I hit the $100 million lottery jackpot. I came home for the holidays, ready to share the news with my family. But Mom beat me to it with an announcement of her own: “I sold the rental property for top dollar! I’m giving Derek two million, and Jessica two million!” She glanced at me sideways. “You’ll stay here with me. Take care of me in my old age.” I was confused. “What about me? What’s my share?” She frowned impatiently. “That’s four million total. It’s already been split… Family resources should go to those with the most potential.” “You’re just a high school dropout with no future. How dare you compare yourself to them? Derek has his Ivy League PhD, and Jessica has her MBA from a top business school. Only they deserve it.” I clutched the lottery ticket in my pocket and asked: “So if you become worthless in my eyes, does that mean I don’t have to care for you when you’re elderly?” Mom shot to her feet and pointed at my head, screaming: “Clara, you ungrateful brat! Over some money from selling a property, you won’t even care for me in my old age!” I sat there, looking up at her. “You abandoned me first!” “How did I abandon you? Didn’t I raise you? Didn’t I pay for your high school?” Mom’s expression turned dark. I actually laughed, I was so furious. “Mom, you left me with Grandma when I was in elementary school. I only came back after Grandma passed away when I was in middle school.” “When I started high school, all you gave me was a set of used bedding from Jessica. I paid for tuition and living expenses myself by working summer jobs and part-time gigs.” When I was in kindergarten, Mom forced me to complete the entire elementary school curriculum. But in my last year of kindergarten, I couldn’t grasp physics and chemistry no matter how hard I tried. Mom pointed at my nose and called me mentally challenged with an IQ of only 70. Said I couldn’t hold a candle to Derek and Jessica. She tossed me aside like garbage to Grandma’s place in the countryside. She decided I had no potential and wasn’t worth investing in. Mom still looked down at me with that condescending attitude: “Didn’t I visit you in the countryside? Didn’t I bring you food and clothes?” My nose stung and I felt even more hurt: “When I was in the countryside, you visited once a month. Each time you brought 15 loaves of bread and some hand-me-downs.” “Did you really think half a loaf of bread a day was enough to keep me full?” “I followed Grandma around collecting cans and recyclables just to barely put food on the table!” “And those old clothes you gave me—did you think they even fit? I got made fun of by my classmates all through elementary school!” Mom rolled her eyes. “You’re just holding a grudge! Don’t you know I was teaching you to be resilient and work hard!” “Besides, I fed you, didn’t I? How is that not raising you?” Hearing this made me even angrier: “You raised me? By making me do endless chores every day just to earn scraps of leftovers?” “You raised me? By sending Derek and Jessica to extracurricular classes while I collected recyclables to save up for my own textbooks?” Mom glared at me again. “Their IQs are almost 140. Can you even compare?” I broke down crying. “Just because my IQ isn’t as high as theirs, I don’t deserve to be your child?!” Mom remained unmoved. “Cut the drama! The fact is they’re better than you and more valuable.” “Mom! Enough!” I completely lost it. Mom snorted and sat down, crossing her arms. “You idiot, go wash the dishes in the kitchen. Don’t distract Derek and Jessica from studying!” I wiped my tears and looked at my brother. “You think this is fair too?” Derek glanced at Mom and mumbled, “I… I don’t know, don’t ask me… I just do what Mom says.” I laughed bitterly and turned to my sister. “What about you?” Jessica frowned and stated flatly, “I listen to Mom too.” “Besides, that property was Mom’s. She can distribute the money however she wants. I respect her decision.” I laughed again, but there was no humor in it. I slowly stood up, clutching the multimillion-dollar lottery ticket in my pocket, and looked at them: “Fine. You all respect her, so I will too. I won’t fight over that money.” I took a deep breath. “But if you’re taking all the benefits, don’t expect me to care for her in her old age.” “Let’s cut ties from now on!” The moment I finished speaking, Mom jumped up and slapped me hard across the face: “You ungrateful brat! You’re just being bitter because you don’t want to care for me, aren’t you?” “Get out of this house right now!”
I walked through the streets as heavy snow fell. Christmas Eve. All the shops were closed. I couldn’t even spot a single lit-up motel sign. I huddled under a bus stop shelter, clutching the lottery ticket in my pocket. That was the only thing that gave me a glimmer of hope. I had planned to announce on Christmas Eve that I’d won $100 million in the lottery and promise each of them $20 million. So Derek could buy a house in New York without worrying and focus on his research. So Jessica could freely pursue her finance career dreams, and Mom could live comfortably in her old age. Maybe God took pity on me and didn’t want them to take advantage of me. At the last moment, He let me see them for who they really are. Letting that false sense of family love I’d been clinging to completely fade away. It was for the best. Not too late. After searching for a long time, I finally found a small motel still open. I checked in and had just finished eating some bread when my phone rang. I looked at the screen. It was my uncle—Mom’s brother. As soon as I answered, his loud, accusatory voice came through: “You brat! Why did you make your mother angry? You have no respect!” I shot back, “Mom kicked me out.” He continued blaming me. “That was just angry talk! Why would a child argue with their parents like that?” “Do you know how hard it was for your mom to raise you? So what if she didn’t give you any money?” “That’s your mom’s money. She can give it to whoever she wants!” “Derek has his Ivy League PhD, Jessica has her top MBA. They’re the ones who deserve it. You’re just a high school dropout with nothing going for you!” My chest felt tight: “Just because I didn’t do as well in school, I don’t deserve fair treatment? I should just be a servant and smile while watching them take everything?” Richard got even angrier: “Why are you being so petty with family? You need to think of the bigger picture!” “Go home right now and apologize to your mother. Someone like you should be the family caretaker!” I was furious. “Why should I?” Richard was breathing heavily with anger: “You brat, how dare you talk back to me! Don’t you understand respect? How can you be so dense!” I hung up and blocked his number. The world went quiet.
The next day was Christmas. My phone rang again. It was my sister Jessica calling. I hesitated for a few seconds but answered. She got straight to the point. “Clara, Mom slipped and fell looking for you last night. She broke her leg. Come home and take care of her.” My mind was still foggy. “Broken leg? Where did she look for me? Why didn’t she call me?” “Hurry up. Derek and I still have dissertation work. We don’t have time.” I sat up and rubbed my temples. “Didn’t she give you both four million total? Can’t you hire a caregiver?” Jessica got defensive. “Clara, what’s that supposed to mean? She’s your mother too, right? Taking care of her is your responsibility.” “Derek and I have studies to focus on. We don’t have time for this pointless argument.” I smiled. “So you take the money and I do the work? I’m just a free caretaker, is that it?” “Have you no shame?” Jessica’s voice suddenly rose. “Clara! Mom raised you and you don’t even care about her—” I gripped my phone tighter. “The way she raised me was making me collect recyclables for textbook money, making me eat leftovers and do all the housework, giving all the property money to you two, and then expecting me to take care of her in old age?” “Do you have a conscience? Is this fair?” “Fair?” Jessica laughed bitterly. “The world isn’t fair.” “You’re a high school graduate. How much can you make in a month? I have an MBA from a top business school. My starting salary will be several times yours. My future social status is something you can’t even dream of.” What’s wrong with Mom investing money in people with more potential?” As I listened, my heart sank more and more. So in their eyes, people really were only worth what they could earn. “So because I have no value, I deserve to be sacrificed, is that it?” Jessica’s voice was full of impatience: “Good that you understand. Cut the drama and just get over here!” “I’m not coming.” I said firmly. “What did you say?!” “I said I’m not coming.” I enunciated each word. “You took the money. You take care of her yourselves. As of last night, she’s not my mother anymore.” Jessica cursed at me through the phone: “Clara! You’re such a bitch!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t come today, don’t ever think about stepping through that door again!” I laughed dryly. “I never wanted to go through that door again anyway.” I hung up. Then I blocked her too. I hadn’t slept well last night and had a bit of a headache. I turned over, planning to sleep a bit more. Just as I was dozing off, the phone rang again. This time it was my aunt—Mom’s sister calling. I was annoyed as hell and almost hung up immediately. But she’d been relatively decent to me before. I didn’t know what I was hoping for, but I answered. Her voice was a bit hoarse. “Spending Christmas alone out there… You’re not freezing, are you?” My heart softened slightly. I answered quietly, “I’m okay.” She paused, her voice gentler: “Your mom fell. She’s lying in bed and can’t move… Can you come back and take care of her?” That little bit of warmth in my heart felt like it had been pricked with a needle. I didn’t know what to say. “I know you’re hurting.” She sighed. “But honey, she’s your only mother. Can you really be so heartless? What if you regret it later?” She was here to persuade me too. My heart instantly went cold. I didn’t want to say anything else. Only the sound of breathing remained on the phone. “…Think about it carefully. Call me if you need anything.” She sighed and hung up. I held my phone in silence for a long time, then went through my contacts one by one, blocking all those relatives’ numbers. I took a deep breath and pulled back the curtains. Outside was a white expanse. From today on, I would only live for myself.
In the afternoon, some convenience stores opened. I went to buy some food. As soon as I came out, I heard a familiar voice: “Clara!” My heart skipped a beat. I saw Richard standing not far away, smoking a cigarette. I turned and walked away, my steps getting faster and faster, almost running. “Clara! Stop right there!” His voice chased after me. I turned into a narrow alley, my heart pounding like a drum. Just as I caught my breath, at the other end of the alley, the men he’d brought blocked my way. I was trapped. They were like two walls, trapping me in the middle. Richard snatched the bag from my hands. The bread I’d just bought scattered all over the ground. “Come back with us!” “I won’t!” I tried hard to shake off his hand. “You don’t have a choice!” He grabbed my arm, his grip so strong it hurt my bones. The two of them dragged me back, half pulling, half carrying. When we entered the house, I saw Mom lying on the couch eating cookies. “Here’s your girl.” He pushed me forward. “Kneel down!” Richard shouted and kicked me to the ground. I lifted my head and glared at Mom with hatred. “What are you glaring at?” Mom sat up. “Raised you all these years for nothing? My leg is hurt this badly and you run faster than a rabbit! Did a dog eat your conscience?” I smiled. “You’re talking to me about conscience? Did your conscience go with that four million to your two precious kids?” As I spoke, I looked at her perfectly fine legs. “You broke your leg but you can sit up? Why isn’t it in a cast and elevated?” “How dare you talk back!” Mom slapped me. I immediately tasted blood in my mouth. Richard looked at me with disgust. “Keeping this brat around is just trouble. Might as well…” He lowered his voice, but I heard every word clearly: “I know some people in rural areas who are desperate for wives.” “This girl may only have a high school diploma, but she’s pretty enough. We could get twenty or thirty thousand for her. That money would be enough to keep you comfortable in your old age.” A chill ran through my body. I looked at them in disbelief. Mom pressed her lips together and lowered her eyelids. From her throat came a muffled: “…That could work.” My whole body trembled. I was filled with hatred. I struggled to get up and saw the fruit knife next to the fruit bowl on the coffee table. They were still quietly discussing the details of selling me. Just as Mom reached out to grab me again, I lunged forward, grabbed the knife, and held it against my own throat. I screamed: “You want money, don’t you? You want to sell me?!” My eyes were red as I looked at each of their faces: “If you keep pushing me, I’ll die right here and now. Let’s see if the police can figure out that you drove me to it!” “Clara! Are you crazy! Put down the knife!” Mom’s voice trembled with fear. I smiled. I knew she wasn’t worried about me. She was worried that if something happened to me, it might affect Derek and Jessica’s reputation. Holding the fruit knife, I backed toward the door. My eyes never left them: “Don’t follow me.” “Anyone who follows me, I’ll fight to the death.”
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