PART 2 – FAMILY SHOWS ITS FACE
A week later, Marcus brought Scarlett to my house.
“Sis, Scarlett knows I said some stupid things and gave me a good scolding.
I know I was wrong.
You’re the person I love most in this world – can you forgive me?”
I frowned at the two of them, feeling suspicious.
When dogs come to pay New Year’s respects to chickens, they’re definitely up to no good.
Seeing I didn’t respond, Scarlett gently elbowed Marcus.
He coughed awkwardly and smiled stiffly:
“Sis, your nephew is almost three months along now.
We came especially so you could see him.”
The two exchanged glances, and Scarlett took my hand and placed it on her belly:
“Sis, for the sake of this little one, please forgive us.”
I smiled coldly inside – emotional manipulation, quite the performance.
If she was willing to humble herself to this extent, there must be trouble at home.
I’d had someone investigate earlier.
Turns out Scarlett’s brother had been caught in a honey trap,
secretly recorded in a compromising position, and was being blackmailed for three hundred thousand
dollars.
The Barrett family had no money, so they planned to extract it from Marcus.
But this time, they were demanding eight hundred and eighty thousand – too greedy.
If Scarlett truly loved my brother, I wouldn’t mind helping.
But according to my investigation, she was seeing some D-list male influencer on the side,
and it wasn’t even certain whose baby she was carrying, yet my naive brother was still happily oblivious.
Soon after, Mom arrived too, claiming she needed to care for her pregnant daughter-in-law who had severe
morning sickness and could only eat Mom’s cooking.
The four of us sat around the dinner table, each with different expressions.
Marcus attentively served me food and soup, smiling ingratiatingly:
“Sis, try this – Mom’s been simmering this chicken soup since early morning.
Mom knows you work hard in the city, overtime and entertaining clients,
so she specially made it to nourish you.”
My brother’s “heartwarming” words melted some of the coldness in my heart.
I smiled and accepted the bowl of soup from him.
After all, we shared blood.
Mom surely still cared about me too.
Let the past be the past – from now on, family harmony was all that mattered.
Seeing me soften, Marcus discreetly glanced at Mom.
Mom cleared her throat and reluctantly served me a chicken leg:
“You’ve worked hard too, eat more to nourish yourself.”
I forced down the nausea and didn’t refuse, even though I’d never liked chicken or the smell of chicken
soup.
When I was young, chicken eggs and drumsticks were always Marcus’s portion.
He got fresh milk and hot meals.
I could only watch that golden, fragrant drumstick and swallow my saliva.
I once saw Mom pick up that piece of meat, pass me by, and gently place it in Marcus’s bowl.
I had timidly whispered:
“Mom, I’d like to try some too…”
But Mom just looked me up and down, her voice cold:
“Look at you, like a starving ghost who’s never eaten.
Marcus is the only male heir of the Harrison family.
His father paid for these things – what right do you have to ask for more?”
“You’re a bastard child, trash, unworthy of good things.”
Those familiar words rang in my ears like needles piercing my eardrums.
From then on, just seeing chicken made me nauseous.
My stomach churned, and my face went pale.
“Since you’ve forgiven them, transfer the money to Marcus,” Mom said.
“He’s still waiting for the dowry money to marry Scarlett.”
Looking at the expectant faces around the table, I suddenly understood.
When did Mom start “caring” about me?
Probably when I started sending monthly salary payments,
or when I got promoted and bought her a house back in Oregon.
From childhood to adulthood, she’d never cared whether I lived or died.
When I first graduated, my internship salary was five thousand dollars, and she took thirty-five hundred:
“Girls shouldn’t spend recklessly.
Give it to Mom to save for you.
When you get married, having money makes people respect you more.”
I obeyed.
With fifteen hundred left, divided by thirty days, that was fifty dollars a day.
I rented a tiny room in the suburbs far from my company, eight hundred a month, only eighty square feet –
just enough for a bed, desk, closet, and a narrow walkway where you couldn’t turn around.
With the remaining money, I lived on sandwiches, instant noodles,
and subway rides that took over two hours each way.
I once asked Mom:
“Mom, do you love me?”
Mom looked up from serving Scarlett while folding me out of the way, impatience flashing in her eyes:
“You’re over thirty and still asking such stupid questions?”
“I won’t give you the money.”
“Scarlett and I supposedly have conflicting signs, so my money probably carries bad luck too.
To avoid harming their happiness, I’ll just keep it and use it for my business.”
I smiled coldly:
“At least my company isn’t afraid that my money ‘conflicts’ with it.”
Slam!
Mom’s chopsticks hit the table hard.
“Now that you have money, you think you’re above everyone else?”
“Sophia!”
Both Mom and Marcus glared at me, unable to believe I dared talk back.
I cut them off, my voice calm:
“All my liquid assets are invested in projects.
I don’t have a penny on hand.”
The room fell into immediate silence.
Scarlett stood up abruptly, tears welling:
“It’s all my fault…
Marcus, your sister just doesn’t like me.”
She cried like a pear blossom in rain, and Marcus immediately held her, comforting:
“Don’t cry, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Then he turned to me, eyes fierce as a wild animal:
“Sophia, let me tell you something – you’re alive today thanks to my father.
Without his pity, Mom would have aborted you long ago.
You owe the Harrison family for your entire life.
Not just this money, but your entire fortune should belong to me!”
Scarlett cleverly interjected, her voice weak:
“Don’t be like that.
After all, she’s your sister.
Don’t lose family harmony because of me.
If she doesn’t like me, I can leave…”
She turned as if to go.
Marcus quickly pulled her back, holding her tight:
“Where are you going?
I told you, I only love you in this lifetime!
No matter who tries to stop us, I’ll marry you!”
He looked at me with cold, challenging eyes, as if declaring war.
These two idiots… did they think they were in some teen drama?
“I suggest if you two want to perform, go to Hollywood.
My house isn’t a stage.”
I pointed toward the door, clearly asking them to leave.
“Sophia!”
Slap!
A hard blow landed on the back of my head.
The hit made my ears ring and my head spin.
I’d just been discharged from the hospital, my concussion not fully healed.
The severe dizziness made me collapse to the floor.
Mom stepped back in shock at my sudden fall:
“I only hit you once, stop pretending to scare me!”
There wasn’t a trace of concern in her voice.
I struggled to get up, trembling as I reached for my phone to call building security.
Before they could arrive, Marcus had already left with Scarlett and Mom.
Mom turned back, her voice cold:
“If you don’t transfer the money to Marcus, from now on consider that you don’t have a mother.”
With that, she turned and left without looking back.
I lay on the floor, half-conscious.
When security arrived, they were long gone.
They immediately called an ambulance and took me to the hospital.
That evening, Marcus called:
“Just transfer three hundred thousand to me and we’ll call it even.”
I hung up and blocked his number.
Three hundred thousand?
I wouldn’t give him three cents.
Within two minutes, Mom called.
I opened my contacts and scrolled down – blocked them all.
A few days later, my rare peaceful life returned.
My best friend heard about what happened and came over with a case of beer,
saying she’d drink with me to vent my anger.
She downed an entire bottle in one gulp, then slammed it on the table:
“Fucking trash!”
“Getting married and still wanting to mooch money from his sister!
He’s the one marrying her, not you sleeping with her, so why should you pay?”
My best friend had been with me through the journey from nothing to success.
She knew how much I’d suffered – drinking until I had stomach ulcers for projects,
being groped by sleazy business partners, staying up all night revising proposals,
getting by on less than two hours of sleep while staying alert on coffee.
During those most exhausting times, she was there with me every step of the way.
I hadn’t cried when my family betrayed me, but hearing her comfort, tears flowed involuntarily.
“It’s okay, I see them clearly now.
From now on, I won’t be foolish enough to hope for so-called family affection.”
“It’s fine, from now on I’m your family.”
I smiled through my tears, all the grievances in my heart gradually dissipating like wind.
Without family, I still had friends and the career I’d built with my own hands – that was enough.
