Chapter 1

News broke that the old building was set for demolition, and suddenly, every distant relative we had was scrambling to get a piece of the payout.

The tenant, who only paid $500 a month in rent, was the most eager. “I’ve lived here for over a decade. Half of this house is mine. I deserve half of the $4 million demolition payout!”

After I refused, he knocked me out and delivered me to his worthless son.

His son came closer, attempting to kiss me. “My mom says you’re going to be my wife now.”

The news that some of the earliest residential buildings in downtown Manhattan were slated for demolition spread like wildfire.

Coincidentally, the old house my grandpa left me just before he passed away was smack in the middle of the planned demolition area.

The day after the news broke, I got a call from Uncle Edward.

“Lily, how have you been? Busy with work? Your Aunt Carol’s cooked up all your favorite dishes. Why don’t you come by for dinner tonight? We haven’t seen you in a while.”

Oh, we hadn’t seen each other in a while, alright. The last time we crossed paths was three years ago when I ran into him on the street.

That time, Uncle Edward had his arm wrapped around a heavily made-up younger woman. The moment he saw me, he panicked and scrambled to get my contact information. Later, he repeatedly begged me not to mention the incident to Aunt Carol.

I stared at the traffic passing by and gestured for John, my driver, to leave.

Then, I flagged down a cab and sweetly responded to my uncle over the phone, “Sure, Uncle Edward, just text me the address.”

The last time I saw Uncle Edward’s family before that was ten years ago, at Grandpa Parsons' funeral.

Back then, Aunt Carol pointed at me—eyes swollen and red as I collapsed in front of the gravestone—and scolded, “You useless girl! You’re no family of ours. Don’t you dare come to us for help. From now on, you live your life, and we’ll live ours. Stay far away from us, you hear?”

I didn’t say a word, just stared blankly ahead. Uncle Edward and my cousin Brandon stood by, watching, and didn’t lift a finger to stop her.

I was fifteen that year, in my last year of middle school. My parents had died in an accident, and the person who loved me most—Grandpa—was now buried in the ground. From that day forward, I was truly alone.

I never thought I’d see the day when they’d invite me back.

The cab sped toward the Upper East Side. I gazed out the window, watching the scenery fly by, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

When I arrived at Uncle Edward’s place, Aunt Carol greeted me at the door, eyeing me up and down.

She had put on quite a bit of weight over the years, and her face had become even more sharp and judgmental.

With her arms crossed, she sneered at me, “Oh, Lily, that Prada bag you’ve got there—it's gotta be a knockoff, right? I’m pretty sure this model isn’t even out in the U.S. yet. It’s a pretty convincing fake, though. You really think your $5,000-a-month salary can cover that? Don’t be young and foolish, trying to show off.”

I glanced at the bag my business partner had brought me from Europe just days ago and didn’t respond.

She then proceeded to critique every piece of clothing and accessory I wore, one by one, as if it gave her some twisted sense of satisfaction. Only after that did she gracefully sit down on the sofa.

She had invited me for dinner, but the table was conspicuously empty.

Not that I was really there to eat, anyway.

Uncle Edward didn’t disappoint. After barely exchanging pleasantries, he cut straight to the point.

“Lily, I heard the house your grandpa left you in downtown Manhattan is set for demolition?”

I didn’t respond, but Aunt Carol jumped in immediately.

“That house is over 1,000 square feet, and in that location, the compensation could be around $4 million. Plus, you’ll get a new place, over 1,500 square feet. Lily, you can’t keep all that money and the house to yourself.”

I glanced around at their expensive home décor, then turned back to Aunt Carol. “What do you mean by that, Aunt Carol? I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.”

Aunt Carol’s face twisted. “Don’t play dumb! What’s a single girl like you gonna do with all that money? By rights, your grandpa’s house should’ve gone to your Uncle Edward. And if not to him, then to our son, Brandon. We were just being generous by letting you keep it. Don’t be ungrateful.”