Chapter 4

On the final day of my internship, my department manager called me into his office. I went in with my stomach in knots.

“Emily, we’ve all noticed your performance. You’re hardworking, reliable, eager to learn, and resilient under pressure.”

He smiled approvingly.

“The department has reached a unanimous decision. We’d like to formally offer you a position.”

“You’ll be a project assistant. Here’s the starting salary for the permanent role.”

He handed me an offer letter. The salary printed on it was far higher than I had initially hoped.

I accepted the paper with both hands. It felt as though it weighed a ton.

My fingertips trembled, and my eyes instantly filled.

It took everything I had to keep the tears from falling.

“Thank you! Thank you so much! I won’t let you down!”

I bent forward in an overwhelmed nod of thanks, my voice thick with emotion.

When I left the office, I felt as if I were floating.

I had finally earned a chance to change my life, all on my own!

Joy that big begged to be shared.

Despite every disappointment, that stubborn longing for a loving family rose inside me again.

Maybe this time would be different.

After hesitating for a long time, I called Dad.

He was the one person in that house who still showed me a little warmth.

The phone rang for ages before someone answered. But it was Mom’s shrill voice I heard, with what sounded like Chloe crying in the background.

“Emily? Perfect timing! Hurry! Send your father a thousand dollars! Something’s happened!”

Mom sounded frantic.

My heart dropped. The joy I had felt moments earlier froze solid. “What… what happened?”

“That reckless sister of yours!”

“She secretly used my phone to take out one of those high-interest online loans to buy some limited-edition handbag!”

“Now the debt collectors won’t stop calling! They say they’ll come to the house if we don’t pay!”

“They’re threatening to sue her! Thirty thousand dollars! It has to be paid within three days!”

“Send the money right now! Your sister’s scared to death!”

Mom’s voice was full of concern for Chloe.

My smile stiffened, then slowly collapsed.

“Mom,” I said, strangely calm, “my internship just ended. Where am I supposed to get a thousand dollars?”

“You don’t have money? Who would believe that?” Her voice shot up.

“Didn’t you just get an offer from a big company?”

“Doesn’t it pay well? Listen to me, Emily. This is your own sister!”

“If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me! Don’t think you can hide from us! Hurry up and send the money!”

Through the phone, I clearly heard Chloe complain through her tears.

“Mom! Why are you wasting your breath on her? Tell her to send it already!

“Those collectors are terrifying! I’m afraid to go out at night!”

Then came Dad’s attempt to calm things down.

“Just explain it to Emily. Don’t get worked up. You’re scaring her.”

“What is there to explain? This is all your fault! If you weren’t so useless, would Chloe have needed to borrow that money?”

Mom immediately turned her anger on him.

Listening to them demand my money as if it already belonged to them, I felt the last trace of tenderness I held for this family go out.

A cold resolve rose from deep inside me and spread through every part of my body.

I knew it was time.

A clear plan began to take shape in my mind.