Chapter 1
Megan's POV:
I had always been the youngest and supposedly most cherished child in the Harper family.
Ever since I was little, my parents loved to say, "Megan gets first pick of everything."
My older brother, Derek Harper, and my older sister, Lauren Harper, spoiled me too.
So I gave them the same love in return. Whenever anything happened in the family, I was always the first to step in.
Last year, when my mom was hospitalized with a sudden illness, I took 1 month off work and stayed at her bedside day and night.
The year before that, when my dad wanted a new car, I transferred the down payment without a second thought.
Today, I wasn't feeling well, so I left work early. On the subway, I came across a trending post titled 10 Signs Your Family's Love Is Fake. The top comment read:
A: They act like you're the family favorite, but their affection is just bait. They want the gullible daughter to keep paying for everything and doing all the work.
I almost laughed.
'Who even plays favorites like that anymore?'
Then I opened the poster's profile and saw a familiar painting in the background. It was the award-winning piece Lauren had shown off at home countless times.
With a growing sense of unease, I pushed open our front door.
The study door wasn't fully closed, and my mom's voice floated through the gap.
"George, you were right. Our oldest is useless, and our middle child only thinks about herself. But our youngest is gullible enough to give us her whole heart as long as we show her a little affection. We have to keep Megan happy. Then our retirement is secure. She is the only one who has ever put money into the family account. Derek's and Lauren's transfer screenshots are fake. She never checks."
Without making a sound, I recorded the rest of the conversation on my phone, backed away from the door, and canceled the recurring transfer from my payroll account.
Then I returned to the office and applied for the Valoria Overseas Project.
If their love was an act, I was done playing my part.
A notification popped up confirming that my overseas assignment application had been submitted successfully.
Normally, at this hour, I would already have been on the subway home.
My mom would send me a voice message saying she had chicken soup waiting.
Derek would tell me he'd managed to find another limited-edition collectible figure for me.
Lauren would bring home cake from whatever bakery was trending that week.
I had believed I was the luckiest daughter alive.
If I hadn't come home early today and seen that post, I probably would have gone on believing it.
My phone rang.
It was my mom.
I took a deep breath and answered.
"Megan, are you swamped at work today? Why aren't you home yet? The soup is getting cold. Derek and Lauren are waiting too. They refuse to eat until you come back."
I gripped the phone so tightly that my knuckles went white and forced my voice to sound normal.
"I got held up at work. Go ahead and eat. Don't wait for me."
When I came out of the subway station, I could already see my mom waiting outside our building in the distance.
The moment she spotted me, she hurried over and reached for my bag.
"You must be freezing. Your face is red from the wind. Come upstairs and have some soup to warm up. My sweet girl, you work so hard."
In the past, I would have thrown myself into her arms for a hug.
Today, I stepped aside.
"Mom, I've got it. I'm not tired."
Her hand stopped in midair.
Then she smiled and patted my arm.
"Why are you acting so formal with your own mother?"
The moment the apartment door opened, Derek sprang up from the sofa.
"Megan, you're home. Kick off your shoes. Mom made your favorite chicken soup."
Lauren took my hand and pulled me toward the table.
"Come on. Everything here is one of your favorites."
Once I sat down, my mom kept putting food on my plate.
"Eat more. You've gotten so thin. Is that project at work especially intense lately? You must be exhausted."
My dad, George Harper, chimed in.
"Exactly. Don't work yourself too hard. Your health comes first."
At that moment, Derek's phone rang.
He answered, murmured a couple of responses, then hung up looking troubled.
"What's wrong?" my mom asked.
"I need a more powerful computer for work. Mine can't handle the new software properly, and it's affecting my productivity."
"How much?"
"About 25,000 dollars."
My mom gave a small hum and turned to me.
"Megan, aren't you getting your bonus this month? I put the family savings into investments, so the money isn't liquid right now. Derek needs this for work. Could you lend him enough to get the computer? I'll pay you back the moment you need it."
Derek immediately put up both hands in protest.
"Mom, don't ask Megan. I'll figure something out myself."
Lauren immediately set down her fork and leaned in.
"Mom, my phone is always freezing because I'm out of storage. Let Megan lend me some money too."
My mom glared at her.
"You're a grown woman. Aren't you embarrassed to ask Megan for money?"
Then she turned back to me with a smile.
"Still, Megan, phones and computers are necessities. If you can spare the money, help them out this time."
My dad nodded.
"We're family. We should help one another."
I said nothing.
In the past, my phone would already have been in my hand. I probably would have transferred an extra 10,000 dollars on top and told them not to worry about the cost.
The dining room slowly went quiet.
My mom's smile began to strain.
I looked up at her.
"Mom, how much money is in the family account right now?"
