No Blood, No Love, No Obligation

I didn't have time to socialize at school.Even with the SAT looming, I spent my lunch breaks collecting recyclables every day, running errands to buy lunch for my classmates, or sitting in the corner of the sports field copying lines for students who refused to do their homework, charging them a dollar for every 1,000 words.But I never expected Harper to corner me against a wall with a group of her friends while I was in the middle of picking up plastic bottles.She pulled out a slip from the pocket of her school uniform. It was the loan agreement I had signed for Dad just two days ago.The slip read. "Cash advance for next month's tampon expenses.""See? I wasn't lying!" Harper announced. "I told you all the truth. Maddie Cooper here has to borrow money from my dad just to buy tampons."She's so young, but she's completely wasted and owes our family over 600 thousand dollars. A parasite like her is deeply in debt before she's even earned a single dime. Who knows how she's squa

I had never once defied Mom and Dad or spoken to them with such a cold, indifferent tone.In that moment, Mom looked at me like I was a stranger."I'm your mom, Maddie! I'm pregnant right now, and all I asked was that you massage my legs. What on earth did you just say to me?""Even biological moms and daughters should settle accounts," I replied. "You don't get special mom privileges with me, at least that's what you and Dad taught me."I began mimicking their behavior, nickel-and-diming every last thing and measuring everything in terms of money."Pouring a glass of water requires a ten-dollar service fee. A 15-minute leg massage starts at 50 dollars, but since this is a night shift, a 30-dollar tip applies. Your total will come to 90 dollars."Livid, Mom grabbed her pillow and hurled it at me.I simply stepped aside, nonchalantly avoided the pillow, and let it drop onto the floor. "Of course, if you would like me to retrieve that pillow for you, that would incur an addition

When I walked past Mom, her tears fell."Maddie…"She reached out and tried to grab the hem of my shirt. "Don't go. What am I supposed to do if you leave? I'm still pregnant with your brother…"I stopped in my tracks but didn't look back at her."Mom," I said softly. "This is the last time I'm calling you that."With that, I gently brushed her hand away and slammed the door shut with a heavy thud.In an instant, I heard the sound of items being smashed in a fit of rage behind me, but I didn't turn back.The sunlight was so blinding that it made my eyes water, and I knew that those were the last tears I would ever shed for this family.From now on, every dollar I earned and every bit of effort I made would only belong to me.…Throughout my four years of college, I had to earn money to support myself. I lived like a money-making machine that never rested.After breaking free from being bled dry by my family, I realized that making money wasn't that difficult at all.In my fr

Robert clutched his chest and pointed at me. "You… You…"With a sharp gasp, his breath caught, and he passed out cold on the spot.He was then rushed to the ICU. The doctors diagnosed him with an acute brain hemorrhage and warned that his situation was critical. He needed immediate surgery and a stay in the ICU.The deposit was ten thousand dollars, while the surgery and subsequent treatment costs would be at least 30 thousand dollars.Harper dropped her phone in horror when she heard the figure. She turned on her heel and ran, claiming that she was going back to get his health insurance card, only to disappear for three days.Bennett was just a child in preschool. All he could do was cry and demand fried chicken.Only Mom was left in the hospital hallway. Completely helpless, she grabbed my sleeve, dropped to her knees, and groveled before me."I beg you, Maddie! You have money, so please save your dad! He was my first love and a father figure to you. He's the pillar of the fam