadn't had it easy."

"Help him out a little?" I scoffed. "Aunt Eunice, I wouldn't call giving him six million dollars to buy a villa in cash helping him out a little."

The line on the other end fell silent all of a sudden.

"I've worked at Gomez Group for five years, rising from designer to director with an annual salary of one million dollars. During those five years, I practically lived at the company. Pulling all-nighters to review proposals is a common occurrence for me, and I'm often late even for dates with Charles."

I took a deep breath and continued, "The down payment for the apartment by Hapburg River that I have my eye on as our marital home is eight million dollars.

"I'd saved up three million dollars and was still five million dollars short. So, I asked Mom and Dad to lend me five million dollars, promising to pay them back monthly. But guess what they said?"

Aunt Eunice stayed quiet.

"Dad says I'm no longer their responsibility once I'm married, and that buying a house is on the man. Mom, on the other hand, says since Charles' parents are rich, I should just have them foot the bill."

I dug my nails deep into my palm. "And then, they turned around and gave their entire six-million-dollar savings to Harry. He's only 22 years old. Not only did he drop out of college, but he also spends every day clubbing.

"Yet, Mom insists he gets nothing but the best real estate out there. Otherwise, he'll have no shot at finding a good wife."

"Vivian, you shouldn't think that way. Your parents are just trying to do right by your Uncle Freddie."

"Doing right by Uncle Freddie?" I cut her off. "He's been dead for ten years! In these ten years, Harry's tuition, living expenses, sports car—tell me, which of them hasn't been paid for by my parents?

"And now, they've even given him money they could have saved for their retirement just to be seen as loyal and devoted?"

Aunt Eunice sighed and said, "Your parents have old-fashioned views. They think carrying on the family line is the most important thing."

"So, a daughter isn't even considered family?" I shot back. "I'm already 28 years old, but because of this, Charles broke up with me. Aunt Eunice, tell me—what am I supposed to do?"

"Charles Gomez broke up with you?" Aunt Eunice asked in a surprised tone.

"The day after Mom sent me the photos of Harry's villa, Charles said he'd never marry a woman whose family expects her to bankroll her cousin," I replied with a wry smile.

Aunt Eunice was speechless.

"They want a son to carry on the family line? Fine, I'll give them that. But from now on, I want nothing to do with them. If they want someone to care for them in their old age and see them to their graves, they can go find their precious nephew, who they've spent six million dollars raising."

"Vivian, don't be impulsive."

I hung up without another word.

Then, I turned on my laptop and started searching for a studio rental. It didn't matter how small or expensive it was or which district it was in—Elcester, Winsworth, or Hapburg—as long as it allowed me to establish a foothold in Summercaster.

Without relying on my family or marriage, I'd earn that five-million-dollar shortfall myself.