Chapter 4

Yuna burst into tears. “Jana, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Mom and Dad wouldn’t be so worried. But I really want to keep studying…”

The three of them took turns speaking, putting on a full performance and painting me as ungrateful, unfilial, and selfish.

Some people had already taken out their phones to film.

Others had even started livestreams, cameras shoved right in our faces.

Facing the cameras, Yuna even smoothed her hair, trying to make herself look prettier.

Clutching my bankbook and card, they headed toward the counter.

Thinking everything was about to work out, Yuna was so excited her hands trembled.

But the next second, I suddenly dropped to the ground!

Crying, shouting, and making a scene—I gave them a taste of their own tactics.

“What’s so hard for you, huh? What’s so hard?! This is money I earned with my own blood and sweat!

“I danced at theaters every day just to earn this. My toes worn raw and bleeding! After school, I worked at restaurants, my hands scrubbed red and raw! Mom, Dad. She’s your daughter but am I not your daughter too?!

“You’re going to take my money just so she can go to the same school as me? Donate a whole library just to buy her a spot?!

“Then what does all my effort count for? What about every struggling student out there? What does their effort count for?!”

Yuna’s expression shifted rapidly, panic flashing across her face as she rushed forward and covered my mouth.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Then she lowered her voice, glaring at me. “Are you crazy? How can you just say things like that in public?”

I bit down hard on the back of her hand.

The moment she cried out and let go, I continued, “You talk about raising me with your own hands, but you’ve never loved me!

“In your hearts, there’s only your older daughter. Even when we were kids and went to the amusement park, it was always just the three of you!”

I cried like I was falling apart, grief spilling out uncontrollably.

My mom’s face turned paler and paler, completely thrown into panic.

The crowd around us began murmuring.

“No matter what, the kid earned that money herself. You can’t pressure her to hand it over just because you’re her parents.”

“Exactly. I hate parents who play favorites the most. Look at that woman, she’s dressed well. Doesn’t look like they’re struggling at all…”

As people pointed and whispered, Yuna panicked, no longer caring about appearances.

Clutching the bank card, she hurried to the counter and shoved it forward. “Quick, process a transfer. Move the money into this account.”

The teller gave a polite smile. “Hello, may I confirm, are you the account holder?”

Yuna held up the ID next to her face. “I am!”

The teller lowered her head and began checking the ID with unusual care.

She seemed to have already noticed the subtle differences between Yuna and me.

Just as she was about to look up and say something, I saw Yuna suddenly close her eyes, her lips moving as she muttered under her breath.

I knew it.

She was calling on the system.