Chapter 1

On Christmas Eve, I braved the heavy snow, hurrying home. On the way, I scrolled through a trending post.

[My family's parasite insists on coming for Christmas dinner, but we just want a cozy holiday as a family of three. How do we subtly tell her to get lost?]

I remember thinking, *seriously? In this day and age, people still have such freeloading relatives? They totally deserve to be shunned.*

The top-voted comment was particularly nasty:

[Just change the front door code, pretend you can't hear the knocking. After she freezes for two hours, she'll leave.]

I chuckled, shaking my head at my phone, and texted Brenda, my mom, that I was almost there.

She instantly replied with a warm "Waiting for you," and my heart swelled.

Half an hour later, I stood at my front door and entered the code three times.

The lock's cold voice prompted: [Password incorrect.]

Thinking the lock was broken, I was about to knock when I heard laughter from inside.

Through the crack under the door, I saw Kevin, my brother, snapping photos of a lavish spread of food.

The next second, a new update popped up on my Ins feed from Kevin.

[Christmas dinner without outsiders is true family bonding! Merry Christmas, everyone!]

In that photo, Mom and Dad were smiling more relaxed than I'd ever seen them. On the table, there were only three place settings.

My hand, raised to knock, froze in mid-air. The chill in my heart was far more biting than the wind and snow.