Chapter 2

I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

Did Jonathan seriously think he could control me just because he once saved me?

It seemed I had spoiled him too much, to the point he was letting it get to his head and making him think he could order me around.

Materialistic? Vain? Me? Did he even hear himself?

For other people, being materialistic meant wanting luxury cars and expensive houses, yet when it came to me, wanting to drink a five-dollar milkshake somehow counted as being materialistic.

What was even more ridiculous was that I had bought it with my own money. I hadn't spent a single cent of his money. On the contrary, he was spending mine.

Ever since Jonathan and Leah moved into my place, all their expenses had come out of my pocket. Oftentimes, they would even spend an exorbitant amount while I wasn't paying attention. Jonathan would top up his game credits using my card to buy skins, while Leah would splurge on all sorts of branded clothing and bags.

Nonetheless, since Jonathan was unemployed and had no income, plus I genuinely wanted our relationship to progress further into marriage someday, I had never made too much of a fuss.

Now, however, they were actually accusing me of being materialistic, just because I spent some of my own money on myself? So only they had the right to spend my hard-earned money, was that it? Such double-standards!

Fury blazed through me, and I scoffed, "Jonathan Jenson, you truly are ridiculous! You spend my money so frivolously, yet you expect me to be frugal? You know better than anyone just how much of my money you and your mother have spent behind my back!

"I've never made an issue out of it, yet you two have the nerve to lecture me now? Saying I'm wasting money, all over a milkshake?"

Leah was instantly annoyed at how I was lashing out at Jonathan. Heaving her massive body to her feet, she stepped toward Jonathan and spread her arms wide in a protective gesture.

"Cassie Yowley, Jon is your future husband! How dare you talk back to him? Besides, how are your situations possibly the same? Jon is a man and was born for great things! What's wrong with him spending a little money?

"As a woman, all you need to do is focus on managing the household and serving your husband well. What do you need to spend money for? And you even got yourself a milkshake! If that isn't wasting the family's money, I don't know what is!"

What sort of ridiculous, backwards thinking was that? Only men were allowed to spend money, while women had no right? I had honestly never met anyone with such old-fashioned thinking in this day and age.

"You—"

Before I could say anything more, Leah swiftly cut me off.

"What? You'd better hurry up and hand me your payroll card. I'll look after and manage it for you. Otherwise, you're bound to waste all the money there one day!

"Oh, and you can forget about dinner. The only thing you'll be getting in your tummy is air as you stand outside and reflect on yourself! Ha! A milkshake? Seriously? It seems you don't know your place, do you?"

Anyone who didn't know the truth would've thought I had blown through millions of their money.

Expression cold, I turned to look at Jonathan, wanting to see what he would do. To my disappointment, he once again defended his mother.

"Just listen to Mom. It's not like she means to harm you. All she's doing is simply for your own good!"

His words added fuel to the fire, and I exploded. Fishing out my phone, I froze their bank card right then and there as they watched.

"I have to be frugal, do I? Then I'll listen to your advice and freeze your card. That way, I can save quite a lot of money, you know!"

From the shock in their eyes, Jonathan and Leah clearly didn't think I would do this. Their faces flushed red before paling, while their chests heaved violently.

"Cassie Yowley, what the hell are you doing?"

Furious, Leah smacked me hard across the face before launching into a tirade, her spittle flying everywhere.

"Who told you to freeze our card? What are Jon and I supposed to do if we can't access that account? More importantly, did you even think to ask for our permission before you froze our card?"