Chapter 1

Since my wealthy sister and her husband were coming home for dinner, my mother, Isabel Anderson, called me last night to remind. "Your brother-in-law loves fresh live snow crab and crayfish. Tell Caleb to go to the market early morning and avoid buying cold storage stock—it lacks freshness."

"And don't just sit around idle. Come over and start stewing the ribs and brisket."

I, eight months pregnant, bustled around busily preparing.

Isabel glanced at the Arkansas black apples I brought in from the living room and said irritably, “You’re not as well-off as Viola, so don’t copy her extravagant spending habits. Can you even afford that?”

Just as I was about to retort, she cleared her throat and spoke in a serious tone, “The compensation for the demolished house has come through, a total of seven hundred thousand dollars. Don’t even think about it, I’m going to give it all to Viola, not a penny for you.”

I doubted I misheard and looked at her in shock, asking, "Seven hundred thousand dollars, all for Viola?"

“Mom, you know Caleb and I are struggling to breathe under the weight of our mortgage and car loan payments and my mother-in-law has been diagnosed with breast cancer and needs treatment, I…”

Isabel interrupted me impatiently. "What are you talking about? In the end—isn't it just that you two are useless?"

“Ronan knows how to make money work for him, while you two can't even save your dead-end salaries. Giving it to you would be a waste. This is final—no discussion!”

I looked up blankly. My husband was still busy in the kitchen, while my sister, Viola Meier and her husband, Ronan Meier, were leisurely drinking tea in the living room.

"Since you've all given your money to Viola, then go find her for anything from now on."

——

I pulled my husband, Caleb Leinert, who was cooking spicy crayfish, out of the kitchen.

My mother chased after us, her face full of anger.

“You get rude and give me attitude after I said a few words? You think you're so great now? Did I say something wrong? You're just not as good as your sister.”

"A supermarket warehouse clerk, like you, trying to eat Arkansas black apple like Viola? Will you die if you don't try to save your face?"

I was trembling with anger, gripping Caleb's hand tightly.

Viola called out to me impatiently. "Isla, the meal isn't done yet, what's wrong with you!"

"It's just seven hundred thousand dollars, isn't it? Is that so much? Besides, Mom's money is hers to give to whomever she wants. We're all family. Why are you so fussy?"

I stopped in my tracks, turned to glare at the loathsome face of the vested interest and snapped back.

“Yeah, seven hundred thousand dollars isn’t much to you. Mom can give her money to whomever she wants, but I’m still her daughter!”

"Over the years, you've lived a carefree and happy life in the city, while we've been taking care of Mom and Dad around the clock whenever they fell ill, day or night."

"We provide all the daily necessities, from food to seasonal clothing, for them."

"You guys just go home, have a meal and leave right after, while Caleb and I have to work from dawn till dusk."

"I've given everything—paying off car loans and mortgages, caring for my sick mother-in-law. Why should I receive not a single penny of the seven hundred thousand dollars demolition compensation!"

I spotted the apple in the living room, hurried over to grab it, then turned to Isabel, saying,

"Yesterday, you saw Viola eating Arkansas black apple on Instagram story and commented that you wanted to try it too, so I bought it for you."

“Viola might be rich, but has she ever spent a single penny on you!”

“If she truly cared about you, it wouldn't be me—a warehouse clerk making four hundred twenty-five dollars a month—buying you Arkansas black apples today!”

Viola's face flushed crimson as she glared at me and argued back. "Isla! Stop stirring up trouble here!"

My words were like a thorn, piercing deep into my mother's heart.

Years of pent-up resentment had nearly overwhelmed me. I looked at her, tears streaming down my face.

“Your menus always only include dishes Viola and Ronan like. Do you even know I'm allergic to seafood?”