Chapter 4

After transferring the money to my roommate, my dad called.

"Iris, I heard about the financial aid. Don't be angry. Your mom means well..."

"Dad, Mom transferred five thousand to Lily the other day. You knew about that, right?"

Silence on the other end.

I bit my teeth, my nails digging deep into my palm.

"She transfers five thousand to a housekeeper's daughter but ignores her own daughter---won't even give me five hundred. Is that appropriate?"

"That's different. Mrs. Parker has it hard. Your mom is kind-hearted..."

I laughed. "Kind-hearted? So kind-hearted I can't even afford to eat? What does Lily's mom have to do with you? Are you people crazy?"

My dad sounded annoyed. "Iris, how can you talk like that!"

"I'm going to talk like this.

During summer break before senior year, you took Lily on an overseas trip and made me work a summer job.

When college started, I took a nine-hour hard-seat train ride by myself while you personally drove Lily to her school.

Now I don't have a penny for living expenses while she's eating and drinking well on your money! You're sick. Insane!"

My dad gasped on the other end. He was angry but couldn't refute me because I was telling the truth.

"Dad, you're the one who opened this bank card. Tell me---what's the PIN?"

Before my dad could answer, my mom's voice rang out:

"If you dare tell her the PIN, I'll divorce you today! I'm done!"

My dad became hesitant again. "Iris, when you're more mature, I'll definitely give you the PIN..."

I pulled at the corner of my mouth.

"No need."

I'd been hearing this line since the day I got the bank card---for three whole years. I was tired of it.

I pulled out the bank card---the one that always showed "incorrect PIN" no matter how many times I tried.

I stared at it for a few seconds, then violently threw it on the ground.

Late that night, I was jolted awake by urgent ringing.

My mom was crying so hard she could barely breathe:

"Iris, come back right away---something happened to your dad!"

I bought the earliest train ticket back. The house was already packed with relatives. At the sound of my arrival, everyone turned to look at me.

I stood in the doorway. My mom lunged at me, nearly knocking me over.

"Iris, your dad suddenly collapsed. He's unconscious in the hospital. The doctor says he needs immediate surgery---the medical bills will be about three hundred thousand..."

My hand tightened on my suitcase handle.

My mom looked at me and finally revealed her true purpose.

"We transfer you twenty thousand every month, don't we? After three years, that should be at least three or four hundred thousand. Take it all out and save your father..."

I rubbed my sore arm where she'd hit me and said nothing.

"Iris!" My mom's voice was sharp and shrill.

"That's your father!

You have so much money in your card it's all from us and now you're going to watch him die?

Your conscience has been eaten by dogs!

Oh, my life is so miserable! I might as well die!"

My mom wailed, but her eyes kept glancing my way. Relatives rushed to comfort her, their looks at me tinged with condemnation:

"Iris, how can you be so thoughtless? That's your parents' money. Hurry up and hand over the bank card!"

I let out a cold laugh, unlocked my phone, opened a recording, and turned the volume to maximum.

Instantly, my mom's malicious, contemptuous cursing echoed through the entire house.

"Why should I tell you the PIN? That's your father's and my money! We're not dead yet, and you're already eyeing our assets. Have you no shame?"

"You dare tell her the PIN and see what happens!

What does a girl need all that money for? If she gets involved in something indecent, I won't be able to show my face!"

When the recording ended, the room fell deathly silent.

I put away my phone and threw the bank card on the ground with a crisp sound.

"Mom, you forgot---you never told me the PIN. The money can't be withdrawn."

Under the shocked stares of the relatives, my mom's face instantly turned deathly pale.