Chapter 10: Not in the Same League

Home should be the warmest place.

But for Eudora Cook, her home was unbearably cold.

When Eudora Cook's mother saw her daughter dragging her suitcase, dusty and weary from her return to L City, instead of showing any concern, she sneered, "With that worthless degree, do you really think you can make it in a big city? How delusional!"

"Mom, I haven't even graduated yet. I don't have my diploma, so it's hard to find a job!" Eudora Cook retorted.

Eudora Cook's mother continued with disdain, "I think you should drop out after your second year. It's just a waste of money. Even if you get your diploma, what's the point? It's just a vocational degree. What company in a big city would want you?"

Her mother's words, each one like a needle, pierced Eudora Cook's heart. She didn't want to argue anymore, so she picked up her suitcase and walked upstairs, ignoring her mother's taunts.

She knew she shouldn't have come back!

"What are you being so proud about? You're not even half as good as Irene! And don't expect me or your father to pay for your second year of college!"

Behind her, Eudora Cook's mother shouted these discouraging words.

Who was Irene? She was Eudora Cook's cousin, a wealthy young lady who was very much favored by Eudora Cook's mother. Sometimes, Eudora Cook felt like Irene was the real daughter, and she herself was just an adopted child.

Eudora Cook slammed her bedroom door shut, tears streaming down her face. She had no appetite for dinner.

Outside, she could still hear her mother complaining to her father, "Eudora is such a disappointment! Look at Irene, studying at a top university abroad, bringing home first-class scholarships every semester. So impressive and respectable! Eudora isn't even half as good as Irene!"

"But Eudora also brings home first-class scholarships every semester. So, dear, please stop. Irene is Eudora's cousin, and your sister married into a better family. We can't compare the two," her father said, a bit annoyed.

"How can we not compare them? Eudora's scholarship from a third-rate university can't be compared to Irene's from a top university. Tell me, how can two girls born on the same day, in the same hospital, be so different?" Eudora Cook's mother argued.

The difference was understandable, though. After all, Eudora wasn’t...

"Honey, actually, Eudora..."

Eudora Cook's father hesitated, interrupting his wife's train of thought.

Eudora Cook's mother paused, wondering if her husband knew something about Eudora.

Her father quickly changed the subject, sighing deeply, "Eudora didn't do poorly; she dropped out to take care of me and work part-time to cover my medical expenses. That's why she failed the college entrance exam."

Eudora Cook's mother felt a moment of relief, but then dismissed it, "Taking care of you is her duty as a daughter. Otherwise, I would have raised her for eighteen years for nothing!"

See, this was how indifferent her mother was towards her.

During her stay at home, Eudora Cook faced constant ridicule and criticism from her mother. No matter how hard she worked, doing laundry, cooking, and helping at the family pharmacy, her mother always found fault and complained.

One evening during dinner, Eudora Cook's mother brought up Phoebe Hamlet.

"Eudora, Phoebe Hamlet is your classmate, right?" Her mother spoke with her mouth full, "I heard that Phoebe Hamlet has a very, very rich boyfriend in L City. He gives her tens of thousands in pocket money every month! Now, Phoebe Hamlet has bought a three-story house with a storefront for her grandparents in our town, and she's building a four-story villa in our village, complete with a garden, orchard, pond, and vegetable garden!"

Eudora Cook's mother was envious, her eyes red with jealousy.

Eudora Cook paused, suddenly remembering something, but quickly resumed eating, pretending nothing was wrong.

She knew Phoebe Hamlet was getting married, but she hadn't realized her fiancé was so wealthy.

"I'm telling you, Eudora, you're not less attractive than Phoebe Hamlet, but why do you have such poor taste? What's so great about Truman MacMillan? He's just the only one from our village who got into a university in L City. His family is so poor, the village had to help him pay for college. Compared to Phoebe Hamlet's boyfriend, he's not even worth a fraction. I don't know what you see in Truman MacMillan, thinking of marrying him and taking care of his elderly parents and sick grandparents after graduation!" Eudora Cook's mother rambled on.

At the mention of Truman MacMillan, Eudora Cook angrily slammed her bowl and chopsticks on the table, startling her parents.

"We've broken up. Are you happy now?" Eudora Cook shouted, tears in her eyes, feeling utterly wronged.

Eudora Cook's mother, enraged, lashed out, "You little wretch! What are you shouting for? Have you no manners? Your breakup, what does it have to do with me? What right do you have to yell at me?"

"Honey, please calm down," her father sighed, trying to mediate.

In reality, Eudora Cook's family was not much better off than Truman MacMillan's. Her mother ran a small pharmacy on the first floor of their house, and her father, unable to walk, could only help at the cash register. They were in debt due to her father's medical condition.

As for her brother, although he worked outside, he still relied on the family for financial support.

Eudora Cook's mother took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly, and glanced at Eudora Cook. "Since you're good friends with Phoebe Hamlet, why don't you ask her for some help, maybe she can give you some money to finish your studies."

"Mom, what are you saying?" Eudora Cook snapped, furious.