Chapter 3

At dinner, Barbara’s eyes were still red from crying.

She picked at her food with her fork.

Christian set down his spoon and looked at me. "Maia, do you have Barbara's card?"

I poked a piece of steak. "Yeah."

"That's Barbara's allowance," Christian said, his voice firm. "Give it back."

I put down my fork, pulled out the $500,000 card, and slid it to the middle of the table.

Barbara’s eyes lit up, and she reached for it.

I pinned the card down with my finger.

"Are we donating it?" I looked at Christian. "For the stray cats?"

Christian frowned. "What?"

"This half a million," I tapped the card.

"Barbara said she wanted to donate it to cleanse my soul."

I looked at Barbara. "Are we donating, or should I just keep it?"

Barbara’s face drained of color, and her lips trembled.

Christian’s face darkened. "Enough! What donation? Allowance is for you girls to spend!"

"Oh," I said, sliding the card back into my pocket. "Then I'll spend it for her."

"Maia!" Christian raised his voice. "That is Barbara's money!"

"It's mine now," I met his gaze.

"She said it herself—we're family, so her stuff is my stuff. You didn't object then."

Christian choked on his words, his chest heaving.

Barbara burst into tears, pointing at me and screaming.

"Dad! She stole my money! She's robbing me!"

Eleanor immediately hugged Barbara, comforting her while looking at me with disapproval.

"Maia, you went too far."

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and looked at the sobbing Barbara.

"She can try to take my card, and that's fine. But when I take hers, it's too far?"

"Your logic is pretty warped."

I stood up to go upstairs.

"Stop right there!" Christian’s angry voice boomed from behind me.

I paused at the stairs and turned. Christian was glaring at me.

"Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock. You're coming to the office with me."

Barbara's sobbing stopped instantly. She looked up, tears still on her face, but her eyes flashed with disbelief and jealousy.

"What?" Eleanor was surprised too. "Maia just got back. Isn't that too sudden?"

"She needs to see how Williams money is made!"

Christian interrupted her, his eyes still locked on me.

"She needs to see that wealth is built through hard work!"

"Not through extortion and bullying her sister!"

I nodded. "Fine."

Back in my room, I locked the door.

The walk-in closet alone was larger than my entire old room.

Actually, it wasn't even a room. I used to live in a run-down shack in the backyard used for storing junk.

I had never even dreamed of a life this luxurious.

When I was eight, Fiona locked up all the food.

"This is all for Victor! Don't you dare touch it!"

I was so starved that I was nothing but skin and bones, without even the energy to talk back.

My only friend back then, Karl, wasn't doing any better.

He lived with his elderly grandmother. One day, she gave him their very last bowl of oatmeal.

But Karl gave it to me.

"Maia, I'm not hungry. You eat."

Starving, I didn't think twice. I devoured the whole bowl.

The next day, when I went to return the bowl, I found Karl and his grandmother had both starved to death in their beds.

I didn't cry.

I just stood by Karl's body for a very, very long time.

That was the moment I realized the absolute power of money.

Without money, you die.

I would tear through anyone and anything before I ever let myself go back to that life.

At 5 AM, I woke up in a panic, about to run outside because I thought I’d be beaten for feeding the pigs late.

Once I realized where I was, I lay back down on the memory foam mattress, but sleep was gone.

I got up and went downstairs to grab a glass of water.

As I passed Barbara’s room, the door was cracked open. Her whispered, sharp voice drifted out.

"...I don't care! Dad is taking her to the office tomorrow! Why her?"

"The bitch will probably make a fool of herself, but what if Dad softens up?"

"Mary, you need to do something for me..."

The voices faded into hushed whispers.

I stood in the shadows, finished my water, and smiled.

Barbara, you're right. I love money because I know what real poverty feels like.

When you have nothing left to lose, you'll do anything.

Even if I have to destroy my own sister.