Chapter 3

"That's right—cough up whatever extra you ate, and give back whatever extra you took!"

Laurel, my brother's girlfriend, echoed the cry.

One stone raised a thousand ripples.

Moved by my brother's tearful accusations, all the relatives present chimed in to back him up.

Uncle Gerald said, "I've lived most of my life, and I've never seen a family treat their only son this badly!"

In Uncle Gerald's worldview, no matter how many daughters a family had, as long as there wasn't a second son, that one son counted as an "only child."

No wonder Vivian had run off.

Aunt Diane spoke up too. "It really isn't right. When you raise kids, you have to hold the bowl of water level for everyone."

Surrounded by the relatives, Mom put on a troubled face, but her eyes glittered with triumph.

She made a show of tugging Joshua back. "You're brother and sister by blood—why let it get so ugly?"

Joshua shoved her off and said, "Blood siblings still settle their accounts clearly!"

He stared right at me, not giving an inch. "Either you transfer the money right now, or you settle in nice and quiet in the toilet room!"

"It's not the money I want," Joshua added. "What I want is compensation for all the years Mom played favorites—for the mother's love I never got!"

"Well said!" Laurel cheered, opening a local livestream and going live right there in front of us.

"My future sister-in-law's whole family are devoted daughter's parents—am I supposed to become one too?"

"My future mother-in-law has been bled dry by her older daughter for twenty years and still won't wake up. Ladies, how do I even talk sense into her?"

"My boyfriend's childhood was full of bullying from his own sister. Someone with real say has finally stepped up, and today I'm going to fight this out for him!"

Just as I was about to make Laurel shut off the livestream, Mom quickly grabbed me. "Lucy, stop making a fool of yourself. Whatever you want to say, we can talk about it later. Just say yes to your brother first!"

I shook my head. "Every dollar I've earned all these years has gone straight to supporting you. Where would I have any money left?"

I pulled up the balance on my bank card and showed her. "You asked for so much last month that I even went into debt on payday loans. How about you pay off my loans for me first?"

Before I came to the housewarming today, I'd already moved the money off my bank card—I wanted to see how Mom would react.

When Mom saw the zeroed-out balance, her face fell with disappointment.

A faint hope stirred in my chest: would Mom finally stop here?

After I started working, I'd given my family so much support. Joshua didn't know about it, but Mom did!

No matter how big her appetite was, she should have had her fill by now!

But the next second, Mom said, "Don't worry, Lucy. Mom has a way."

"I've got a coworker who got divorced before the new year, and he's been asking me to help him find someone. He's a bit older, sure, but he's a steady, honest man—perfect for you!"

My heart dropped. It was a long moment before I said, "Mom, just say it plainly. How much of a bride price is he offering?"

Mom clapped her hands, delighted. "That college education wasn't wasted after all—one hint and you get it."

"He and I already have it settled: if you're willing to marry him, he'll give me a 300,000-dollar bride price!"

I laughed in fury. "Three hundred thousand? I'm really worth a fortune!"

"Aren't you, though? Did our Lucy go to college for nothing?" Mom said gleefully.

She took my hand and coaxed me along, step by step. "It's true I favored you more, growing up—no wonder your brother's upset."

"So here's what we'll do. For the sake of family harmony, you marry Stanley and give the 300,000-dollar bride price to your brother."

"That way everyone's happy!"