Chapter 2

Years of me subsidizing their lives with my own money had spoiled her rotten. She had completely lost touch with reality—firewood, rice, oil, and salt didn't come free.

I untied my apron and tossed it onto the counter.

Done.

I was *done*.

As I grabbed my phone to leave, my thumb grazed the screen—accidentally accepting the transfer.

I froze.

Before I could send it back, Jade's voice messages flooded the family group chat.

"Mom, you really are a retired accountant—you *sure* know how to calculate."

The sarcasm dripped like venom. "I transfer the grocery money, and you accept it instantly without a word. You're not *nearly* as generous as my mother-in-law. She sends New Year's gift money to me and Savannah every year."

To twist the knife deeper, she posted two screenshots: one of me accepting her measly 500 bucks, and another of a 1,000-buck transfer from her in-laws labeled "New Year's Gift."

The group chat—previously buzzing with holiday greetings—fell dead silent.

Jade wasn't finished.

Another voice note. A light, mocking laugh.

"I'm just joking, Mom. You're not *actually* mad, are you?"

A pause.

"But I'm not wrong. For the past seven years, all of Savannah's gift money has come from her grandpa and grandma on Patrick's side. You? You're just... *stingy*."

Stingy.

The word echoed in my skull, stoking the fire in my chest until it roared.

My *entire* monthly pension of 5,000 bucks went into their mortgage and Savannah's tutoring classes.

My husband *did* send money for our granddaughter—but Jade always intercepted it. She claimed the child was too young, that easy money would spoil her. She insisted she would "save it for Savannah."

And now?

Now she weaponized that very logic to stab me in the heart.

Seven years of labor. Seven years of funding their lifestyle.

And I was worth *less* than the in-laws who showed up once a year with sweet words and superficial gestures.

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.

I didn't argue.

Instead, I transferred the 500 bucks back to her—right there in the group chat.

Then, I snapped a photo of today's supermarket receipt: **$1,527.30**.

I hit send.

**【This pittance isn't enough to cover a fraction of today's groceries. Consider the extra $1,000 I spent as my New Year's gift to Savannah.】**

**【Since I am such a calculating person, I won't stay in the big city and ruin your family reunion.】**

**【From today on, you're on your own. Live well.】**

I dropped the phone into my pocket, walked to the bedroom, and packed.

Seven years in this house.

And everything I truly owned fit into a single suitcase.

With no high-speed rail tickets available, I headed straight for the bus station. Even if I had to transfer five times and ride through the night, I had to leave.

This house had become an ice cavern.

I was freezing to death.

I had just climbed into a taxi when my husband called again.

This time, the gentle persuasion was gone. His voice shook—not with weakness, but with fury.

"Wife, *come home*! I support you!"

"From now on, let that unfilial daughter do as she pleases!"

The outburst shocked me. Immediately, I worried about his health. "What happened? Calm down—watch your blood pressure!"

Through jagged breathing, he explained. While I was packing, Jade had suffered a complete meltdown in the group chat.

I opened WeChat.

The family group had exploded.

After I'd announced my departure, the relatives had turned on Jade.

**【Jade, how can you joke like that? Apologize to your mother immediately!】**

**【She only has you. She's given everything for you these past years—how can you call her calculating?】**

Humiliated and defensive, Jade lashed out.

**【I was just joking! If she's that small-minded, whose fault is that?】**

**【You guys don't know her like I do. She loves calculating every penny!】**

My husband couldn't take it anymore. He @-mentioned her, his text radiating anger:

**【You bastard! How dare you talk about your mother like that? Apologize!】**

Instead of backing down, Jade doubled down. She sent a voice message—shrill, disrespectful.

"Dad, you've lived apart from Mom for *seven years*. You have no right to speak! You don't know what she's like day-to-day."

"You haven't contributed to this household, so you aren't *qualified* to butt in!"

And then—the notification that made my jaw drop.

*Jade Long removed Dad from the group chat.*

She kicked her own father out.

Then, she began airing my "crimes" to the entire extended family.