Chapter 4

The ashtray grazed my ear, smashing into the mirror in the entryway.

With a *CRASH*, the mirror shattered, glass shards flying, one slicing my cheek.

A sharp sting. I touched it, and my fingertips came away stained with blood.

The living room fell silent.

Dad seemed surprised that he'd actually hit me. He paused, then defiantly yelled again.

"What are you looking at! It's your own fault for not dodging! Useless!"

Mom gasped and rushed over, not to check my wound, but to frantically pick up the phone from the floor.

"Oh no, this is the latest model! It cost over a thousand dollars! If it's broken, you couldn't pay for it even if we sold you!"

I stood amidst the shattered mess, watching this absurd scene unfold.

My face was bleeding, and my heart was bleeding.

"Mom, that's my face. I'm hurt."

I pointed to the bloodstain on my cheek, my voice hoarse.

Mom glanced up at me, then impatiently waved her hand.

"What's the big deal about a scratch? Just put a band-aid on it! Stop being so dramatic!"

"If Kevin's phone is broken, that's real money! How much is your ugly face even worth?"

Kevin got his phone back, checked it, and confirmed it wasn't broken. Then, triumphantly, he made a mocking face at me.

"Exactly, you're already ugly, a broken face just means you can get plastic surgery. Maybe then someone will actually marry you."

"And if you hurt me, don't you think my millions of followers will come for you?"

Millions of followers?

I scoffed.

"Those followers of yours, aren't they all from talking trash about having a 'crazy older sister'?"

"What? Are you done playing innocent now that you're sucking blood from the source?"

Kevin's face changed.

"You snooped through my phone? You invaded my privacy!"

"You locked your sister out and posted it online for clout. Is that 'privacy'?"

I advanced toward the dining table, step by step.

The plate of king crab, barely touched, its red shell gleamed mockingly under the light.

I reached out and flipped the table over.

"Since I'm a parasite, since I'm an outsider, then nobody gets to eat this meal!"

A *CRASH* and clatter.

Plates, forks, king crab, dumplings—everything crashed to the floor, sauce splattering everywhere.

That lavish Christmas dinner instantly became trash.

"Ah—! My king crab!"

Kevin shrieked as if he'd been physically wounded.

Mom screamed and rushed over, shoving me.

"Are you insane! Olivia! Have you lost your mind?!"

"That's money! You wasteful brat! If you don't want to eat, then leave! Why flip the table?!"

Dad's face was livid with rage. He grabbed the nearby solid wood chair, ready to throw it at me.

"I'll kill you today, you ungrateful daughter!"

I dodged, and the chair slammed onto the floor with a dull thud.

"Go ahead! If you have the guts, kill me!"

My eyes red-rimmed, I stared at them intently.

"Kill me, and see who pays your mortgage after this! Who buys Kevin designer brands! Who takes care of you in your old age!"

That sentence seemed to hit their Achilles' heel.

Dad's raised hand froze in mid-air.

Mom also stopped her cursing, her eyes flickering.

Kevin, however, scrambled up from the floor and pointed his finger at my nose.

"Don't threaten us with the mortgage! This house is in Dad's name! What does it have to do with you?!"

"Besides, you make so much money, what's wrong with spending a little on family? You *owe* us!"

"Mom and Dad raised you, isn't it your duty to give back?"

*I owe them?*

From childhood, the best food went to Kevin, new clothes went to Kevin.

I wore my cousin's hand-me-downs and ate leftovers.

I earned my college tuition by working part-time, and my living expenses from odd jobs.

After graduation, I worked my butt off. As soon as my paycheck arrived each month, more than half of it went to them.

For this house, I drained three years of savings and took out online loans just to scrape together the down payment.

All because Mom said Kevin needed a house for his wedding, or his girlfriend's family wouldn't agree.

To get my name added to the property deed, they made a huge scene, eventually forcing me to sign an agreement.

The agreement stated that although the house was in Dad's name, I would pay the mortgage. Once Kevin got married, half the house would be transferred to me.

Now it was clear this was a complete and utter scam.