"Paisley Clark, I've always known you only took care of me all these years because of my inheritance. You never actually cared about me."You've lived in my house for years without paying a single cent in rent, and now, you want me to give you money?"Let me tell you this—my money is mine to do with as I please. Even if I decide to throw it all away, you won't get a penny. Cam is my daughter, my own flesh and blood. So what if I decide to leave it all to her?"Take this 50,000 dollars as my compensation for you, and get out of my face. From now on, we owe each other nothing!"When I walked out of the hospital, my aunt, Leah Clark's words kept ringing in my ears.I had taken care of her for 15 years. I never once complained about the hardship or exhaustion that I faced every day.I even worked while supporting her for those 15 years. I never got married, never had children, and wasted the best years of my life.It wasn't because I didn't have feelings or couldn't fall in love. It
I was still reeling from the shock and excitement of reliving my life when the hospital called.The nurse informed me that Aunt Leah had been in a car accident and needed a family member to come and pay the medical fees immediately.I glanced at the date on my phone. It was the date that was etched in my memory.I sent a message to Camila without hesitation, asking her to head to the hospital right away. Not stopping there, I also shared the news of Aunt Leah's accident in the family group chat, updating everyone on the situation in real time.As soon as they heard, my eldest uncle, Randy Clark, along with his wife, Athena Stevens, and daughter, Eden Clark, booked the next flight from another state.They arrived at the hospital straight from the airport that same night while dragging their suitcases behind them. They didn't even bother stopping at a hotel beforehand.Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief once we confirmed Aunt Leah's life wasn't in danger. It was then that s
I knew that it was human nature to be biased. While I was running around paying bills and coordinating her care, Aunt Leah didn't so much as acknowledge my efforts.Yet, the moment Camila walked through the door, she showered her with concern.It was clear as day to the outsiders watching. I was the one running up and down the hospital halls with the payment slips.I was the one constantly checking with doctors about Aunt Leah's condition and the details of her care. As her niece, I had acted more like a dutiful daughter than her actual child.Aunt Leah's favoritism wasn't just disappointing. It was downright shameful.If the others in this room were hurt, I was sure they'd want someone like me by their side. Not a child who dragged their feet for half a day before finally showing up at the hospital.Even so, Aunt Leah and Camila seemed oblivious to the subtle shift in the family's attitude toward them."Oh, Mom, stop worrying about me! When I heard about your accident, I was so
Aunt Leah's expression froze the moment she realized what I was about to do.I flipped to the marked page in my notebook in front of everyone and said softly, "I moved into Aunt Leah's home when I was 15 years old."This is my seventh year living here, and according to my calculations, I still owe Aunt Leah 38,420 dollars. Once I graduate, I'll make sure to pay you back."As soon as the words left my mouth, Camila couldn't hold back. "Seven years, and you only cost us 38,420 dollars? Who are you trying to fool?"Tuition, living expenses, pocket money, the roof over your head, and the food you ate—that's got to be hundreds of thousands of dollars at the very least."She then shot a disdainful glance at the notebook in my hands. "What kind of fake accounting are you doing in there?"From the very first day I moved into Aunt Leah's house, I knew Camila didn't like me. She felt I was taking up her space and stealing her mother's love. That was why she would always find ways to target me.S
However, Uncle Randy ignored her protests entirely.He flipped through the pages of my notebook slowly, the tension in the room rising with each turn. His expression darkened as he scanned the dates and entries.When he reached the end, his anger exploded. He threw the notebook at Aunt Leah's face without warning. No one in the room had expected this reaction from him.Camila froze for a second before letting out an incredulous scream, rounding on Uncle Randy. "Uncle Randy, have you lost your mind?"What gives you the right to hurt my mom? What has she done wrong?"Even if you're trying to stand up for Paisley, isn't this going way too far? We're the ones who took in an orphan and ended up raising an ingrate!"You're the one who didn't take Paisley in yourselves back then! Now you come here playing the good Samaritan. Who do you think you're fooling?"Camila's sharp tongue was as relentless as ever, sparing no one in her tirade. Her barrage of insults had Eden fuming."Who said we didn
"What about Paisley's scholarships and part-time earnings? How could you shamelessly accept that money?"You spent the blood money that William and his wife paid with their lives and still mistreated Paisley? Aren't you afraid they might come back to haunt you in the dead of night?"And the rent from Paisley's old house—wasn't it tens of thousands of dollars every year? Where did that money go? Speak up!"You've completely betrayed the trust I placed in you all these years!"Uncle Randy's last words came out as a shout. It was filled with nothing but anger and disappointment.He looked at Aunt Leah with a mixture of heartbreak and fury. "I wanted to adopt Paisley back then and take her to live with us in another state. You're the one who begged me to give you custody."And this… This is what you've done?"I could understand if even half of that 600 grand had been spent on Paisley. But you've only spent 38 grand on her for seven whole years? Cam spends more than that in a single
"Camila? Her grades are a bit lacking. Unless another student drops out for some reason, she's only on the waiting list," said Ms. Anderson."But honestly, it's unlikely anyone would give up their spot. This exchange program has a ton of funding behind it this year, and the school really pulled out all the stops. You'd have to be a fool to back out."Ms. Anderson chuckled in tease before reminding me to brush up on my language skills and hang up.I stared at the dark screen of my phone, catching my reflection. All I saw were blank eyes and a bitter smirk.In my past life, I had been that fool.Flashes of memory hit me like waves. Camila had taken the spot I gave up, used the compensation money from my parents' deaths, and attended the overseas school I had dreamed of.While she enjoyed a blissful youth abroad, I had been burdened with the responsibilities she should have shouldered—caring for Aunt Leah and supporting her until her final days.In the end, they kicked me to the cu
"You want to sell the house your parents left you?" Aunt Leah blinked, clearly not understanding what I meant.I didn't bother softening the blow. "Sell the house you're living in now. You don't have to give me the full 600 grand—just 550 grand will do. Consider the extra 12 grand as a gift from me."The moment Aunt Leah heard this, her composure crumbled. Her voice rose in panic as she stared at me in disbelief. "If I sell the house, where will Cam and I live?"And I've lost a leg. I can't work anymore! I'll have no income. You might as well be asking me to die if you take away my house, too! I was counting on the house for my retirement!"The house had been part of her divorce settlement years ago.Back then, housing prices were manageable—tens of thousands of dollars could get you a small apartment. But property values had skyrocketed, and most people couldn't even dream of owning a home now.In my previous life, my desperation for a stable home had been the chain that kept me
Any further assistance for Aunt Leah was out of the question. She had cried, raged, and thrown every tantrum she could think of. But in the end, reality forced her to accept her situation.She now had to drag her crippled leg around the streets to survive, leaning on a crutch as she scavenged through trash. Her life had become a pitiful shadow of what it once was.As Eden put it, "One day, she might just die out there, and no one would even know."I smiled faintly but didn't respond.Aunt Leah somehow learned I was staying at a hotel the day after I returned to the country.She showed up at the entrance, filthy and reeking. Her unkempt hair and dirty clothes were an immediate cause of discomfort to the staff.The hotel's security didn't want her disturbing the guests. Yet at the same time, they hesitated to kick her out, given her disability. They could only let her sit on the steps outside.I arrived just as she spotted me. Her eyes lit up, and she hobbled toward me, using her
"You want to sell the house your parents left you?" Aunt Leah blinked, clearly not understanding what I meant.I didn't bother softening the blow. "Sell the house you're living in now. You don't have to give me the full 600 grand—just 550 grand will do. Consider the extra 12 grand as a gift from me."The moment Aunt Leah heard this, her composure crumbled. Her voice rose in panic as she stared at me in disbelief. "If I sell the house, where will Cam and I live?"And I've lost a leg. I can't work anymore! I'll have no income. You might as well be asking me to die if you take away my house, too! I was counting on the house for my retirement!"The house had been part of her divorce settlement years ago.Back then, housing prices were manageable—tens of thousands of dollars could get you a small apartment. But property values had skyrocketed, and most people couldn't even dream of owning a home now.In my previous life, my desperation for a stable home had been the chain that kept me
"Camila? Her grades are a bit lacking. Unless another student drops out for some reason, she's only on the waiting list," said Ms. Anderson."But honestly, it's unlikely anyone would give up their spot. This exchange program has a ton of funding behind it this year, and the school really pulled out all the stops. You'd have to be a fool to back out."Ms. Anderson chuckled in tease before reminding me to brush up on my language skills and hang up.I stared at the dark screen of my phone, catching my reflection. All I saw were blank eyes and a bitter smirk.In my past life, I had been that fool.Flashes of memory hit me like waves. Camila had taken the spot I gave up, used the compensation money from my parents' deaths, and attended the overseas school I had dreamed of.While she enjoyed a blissful youth abroad, I had been burdened with the responsibilities she should have shouldered—caring for Aunt Leah and supporting her until her final days.In the end, they kicked me to the cu
"What about Paisley's scholarships and part-time earnings? How could you shamelessly accept that money?"You spent the blood money that William and his wife paid with their lives and still mistreated Paisley? Aren't you afraid they might come back to haunt you in the dead of night?"And the rent from Paisley's old house—wasn't it tens of thousands of dollars every year? Where did that money go? Speak up!"You've completely betrayed the trust I placed in you all these years!"Uncle Randy's last words came out as a shout. It was filled with nothing but anger and disappointment.He looked at Aunt Leah with a mixture of heartbreak and fury. "I wanted to adopt Paisley back then and take her to live with us in another state. You're the one who begged me to give you custody."And this… This is what you've done?"I could understand if even half of that 600 grand had been spent on Paisley. But you've only spent 38 grand on her for seven whole years? Cam spends more than that in a single
However, Uncle Randy ignored her protests entirely.He flipped through the pages of my notebook slowly, the tension in the room rising with each turn. His expression darkened as he scanned the dates and entries.When he reached the end, his anger exploded. He threw the notebook at Aunt Leah's face without warning. No one in the room had expected this reaction from him.Camila froze for a second before letting out an incredulous scream, rounding on Uncle Randy. "Uncle Randy, have you lost your mind?"What gives you the right to hurt my mom? What has she done wrong?"Even if you're trying to stand up for Paisley, isn't this going way too far? We're the ones who took in an orphan and ended up raising an ingrate!"You're the one who didn't take Paisley in yourselves back then! Now you come here playing the good Samaritan. Who do you think you're fooling?"Camila's sharp tongue was as relentless as ever, sparing no one in her tirade. Her barrage of insults had Eden fuming."Who said we didn
Aunt Leah's expression froze the moment she realized what I was about to do.I flipped to the marked page in my notebook in front of everyone and said softly, "I moved into Aunt Leah's home when I was 15 years old."This is my seventh year living here, and according to my calculations, I still owe Aunt Leah 38,420 dollars. Once I graduate, I'll make sure to pay you back."As soon as the words left my mouth, Camila couldn't hold back. "Seven years, and you only cost us 38,420 dollars? Who are you trying to fool?"Tuition, living expenses, pocket money, the roof over your head, and the food you ate—that's got to be hundreds of thousands of dollars at the very least."She then shot a disdainful glance at the notebook in my hands. "What kind of fake accounting are you doing in there?"From the very first day I moved into Aunt Leah's house, I knew Camila didn't like me. She felt I was taking up her space and stealing her mother's love. That was why she would always find ways to target me.S
I knew that it was human nature to be biased. While I was running around paying bills and coordinating her care, Aunt Leah didn't so much as acknowledge my efforts.Yet, the moment Camila walked through the door, she showered her with concern.It was clear as day to the outsiders watching. I was the one running up and down the hospital halls with the payment slips.I was the one constantly checking with doctors about Aunt Leah's condition and the details of her care. As her niece, I had acted more like a dutiful daughter than her actual child.Aunt Leah's favoritism wasn't just disappointing. It was downright shameful.If the others in this room were hurt, I was sure they'd want someone like me by their side. Not a child who dragged their feet for half a day before finally showing up at the hospital.Even so, Aunt Leah and Camila seemed oblivious to the subtle shift in the family's attitude toward them."Oh, Mom, stop worrying about me! When I heard about your accident, I was so
I was still reeling from the shock and excitement of reliving my life when the hospital called.The nurse informed me that Aunt Leah had been in a car accident and needed a family member to come and pay the medical fees immediately.I glanced at the date on my phone. It was the date that was etched in my memory.I sent a message to Camila without hesitation, asking her to head to the hospital right away. Not stopping there, I also shared the news of Aunt Leah's accident in the family group chat, updating everyone on the situation in real time.As soon as they heard, my eldest uncle, Randy Clark, along with his wife, Athena Stevens, and daughter, Eden Clark, booked the next flight from another state.They arrived at the hospital straight from the airport that same night while dragging their suitcases behind them. They didn't even bother stopping at a hotel beforehand.Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief once we confirmed Aunt Leah's life wasn't in danger. It was then that s
"Paisley Clark, I've always known you only took care of me all these years because of my inheritance. You never actually cared about me."You've lived in my house for years without paying a single cent in rent, and now, you want me to give you money?"Let me tell you this—my money is mine to do with as I please. Even if I decide to throw it all away, you won't get a penny. Cam is my daughter, my own flesh and blood. So what if I decide to leave it all to her?"Take this 50,000 dollars as my compensation for you, and get out of my face. From now on, we owe each other nothing!"When I walked out of the hospital, my aunt, Leah Clark's words kept ringing in my ears.I had taken care of her for 15 years. I never once complained about the hardship or exhaustion that I faced every day.I even worked while supporting her for those 15 years. I never got married, never had children, and wasted the best years of my life.It wasn't because I didn't have feelings or couldn't fall in love. It