Chapter 2

Dad reached for the fake bills in my hand.

I took a step back.

“Don’t touch them.”

His face darkened instantly.

“You’re actually dodging me now?”

Linda suddenly dug through her purse, pulled out a small slip of paper, and slapped it onto the table.

“Claire, if you insist on pushing me this far, then I guess I have no choice but to show everyone.”

The relatives immediately crowded around.

Linda pointed at the slip, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.

“This is from the bank yesterday.

“I was going to withdraw the full thirty thousand dollars for her, but the bank said cash withdrawals that large have to be arranged in advance.

“I didn’t want her to be disappointed, so I prepared the fake bills just for the presentation.”

She looked at me as fresh tears spilled down her face.

“I just wanted everyone to see that your father and I have never treated you unfairly.”

My aunt picked up the slip and examined it before passing it around.

“She really did go to the bank. Claire, your mother wasn’t lying to you.”

Dad’s voice grew harsher.

“See that? Your mother went all the way to the bank for you, and you humiliated her in front of the entire family.”

I looked at the slip.

All it proved was that she had been to the bank.

There was no amount.

No account number.

No record of any transaction.

She had used the same kind of slip in my previous life.

One worthless piece of paper had been enough to silence everyone.

So I asked,

“Where’s the withdrawal appointment?”

Linda froze.

I continued,

“You said the bank required you to arrange a large cash withdrawal in advance. There should be a record of that.

“Which account is the thirty thousand in?

“What date is the withdrawal scheduled for?

“Did the bank give you any confirmation?”

The table went quiet for several seconds.

Dad cut in sharply.

“What is this, an interrogation?”

I looked at him.

“I’m asking for my living expenses.”

One of my aunts slapped the table in irritation.

“Your living expenses?

“You don’t even earn your own money yet. You eat their food and live under their roof. It’s only yours if your parents choose to give it to you.”

I turned to her.

“Then they shouldn’t announce in front of everyone that they already gave it to me.”

Linda sank into her chair, clutching her chest.

“Claire, are you still angry because I send Ethan money every month but don’t send you any?”

I didn’t avoid the question.

“Yes.”

Her tears immediately started again.

“Your brother had just moved overseas. He needed a security deposit, insurance, tuition. Everything cost money.

“He’s all alone in a foreign country where he doesn’t know anyone. I’m his mother. How could I just leave him to fend for himself?”

Dad immediately backed her up.

“If Ethan suddenly runs out of money, it could affect his education.

“You’re here at home. You can always find a way to manage.”

I gave a short laugh, even as my chest tightened.

“That’s why I had to take out a student loan to cover my freshman tuition.”

Linda’s expression changed.

I pulled up my payment records on my phone and placed it on the table.

“I covered my housing deposit myself too.

“You said you’d send me living expenses at the beginning of the month.

“Then the beginning became the middle.

“The middle became the end.

“And in the end, I had to borrow money from classmates.”

The relatives grew noticeably quieter.

Grandma frowned at Linda.

“Linda, you never told us any of this.”

Linda immediately dropped to her knees beside Grandma’s chair.

“Mom, it’s not that I didn’t want to give Claire money. I genuinely didn’t have enough to go around.

“If something happened to Ethan overseas because I couldn’t support him, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

She raised a hand as if to slap herself, but Dad grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing?

“She’s being unreasonable. Why are you punishing yourself?”

Linda shook her head through her tears.

“It’s my fault. I’m the one who failed Claire.”

The relatives immediately started trying to calm things down.

“Claire, look at your mother. What more do you want from her?”

“You’re all family. That money will be yours sooner or later.”

“Ethan’s your brother. Once he’s successful, do you really think he won’t look after you?”

My stomach twisted as I listened.

In my previous life, “sooner or later” had kept me waiting until it was too late.

Before I could say anything, Linda suddenly pushed herself to her feet.

She reached into her purse and pulled out an account statement.

“You wanted proof, didn’t you?”

She held it out.

“There’s thirty thousand dollars in this account.”

“I’m giving it to you.”

Dad frowned.

“Linda.”

She cut him off.

“If my own daughter doesn’t trust me, fine.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the statement.

I didn’t take it.

Something flickered in Linda’s eyes.

“What?

“You don’t want this either?”

I stared at her.

“I want the money in my account.”

Her expression stiffened.

I pushed my phone toward her again.

“Having thirty thousand dollars in your account doesn’t mean you’ve given it to me.”