Chapter 3

"I..."

Before I could finish my sentence, my dad took a deep breath, threw back a shot of baijiu, and slammed the glass on the ground, asserting his authority as the head of the family.

"Impossible! Don't even think about it!"

"Other people's children go out to work and earn money to support their families. But you? You're like a failure! Not only didn't you make money, but you also ended up owing millions!"

"I don't have such a disappointing daughter!"

His harsh words left me stunned. Pointing to myself in disbelief, I asked, "Me? Disappointing?"

I finally understood what they were implying. They thought I wanted them to help pay off my debts?

But the debt isn't real!

Even if it were, shouldn't a family face hardships together?

"What if it was my brother Jack who was in debt?" I asked, not giving up.

My dad's face darkened even more. "Don't even think of comparing yourself to your brother! He's the pillar of our family! After a hundred years, everything we have will be his. Don't even dream of getting a penny!"

"Besides, your brother wouldn't do something like that!"

Jack had been looking uncertain, but hearing this, he immediately raised his head proudly.

I found it absurd. They say a father's love is conditional, while a mother's love is selfless.

Could my mom be this heartless too?

My mom clutched her chest as if she couldn't breathe.

"What do you mean? Are you blaming us?"

"We're urging you to get married for your own good, so there's someone to take care of you! If you can't secure a contract, it's because you're not capable!"

"If we made a mistake, it's in raising you too well, making you arrogant! You couldn't see your place and insisted on working in the big city!"

"If you'd dropped out and worked early on, you'd already be married, and you wouldn't have all these problems!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

In middle school, they wanted me to drop out and work. It was my teacher's home visit that brought me back to school.

I worked hard, finished college with scholarships and part-time jobs.

I always thought we were poor, as they always said, raising me was a huge favor.

Until last year, when they suddenly took out two million yuan to buy Jack a house. That's when I realized we weren't poor; they were just poor to me.

By then, I was financially independent, so I didn't dwell on it. After all, we're family!

My mom continued, "Daughter, you made this mess, you should clean it up yourself! We're old, how can you bear to let us suffer with you?"

Suffer?

I've never made them suffer.

As she bragged, when she was seven months pregnant with me, she was still working hard. I was quiet and obedient.

When she argued with my grandma and accidentally fell, I was born with a "splash."

She wanted to earn money and have another child, so she barely raised me, leaving me with my grandparents. They fed me rice soup.

Once I started school, being diligent and sensible, I never caused them any trouble.

When I was two, my brother was born, and I helped take care of him like half a nanny.

Suddenly, I wanted them to suffer a bit. Tears started flowing uncontrollably.

"I'm not asking for much. Didn't Jack prepare 188,000 yuan for his wedding? Lend it to me for now. I'll pay it back after the Lunar New Year, double!"

I gritted my teeth, looking at them hopefully.

188,000 yuan is definitely within their reach. As long as they say "yes," I'll repay it double next year!

I wasn't sure what I was fighting for. Maybe this would prove they saw me as family!

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