Chapter 1

Every time I finished a night shift, all I wanted was to sleep.

But my mom, Sarah, always insisted I eat three meals a day, on schedule.

If I didn't get up, she'd yank off my covers, throw open the curtains, and slam doors, making as much noise as possible.

This constant disruption often left me with chest pains, foggy-headed at work, and prone to mistakes.

I absolutely hated it.

Still, I knew that for her generation, the fear was starving, not collapsing from sleep deprivation. My mom genuinely thought she was looking out for me.

So that day, the moment I heard her knock, I got up.

I walked out just in time to hear Sarah complaining to my younger sister, Chloe.

"I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I made big portions of everything."

"I figured, with Audrey here, nothing would go to waste."

"But Audrey either doesn't get up, or just picks at her food. Honestly, she just annoys me."

My heart sank.

So I was just Chloe's leftover trash can.

Then, Sarah started complaining about me living off them.

"If this keeps up, I'm going to charge her rent!"

Had she forgotten? I was the one paying this house's mortgage!

Chloe, on the other hand, had been sponging off us since she graduated.

She was the real freeloader.

1

Hearing Sarah's words, all sleepiness vanished.

A gust of wind swept through the apartment. My bedroom door slammed shut.

Sarah and Chloe quickly quieted down, turning to stare at me.

Sarah fake-glanced out the window, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, look at that. The sun must be coming up in the west."

"Some people get up on their own after just one call."

Chloe giggled, patting the chair next to her.

"Audrey, what are you standing there for? Come eat!"

I slowly walked over, studying the dishes.

Every single one was Chloe's favorite.

And whichever dish Chloe ate more of, Sarah would immediately push it closer to her.

My heart pounded, just like it did every time Sarah forced me awake.

Eventually, it twisted into a sharp ache.

I wasn't a picky eater. Most of the time, I was so tired my eyes could barely stay open.

I'd truly never noticed.

Sarah's favoritism was so incredibly obvious.

I deliberately reached for the fried chicken in front of Chloe.

Sarah couldn't help but snap.

"Can't you see Chloe finally found something she likes?

"Can't you just let her have it? You always have to snatch things!"

I couldn't eat another bite.

"Right, I should just wait until Chloe's done, then come out."

"Eat her leftovers, be her leftover trash can!"

Tears of frustration streamed down my face, unstoppable.

Sarah's face showed no trace of panic or guilt.

"You clearly heard us, and now you're just putting on a show to annoy me."

"Besides, what's wrong with what I said?"

"Chloe is delicate; it's hard for her to find things she likes. What's wrong with letting her have it?"

"And you, you eat like you're always starving, what difference does it make what you eat anyway!"

My eyes widened in shock. For a moment, I couldn't speak.

Chloe pushed the plate of fried chicken toward me.

"It's okay, I don't have to eat it."

She said it, but her eyes were glued to the fried chicken.

Since childhood, Chloe and I had almost identical clothes, food, and everything else.

Sarah bought us the same things.

But every single item was something Chloe liked.

For instance, during blueberry season.

Sarah would buy a box for each of us.

But only Chloe liked them.

I hated them!

Or when our relatives bought us two backpacks, Sarah always let Chloe pick first, whichever one she liked.

I'd always get the one Chloe didn't want.

I used to deceive myself, telling myself it was only right for me to make allowances for her.

But now, I had to admit.

My mom was undeniably biased.

A surge of anger rushed through me. I grabbed the fried chicken and dumped it into the trash can.

"This is where trash belongs!"

Chloe's mouth turned down, and her eyes immediately welled up.

Sarah exploded in a fit of rage, roaring.

"Chloe even gave you her favorite food, why are you being so aggressive?"

"I think I've been too nice to you!"

"From today onwards, if you want to stay in this house, you must pay me $2,500 for rent and $2,000 for household expenses!"

I let out a cold laugh.

My monthly salary was only $8,000, and the house mortgage was $3,500.

To avoid going broke every month, I'd given up renting near my office, commuting three hours each way every day.

Now Sarah wanted to completely drain me dry.

She was playing a truly brilliant game.

I had nothing more to say. I turned and went back to my room.

"I won't pay rent, and I definitely won't pay household expenses!"

"And from now on, don't wake me up for meals after my night shifts. And keep your noise down!"

Otherwise, I'd move out immediately and let the house go into foreclosure!

But I couldn't bring myself to say that last part.

This house was in a good school district, bought by my parents so Chloe and I could attend high school in the city.

When my dad was alive, we managed to get by.

My dad passed away unexpectedly a few years ago.

Sarah only had a modest retirement pension, about a thousand dollars a month.

The two of them had been living off my dad's compensation money for the past few years.

As far as I knew, my dad's compensation was almost gone.

If I really washed my hands of it, their lives would become incredibly difficult.

So, I went to sleep, fuming.

I slept until 8 PM, then groggily got up to use the restroom.

But I couldn't open the bathroom door.

Sarah sashayed over, handing me a QR code.

"Five dollars for a pee, ten dollars for a poop, one dollar per sheet of toilet paper."

"Scan to open the door!"

2

I frowned, staring at Sarah.

She explained with a fake smile.

"If you don't pay rent, you're not entitled to use anything in this house."

"Either pay up now, or you'll pay me $4,500 every month from now on."

That's when I realized Sarah was serious. I said coldly,

"I'm not entitled? Don't forget, I'm the one paying the $3,500 mortgage every month."

"Many things in this house, I bought them!"

"And Chloe? She's been living off you since she graduated, sponging off us."

"You want rent and household expenses from me, why don't you ask her?"

Sarah instantly bristled.

"So what if you're paying the mortgage?

"The deed is in *my* name. This house has nothing to do with you."

"Besides, you paying the mortgage? That's just you repaying me for raising you, it's what you're supposed to do!"

"And what I'm asking for is wear-and-tear fees for the house, and my labor costs for cleaning your room, cooking for you, and doing your dishes."

"These are separate issues, don't you dare conflate them!"

"As for Chloe," Sarah suddenly stammered, fumbling for a while before finally saying, "Chloe is different from you!"

Faced with Sarah's twisted logic, my heart felt like it had been stuffed with broken glass, searing with pain.

"How is she different?"

"Aside from being two years younger than me, how is she different?"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the bitter turmoil in my chest.

Finally, I made my decision.

"Fine, let's keep matters separate."

"Then I'll just move out. You won't have any excuse to ask me for money then, right?"

"And... figure out the mortgage on your own from now on."

With that, I immediately turned and went back to my room to pack my things. I didn't want to stay in that house for another minute!

Sarah, furious, tried to grab my arm.

"You think you can just move in and out whenever you please? It doesn't work that way."

"If you insist on leaving, you'll pay me ten years of back rent and household expenses!"

I didn't want to argue needlessly with Sarah.

I pushed her away, turned my back, and started looking for my ID and passport in the bedside drawer.

Suddenly, Chloe screamed and rushed in, yelling.

"Sarah, what's wrong with you!"

I spun around. Sarah was clutching her chest, groaning in pain in Chloe's arms.

3

I didn't have time to think. I immediately called 91