Chapter 3

The day I got my fully funded overseas graduate scholarship, I went home.

The house was full of laughter.

It stopped dead the moment I walked in.

"Clara, why are you back?"

My brother frowned too.

"Why didn't you say anything before coming home?"

That last thread of hope inside me snapped.

Still, I couldn't stop the question.

"So what you're saying is, I can't even come back to my own home?"

"There isn't even a room for me in this house. Am I just an outsider?"

Something awkward flickered over my father's face.

My brother opened his mouth, then shut it again.

My mother's expression tightened. "You child. So you came back, fine, but the second you're through the door you're blowing up like you swallowed dynamite. What are you so angry about?"

"Come look. Your sister got hired by Winfield Group right out of school!"

"Oh, right, that thing you mentioned last time about the scholarship for grad school. How did that turn out?"

"I already got the acceptance letter. I leave on the third of next month."

"Oh."

Nobody picked it up.

My father looked at Vera, all fond warmth. "Our little one. Yesterday she was still just a kid, and today she's got a job."

Vera's eyes crinkled up with a smile.

"Dad, you promised me. Once I started working, you'd give me three thousand a month."

His smile stayed gentle.

"When has your dad ever gone back on his word?"

I gripped the acceptance letter inside my bag.

In college Vera got five thousand a month for living expenses, and even then my mother slipped her extra on the side.

"Raise sons on less, raise daughters on more. My Vera was brought up pampered. She can never let herself go without."

When I started college and asked my parents how much they'd give me each month for expenses.

They both looked put out.

"Clara, there are three kids in this family. You know what our situation is. Your dad and I would if we could, but we can't."

"Here's what we'll do. We don't want you going without either. Five hundred a month. Spend it carefully."

Five hundred wasn't even enough to eat.

To survive, I had to take part-time jobs.

"Clara! Clara!"

I came back to myself and saw the bright red deed in Vera's hand.

Our parents had bought her an apartment, close to the company.

Twenty minutes to commute.

Our brother had bought her a full set of furniture.

Vera smiled sweetly. "Sis, you go abroad on the third of next month, and I move into my new place on the third of next month."

"Double the good luck. Isn't that something?"

My father's voice was thick with indulgence. "Buying the place now means when Vera gets married she'll have property to stand on, more security. Her in-laws won't dare push her around."

My mother looked at me. "Clara, your sister is about to move into her new home. What are you giving her?"

My throat tightened. "I got a fully funded overseas graduate placement. What's she giving me?"

My mother's voice went hard.

"Clara Winfield!"

"You're the older sister. Your sister starting a job, moving into a new home, these are big things. How can you not have a single gesture for her?"

"You've saved plenty of money. You can't bear to give even your own sister a thing?"

"That money is for my studies abroad!"

"I'm a student who just graduated too. I don't have money!"

But my brother shot to his feet, his voice rising before he could catch it.

"Clara Winfield, you don't have money? Doesn't Mom give you living expenses every month?"

"You put aside a little from that for Vera. That counts as a gesture from you."

"You got a scholarship to go abroad. It's not like you're dying."

"Why do you have to force Vera to give you something right now? Can't you wait until she's settled at work?"

I already knew they favored Vera, but hearing my own brother wish me dead, I couldn't stop the shaking.

I looked at him. The anger still hadn't left his face.

Once again I had become the extra person in this family.

My brother was the Winfield root. Vera was the Winfield treasure.

Only I was a stray weed no one cared about.