Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the so-called company.

A dilapidated office, a few scattered desks, and a dozen employees looking utterly miserable.

There was fifty grand left in the bank.

I called the accountant over. "Distribute this fifty grand to the employees based on their tenure and position. Consider it severance and compensation."

The accountant was stunned. "Ms. Hart, this... this is all the company's remaining liquid capital! If we pay it all out, the company will truly go bankrupt!"

"Then let it." My reply was concise.

That afternoon, the company was dissolved on the spot.

I dusted my hands and headed home, continuing my grand project of lying flat.

That evening, Camilla returned, looking utterly worn out. Her heels clicked aggressively on the floorboards.

She kicked open my door, a report slammed onto my face.

"Hazel Hart! You useless idiot! I closed a hundred-thousand-dollar deal today! And you? You actually dissolved the company! You're just a good-for-nothing, can't be helped!"

I slowly tore open a bag of chips, crunching loudly. "Oh, congrats."

"You..." She gasped, her chest heaving, her pointing finger trembling. "The Hart family has no room for a self-sabotaging waste like you! Just you wait!"

I watched her retreating back, fuming with frustration, and popped another chip into my mouth.

Why bother fighting? Lying down is so much more comfortable.

The next day, I was woken from my sleep by a commotion. My mom, Vivian Hart, pushed open my door directly, followed by several household staff.

"Throw out all her junk food! And all these messy clothes, every last one!"

I frowned, sitting up. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? I'm teaching you how to be a person!" She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at me with exasperated disappointment. "Your sister was up until three in the morning working for the company, and you? You slept until now! From today onwards, all your bank cards are suspended. You'll only get a thousand dollars a month for living expenses. I want to see how you're going to 'lie flat' then!"

I watched the staff toss my beloved snacks, bag by bag, into the trash. It annoyed me a little. But arguing was too tiring, so I chose to stay silent.

After they finished their rampage, I slowly got up and freshened up. Then I received an unfamiliar call.

It was Dave, a former employee from that company yesterday.

"Ms. Hart, thank you so much! My wife's sick and desperately needed money. The money you gave me really saved my life!"

On the other end, Dave's voice was tearful, overflowing with gratitude. He said the employees had pooled money and wanted to treat me to dinner.

I refused. Doing good deeds without seeking recognition – mainly, going out to dinner was too much effort.

But somehow, the news reached Camilla.

That evening at dinner, she started speaking in a snarky tone: "Well, well, our great philanthropist is back? I heard you used all the company's money to buy goodwill? Hazel, you really are something. You'd rather give money to outsiders than help your own family."

My dad also snorted, "You're a hopeless case, can't even stand on your own, and now you're trying to look like some kind of saint. That fifty grand, if it went to your sister, it could've revived a project. In your hands, it's just money down the drain."

I took a sip of soup and said nothing.

Seeing I wouldn't engage, Camilla pressed on. She pulled a cheap cloth bag from her purse and tossed it in front of me.

"Seeing as your cards are suspended, you probably can't afford a decent bag. I happened to pass a street vendor today and picked this up for you. Twenty bucks, no need to thank me."

Her dismissive gaze was like looking at a beggar on the street.

I looked at the flimsy Peppa Pig tote bag and suddenly found it a little funny. "Thanks, sis."

I accepted it calmly. It would be perfect for grocery shopping tomorrow.

She turned livid with anger, left her dinner unfinished, and stormed upstairs.

Mom sighed dramatically, heartbroken. "What a tragedy. Camilla is such a good child, how did she end up with a sister like you?"

I quietly finished my meal.

Alright, the word "sister" still sounded quite natural. They seemed to have forgotten that Camilla and I weren't actually blood relatives.