Chapter 2

At 3 PM, HR sent the resignation confirmation to my inbox.

Right behind it came a copy of the email cc'd to Security and Property Management:

"Ms. Chloe Carter's employment contract will terminate at noon on January 7th. Her executive apartment privileges will be revoked accordingly. Please execute key card deactivation and property handover on schedule."

My cursor hovered over the "Confirm" button for a moment. I clicked.

Six years of employment. And the apartment that had been my last thread tying me to "home"—gone.

My phone rang. Sophia, my college roommate, now a partner at another firm.

"Chloe, I just heard you quit on David? Are you insane? The board was going to promote you next month!"

"I'm not insane, Sophia."

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes landing on the photo frame at the corner of my desk.

"I just finally woke up."

In the photo, my father sat in the center, my mother leaning against him. Emma and Jack stood on either side. Everyone beaming.

I was on the edge, my smile looking more like I was trying to keep up with their rhythm.

That photo used to be my motivation—the reason I pushed myself so hard. Now it was just a joke.

"This isn't like you. Is this about your dad? What ridiculous excuse did he pull this time?"

Sophia knew me too well. Hit the nail on the head.

"They flew to Switzerland for Christmas today."

Two seconds of silence. Then Sophia spoke.

"Emma went?"

"And Jack."

"Oh, fuck that."

Sophia cursed out loud.

"Your dad's lost his mind, hasn't he? Whole family skiing in the Alps, and he leaves you alone in an apartment? And Jack? That asshole just went along with it? Isn't he supposed to be your fiancé?"

"My dad said the apartment's quiet, staying saves money, and it'll help me lock down the partner spot."

I repeated their words back.

"Jack said he could be their German translator."

"Ridiculous! They're going skiing—they need your fiancé as a translator? Switzerland isn't even all German-speaking!"

Sophia laughed in disbelief.

"Listen to me, Chloe. You should've cut ties with this family a long time ago. You've been killing yourself trying to earn their approval with a perfect resume and a fat paycheck. But the truth is, in your dad's eyes, you're always the one they can sacrifice whenever it's convenient."

Sophia didn't pull punches.

In my father's eyes, I was just a convenient sacrifice. Or maybe a cautionary tale to hold over Emma's head.

He liked playing dictator at home. My mother was his enforcer.

To teach Emma "independence," they once ditched me in a mall on purpose, watched me break down crying, then turned to Emma and said, "See? This is what happens when you don't stay close to your parents."

To keep Emma from dating too early, my father secretly complained to my school and got my competition disqualified.

Then at dinner, he'd hammer it into Emma: "If Chloe had focused on her studies instead of wasting time, she wouldn't be in this position. Emma, learn from her mistakes."

I fought back, of course. But in this family, disagreements always went to a "family vote."

Three against one at first. After Jack joined, it was four against one.

I was always the one.

Every time I was sacrificed, my father had a rock-solid excuse. And the rest of them always took his side.

So I buried myself in work. Got an offer from a top firm. Moved them into this executive apartment that everyone envied.

I thought if I succeeded by the world's standards, I'd stop being the failure they used as an example.

I thought that would change my place in that family.

I was wrong. People's biases are mountains—they don't move just because you climbed one.

"Chloe?"

Sophia's voice pulled me back.

"You're really sure about this? Where are you going to live without the apartment? And more importantly—when your family gets back and finds out you quit and the apartment's gone, how bad is it going to get?"

"I don't want to play their game anymore, Sophia."

I stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The city sprawled beneath me in all its glittering chaos. Cars streamed through the streets. Lights blazed everywhere.

"Since they love this executive apartment so much, love bragging about their daughter's success—I'll take it all back."

Sophia inhaled sharply. "You're cutting them off for good?"

"I'm cutting my losses."

I looked at my reflection in the glass.

"Sophia, I need one more favor. Keep an eye out for a short-term rental downtown. I'm packing my personal stuff tomorrow."

"Done. Whatever you need, Chloe. I've got your back."

"Thank you, Sophia."

I hung up and let out a long breath.

All these years, I'd given most of my time to work. And most of my paycheck to that so-called "family."

My father's cigars. My mother's bags. Emma's tuition.

And Jack...

I looked down at the mediocre diamond on my finger.

When he proposed, my parents applauded. Emma gave her blessing. I thought I'd finally earned my place.

Then my father suggested Jack go as the "translator." Jack said yes without hesitation. And told me, with a straight face, "Mr. Carter's looking out for you."

That's when I realized—he wasn't my fiancé. He was just another obedient member of my father's household.

I slid the ring off and tossed it into a drawer.

My computer pinged with an email from Jack.

A photo. The Alps in the background. My father and mother raising champagne glasses.

Emma leaning into Jack's arms, her face flushed with a shy smile.

"Chloe, we made it. The hotel's amazing. The snow conditions are great. Mr. Carter says take care of yourself—don't overwork. Merry Christmas."

I stared at their perfect little scene. Pathetic.

They didn't even bother hiding the gloating. Because they were sure I was still the same Chloe—the one who'd swallow anything and never fight back.

I didn't reply. I closed the email and whispered to myself:

Have fun in the snow, everyone.

Because this is the last time my hard work gets to dress up your "perfect family."