Chapter 1

Seeing me go quiet, Karen Kosner figured she'd gotten through to me. Her face immediately shifted into that fake, sugary-sweet look of concern.

"Jennifer, I'm not trying to rag on you, but your salary isn't even that high. If you keep throwing money around like this, what's gonna happen to you down the road?

"Look at the bus pass I use—it's cheap and practical.

"Go ask for time off later and return that stupid bike. I'll take you to get a bus card instead. All the money you save could go toward a small two-bedroom place for you to get married in."

I had hidden who I really was to train at my family's company, and in just half a month, I'd be taking the family's final evaluation.

For now, I had to swallow my anger.

"Karen, seriously, don't go to all that trouble. I like the bike just fine. I'm not returning it."

"Besides, I already have a place to live. I'm not thinking about buying another house right now."

To be closer to work, I'd bought my current apartment right before I started.

The second she heard that, Karen blew up again, jabbing her finger at me and spitting as she yelled.

"You like it? You blew two hundred thousand dollars, and you're telling me you like it?

"You have to buy a brand-new house for your marriage. And that crappy old apartment of yours? According to how we do things back home, you should sell it and give the cash to your husband's oldest sister as a welcome gift.

"We've known each other this long, so I'm doing you a special favor. I'll even let you keep ten bucks from the sale. Pretty generous of me, don't you think?"

The anger I'd barely held down came roaring back.

"This is my family's money. I'll spend it however I want. Whether I get married, buy a new place, or do anything with my assets is none of your business. And for the record, when did I ever say I was marrying your brother? Get over yourself."

Not wanting to argue anymore, I turned to leave.

She suddenly grabbed my arm hard. The calluses on her palm and her jagged nails scraped against my skin.

Karen's eyes went bloodshot as she completely lost her temper.

"This isn't just about you anymore! How can you be so irresponsible?"

"You're squatting in my house and wasting the Kosner family's money. Are you trying to burn through everyone's retirement savings before you're happy?"

Her shrill voice bounced off every corner of the office, dragging coworkers out to watch the show.

My face went dark. I shoved her hand off my arm.

"If your brain is seriously messed up, go see a doctor. Stop yapping at me here."

Karen clearly hadn't expected me to talk back like that. She froze for a second, then got even madder.

"How can you be so ungrateful? And why are you talking so nasty? I'm just planning for our family's future!

"The way you blow through money, how are we supposed to afford baby formula, school tuition, or feed this whole family later?"