Chapter 4

"Chloe, don't blame Mom. She just wanted to push you a little. How could you really cut ties with her?"

"You're old enough now, you should find a job. Staying home all the time isn't right."

Listening to Sarah's seemingly caring words, I gave a cold laugh.

"Sarah, when I quit my job to care for Mom, didn't you praise me for being so devoted?"

"After Mom was out of danger, I suggested hiring a caregiver and splitting the costs between us sisters. Didn't you say a hired caregiver wouldn't be as devoted as her own daughter? Didn't you tell me not to work and to keep taking care of Mom?"

Sarah's face stiffened, her lips trembling for a long time, unable to utter a single word.

"Seven years, a full seven years. When Mom was bedridden and unable to care for herself, did you ever feed her a single meal, or empty her bedpan even once?"

"You graduated from a prestigious university, worked for an international company, earning hundreds of thousands, but you wouldn't even pay Mom's monthly $4,000 rehab fees. What right do you have to accuse me?"

Sarah's face flushed crimson.

"I... I have... my own family, you know."

I gave a cold laugh.

"So, you can righteously abandon your sick mother, yet claim all the credit for yourself?"

Sarah's face turned beet red. I continued.

"Sarah, more than Mom's blatant favoritism, I despise your hypocrisy!"

"But since you want to play the devoted daughter, then play it well. Don't let anyone see through your hypocritical facade!"

With that, I dragged my suitcase away.

The moment I turned, tears I had suppressed for so long spilled out.

The biting wind felt like knives against my skin, but it couldn't compare to the pain in my heart.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

That post from earlier had been updated.

Every word oozed with the poster's happiness.

"Alright, I've kicked my younger daughter out. This year, we can finally have a joyful holiday!"

I tapped on the poster's profile. The background image was a picture of my nephew's back.

I silently wiped away my tears and took my suitcase to a nearby convenience store.

I picked up a cup of instant noodles and a hot dog.

After checking out, I quietly calculated my account balance.

After buying holiday essentials, I only had $3,000 left.

I needed to find a job and start before the holidays, otherwise, in another week, all companies would be on break.

I pulled out my phone and called Lily, my best friend.

"Lily, you said your company was looking for an editor, could I try?"

"Chloe, you finally came to your senses?! You wouldn't believe how impressed my boss was with your previous edits."

"But, it's almost the holidays, why are you suddenly looking for a job? Aren't you always worried about your mom?"

Lily asked hesitantly.

A faint ache throbbed in my heart. I swallowed all my emotions and slowly spoke.

"My mom kicked me out."

After a few seconds, Lily's indignant voice came from the other end.

"What?! Chloe, how could your mom do that to you?!"

I managed a bitter smile.

"She said I was freeloading at home all day with no job, and she couldn't hold her head up in front of others. Plus, Sarah's family was coming home for the holidays, and there was no room, so she kicked me out."

"'Freeloading'? You edit videos day and night, earning two or three thousand a month, and she calls that freeloading? What if Sarah's successful? From the moment Mom got sick until now, she hasn't contributed a single penny or a single bit of effort!"

"If it weren't for you, paying and putting in all the work to care for her, how could Mom's stroke recovery have been so good?!"

Lily grew angrier as she spoke.

"Chloe, why didn't you explain? You did all the work, how did the credit go to Sarah?! Your mom is too biased!"

I took a deep breath, calming the indignation in my heart.

"It's no use. She wouldn't believe me."

"Forget it, we have nothing to do with each other anyway. Now I can pursue my own life without any strings attached."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a sigh.

"You're such a fool. So, when are you coming to New York?"

I thought for a few seconds.

"Give me a day to get some good sleep. I'll be in New York the day after tomorrow."

After chatting with Lily for a bit, I hung up.

Immediately after, I booked a plane ticket.

Just then, messages popped up in the family group chat.

Mom had posted a picture of herself eating seafood.

"My older daughter is so good, she takes me out for lavish meals as soon as she's back."

Immediately, relatives in the group chat chimed in.

"Sarah is so successful, well-educated, and has a great job! She's truly the pride of our family!"

"Exactly, Eleanor, you're so lucky! To have such a wonderful daughter!"

"I always tell my granddaughter to learn from Sarah, not Chloe..."

The relative's words trailed off.

I knew that because my education wasn't impressive and I didn't have a "proper" job, relatives had always looked down on me.

"That's right, don't learn from Chloe, freeloading at home at her age."

"And always going on about not getting married or having kids, she should look at herself, what right she has to be so picky. She's an embarrassment to me, but thankfully, from now on, I only have Sarah as a daughter! I won't have to feel ashamed because of her anymore!"

Mom finished the relative's unspoken words.

Her tone was full of disdain.

I said nothing, just quietly left the group chat.