Chapter 1

During my senior year, I was staying with my aunt's family when my cousin Blake put me on blast online. All because I accidentally picked up a piece of meat from our dinner.

He cried hysterically, claiming that not only was I freeloading at his house, but I also cherry-picked all the meat from the dishes, leaving him malnourished!

The internet did the rest. I was trending within hours. Everyone called me a leech, a parasite, a shameless mooch. The comments screamed: Get out of their house!

So, I decided to humor them. That very day, I packed my bags and moved out.

But then my aunt and her family came begging me to return.

After all, without me there, they’d no longer receive the $15,000 monthly allowance my mother sent for my living expenses!

I never imagined that with a monthly allowance of fifteen thousand dollars, I'd get cyberbullied over a single piece of meat.

Watching Blake's tearful video on the trending topics list, my body trembled with fury.

"His parents are always away working out of town, so I felt bad for him and agreed when Mom suggested he come live with us."

"But why does he have to treat me so badly?"

"It's bad enough he's living here for free, but he always takes the best food!"

"I was so tired from studying today, and Mom specially made my favorite stir-fry. But he ate all the meat from the entire dish! I didn't even get one piece!"

"It's not that I care about a plate of meat, it's just... I feel so wronged. I've been so good to him, why can't he show some empathy? I always share everything with him, but he just hogs all the good stuff and now I'm practically malnourished!"

"Why am I so unlucky to have such a cousin..."

In the video, Blake's eyes were bloodshot and brimming with tears, as if I had truly tormented him.

My parents both worked for a highly classified agency, which meant they rarely had time for me.

As I entered my senior year, my aunt, Sarah, specifically sought us out, saying her house was right across from the school, and suggested I move in. It would be perfect for me and Blake to focus on our college applications and final exams together.

Mom thought it would be better for me to stay with relatives and have someone look after me, rather than living alone at school, so she agreed.

To ensure I was comfortable, Mom sent Aunt Sarah fifteen thousand dollars every month for my room, board, and daily expenses.

But on my very first day at Aunt Sarah's house, Blake shoved a "House Rules" list at me.

1. Do not touch any personal belongings without permission.

2. Lights out by 10 PM.

3. Showers no longer than five minutes.

4. Air conditioning usage limited to two hours per day.

5. Avoid bothering anyone; if someone is in a bad mood, you must stay out of sight.

...

After all, I was living under their roof, so I always made sure to prioritize their family's comfort and needs.

For the past six months, I had strictly followed every rule. I even proactively did chores every day and diligently tutored Blake, who was failing his classes.

At the dinner table, I rarely ever reached for the meat dishes, always feeling like they were reserved for the hosts.

Until this one time. I was eating dinner and reviewing English vocabulary, distracted, and accidentally picked up a piece of meat.

Blake immediately slammed his fork down.

At the time, I thought he was just in a bad mood and didn't think much of it.

Not until I saw that trending video.

In the video, Blake tearfully accused me, painting me as a lazy, selfish "vampire freeloading relative" who constantly bullied their family.

The comment section exploded. Tens of thousands of comments were cursing me out.

"Kids these days are so disrespectful! How can he be so arrogant when he's living under someone else's roof?"

"Freeloaders are worse than beggars. Their skin is thicker than a fortress wall! And they feel entitled to suck others dry, as if people owe them something."

"Why keep such an oblivious leech around? Kick him out already!"

Blake replied. "I wish I could be tough, but he's my cousin, after all. I can't really kick him out, can I? I guess I'll just have to tolerate it!"

My hands trembled with a simmering rage.

Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses! That was enough for me to stay in a five-star hotel every day and eat gourmet meals for every single sitting!

I wasn't going to stick around to be hated. I immediately packed my bags and moved out of their house.

After calling my teacher and arranging to stay at the school dorms, I sent a message to my mom.

"Mom, I've moved out of Aunt Sarah's and into the school dorms. You can just transfer my allowance directly to my bank account from now on."