"Where am I supposed to stay?" I asked.

Melanie pulled out two hundred dollars and tossed it on the table carelessly as if she were giving money to a beggar. "Here, take this. Find a motel or rent a place. It's up to you."

I forced a bitter smile. "What about James? Does he feel the same way?"

Just then, my brother, James Kessler, emerged from the bathroom. Without hesitation, he said, "Nina, you're my sister. Of course, I'm on your side. If you want to stay here, I'll clear the room for you."

It seemed James still cared about me. I nodded with relief. "Alright, I'll stay for a while."

But as soon as I said that, James' expression froze. He stood there, looking at me, but made no move to clean the room. I stared back, puzzled.

At this time, Greta walked up to me, her voice sharp. "Janina, have you lost your mind in prison? How can you be so inconsiderate? Can't you see how cramped the house is? Even if we clear out the room, it should be for the baby. You're an adult now. How can you shamelessly insist on staying here? Have some sense!"

I felt sorrowful and replied hoarsely, "Greta, this is my home. Isn't it normal for me to stay for a few days?"

"Your home? This house is under James' name now. He's married, and you're thirty years old. How can you still want to live with your brother?" Her disdain was no longer hidden, her eyes filled with contempt.

I looked at James. He pressed his lips together, looking everywhere but at me.

I turned to my mother, but she just stared back, her expression dark, offering no support.

My father puffed away on his cigarette, acting as if none of this concerned him.

There I stood, awkward and helpless, realizing their rush to property transfer wasn't just to avoid a potential dispute. They wanted to use it as an excuse to kick me out. My heart ached with a thousand tiny stings.

Looking at my family, I asked incredulously, "Did I do something wrong? Why have you all changed so suddenly?"

For the first time, I felt like an outsider in my own home. Before I went to prison, everyone treated me well. Why had everything changed the moment I was released?

Without hesitation, Greta responded, "Janina, before, you could make money and support the family, so we all got along. But now, you're just an ex-con. Finding a decent job or a husband will be nearly impossible. In your situation, what can you do but leech off us? Why should we still treat you well?"

My heart sank, and I asked painfully, "So, because I'm no longer useful and might be a burden, you don't care about me anymore?"

"Nina, it's not our fault," Melanie looked at me and finally said, "Another mouth to feed isn't something we can afford. You're better off finding a place to rent and taking care of yourself instead of being a burden to us."

"I'm a burden?"

I looked at Melanie with a pained expression. "Mom, you were the ones who begged me in tears to take the fall for James. You said if I did, I'd be the savior of this family, and you'd repay me no matter what.

"Now, I just got out and haven't even had a sip of water at home, and suddenly, I'm a burden?

"I've given so much for this family. I handed over all my wages, contributed to buying this house, and even served two years in prison for James. Doesn't that entitle me to a room in my own home?"

My voice was hoarse, and I felt utterly wronged.

James said, "Nina, I know you're upset, but do you think it was easy for us these past two years? Having a convict in the family brought shame on all of us. People point and whisper wherever we go. Who knows what people will say about us if you stay here? Can't you think about us for once?"

The brother I sacrificed everything to protect finally revealed his true feelings. To him, I was now just a burden, the reason for their shame. All my sacrifices were reduced to a joke.

I looked at him with deep disappointment and said coldly, "James Kessler, don't forget, the one who should have been a convict is you. The one who shamed the family is you!

"If you really cared about the family's reputation, you should have confessed from the start. Instead, you let me take the fall, and now you have the audacity to blame me for not thinking about you!"

Two years ago, James and Greta were speeding and driving in the wrong direction with my car when they hit and killed someone. My parents came to me immediately. They said James had a weak heart and had finally managed to get married. If he went to prison, not only would he lose his marriage, but his life might be at risk.

They cried and begged me to take the blame for him. They promised that the whole family would repay me generously once I got out. I didn't do it for any reward. I did it out of love for my parents and genuine care for my brother. I sacrificed myself, went to prison for him, sold my car, drained my savings, lost my job, paid the compensation, and endured all the insults.

But I never expected my wholehearted sacrifice to be met with utter betrayal and contempt. "I don't understand. Isn't blood supposed to be thicker than water? Why does family loyalty become so insignificant when faced with personal gain?"

James heard my words, and his face turned dark with displeasure. He retorted, "I've already thanked you for taking the fall. What more do you want from me? This house is under my name now, and Greta will give birth in a few months. There's not enough room. You need to move out. We can't afford to support an idler."

In his eyes, two years in prison for him was worth only a single thank you. Asking for more made me the unreasonable one.

Melanie chimed in, "Nina, don't you get it? A woman's fate is to marry and have children, not live off her family. We were hoping to marry you off to a good man and get some money, but now, as an ex-convict, no one will want you. Letting you stay here is already us considering old times' sake."

Greta added, "Exactly. You've been to prison, so you'll be poor forever. If we let you stay, you'd drain us dry."

Greta rubbed her belly and spoke mercilessly.

Seamus put out his cigarette and said coldly, "Janina, you're grown up now. It's time you understood the importance of contributing to the family instead of causing trouble."

Each of their words felt like a sharp knife piercing my heart. Despite my overwhelming disappointment, my eyes welled up. I looked at them and said hoarsely, "No wonder you never visited me once during my two years in prison.

"I thought you were just too busy to see me. But now I see you only saw me as a moneymaker. You kicked me to the curb without hesitation the moment I couldn't make money anymore."

I tilted my head back, fighting to hold back my tears. Then, I asked, "So you're all determined to kick me out today?"

"Yes!" Seamus replied without hesitation.

Melanie, James, and Greta all looked equally resolute. Clearly, there was no room for negotiation. I saw no trace of affection in their eyes.

I nodded, my heart completely broken. "Fine, as you wish. From today, we're done. And I hope you won't regret it!"

I finally saw them for what they were. These people I'd longed for during my two years in prison didn't deserve my sacrifices. The hundred million I had planned to share with them would now remain with me.

Without another word, I walked out the door, not looking back.

Behind the door, I heard Greta's resentful roar, "You think too highly of yourself! What's there to regret to cut ties with a broke ex-convict like you? If we let you stay here and mooch off us, that's when we'd really regret it!"

Leaving that heartless home, I wandered the streets alone for a long time before finally finding a hotel to stay in. Lying on the bed, I stared at the nine-figure balance in my bank account, lost in thought.

I used to believe I lived in a very happy family. My father patiently comforted and advised me when I faced difficulties at work. My mother would bring my favorite soup to my office when I worked late. My brother would come to pick me up from work when it rained. I felt like the cherished little princess of the family.

I was always puzzled whenever I saw stories online about parents favoring sons over daughters. How could such families exist? How could parents not love their daughters?

But now, I finally grasped that awful feeling of helplessness and disappointment. I realized I had always been part of such a family. All the love I had felt was conditional, based on my usefulness. To them, I was more like an investment. Their love was the cost, and my money was the return.

So, the gifts of fate had always come with a hidden price. When I could make money and ensure a comfortable life for everyone, they smiled warmly at me. But now, they saw me as an ex-convict who couldn't find a job, with no money and no value.