Chapter 3

3: 3

Vanessa posted a vacation update to her feed, all smiles, with the caption:

【Our live-in nanny's watching the kids for me, so I can finally breathe~】

Trevor left a comment, just as pleased with himself: 【Dropped mine off at the nanny's too. Time to pull an all-nighter on the games!】

My mother didn't know who this "nanny" was, but Vanessa told her it was some selfless woman who took wonderful care of her nephews, and my mother nodded right along.

Told me I should learn a thing or two from this nanny.

An ordinary family pays seven or eight thousand for a nanny to look after one child.

Their eight kids only needed one live-in nanny.

But it never occurred to Vanessa or Trevor.

That nanny is willing to raise those kids because the woman she works for treats her well, backs her up, and is never stingy with her.

And what have they ever given me?

My thoughts drifted back to the room, where my mother was still out there packing, when she suddenly called out to me:

"Where's that dress you bought last month? It'd be perfect for the beach. Let your sister wear it for a few photos."

My face went cold at once. "Mom, that was a birthday present from Grandma Eleanor."

She waved it off. "I know that. She's just borrowing it. She'll give it back when they're home."

Then she looked me up and down, several times.

"Besides, your skin's too dark, it won't look good on you. Your sister's fair and pretty. That dress suits her."

When we were little, Vanessa and Trevor got to play at home.

And I got sent out to pull weeds and turn the soil.

Day after day under that sun. It'd be a miracle if my skin ever came out fair.

I took a deep breath. "Grandma bought it for me. I'm not lending it out."

Seeing how set my face was, my mother finally gave a grudging nod.

"Cheapskate. Fine, don't. After all the clothes and dresses your sister used to hand down to you, what a waste."

My sister is generous because she has everything.

I'm stingy because this dress is all I have.

Growing up, Vanessa and Trevor always got birthday presents and every kind of toy.

And I got nothing.

Grandma felt for me, and sometimes she'd slip me something on the sly.

When Vanessa or Trevor found out, my mother would make me hand it over.

Back then I was too small to protect what was mine.

Now I'm grown, and I can finally tell my mother no.

Back in my room, my boss abroad called me.

"You're sure you won't back out, right? Don't board the plane and then tell me you have to go home and take care of your mom."

The moment I gave a solemn nod, she laughed. "Good. I'll book your ticket. Don't stand me up. See you in London."

"Okay."

My passport and visa had expired. My mother was happily waiting for Vanessa and Trevor to arrive, and never noticed me leaving.

By the time I came back with my renewed passport and visa, eight kids had packed the cramped living room wall to wall.

My room had been turned upside down too, clothes strewn everywhere.

Even my laptop had been snapped clean in half by one of them.

I was shaking with anger. When I turned to look at Vanessa,

she was just tossing a familiar dress into the trash.

Catching my eye, she said, light as anything:

"You're so bony. This dress is way too small, it doesn't suit me. I'm more full-figured. I split it by accident, so I threw it out for you."