My mother had a "bad memory"—every time she asked me to buy something, she conveniently forgot to pay me back.

I never minded. Not until the day before New Year, when I overheard her talking to my sister-in-law.

"Have Tania Fox pick up your family's New Year goods too. Oh, and that gaming console my precious grandson wants. She won't ask for the money anyway—might as well save your household a few dollars."

My blood ran cold.

So it wasn't that she forgot. She just saw me as her personal ATM.

All these years, every time she "forgot" to reimburse me, she'd finish with the same line: "Mom's getting old, sweetheart. My memory isn't what it used to be. Don't hold it against me."

And every time, I'd look at the gray streaking her temples and feel my heart soften.

That softening had cost me more than I could count.

Toilet paper, cooking oil, groceries—I covered it all. When my sister-in-law got married, I paid for her entire gold jewelry set. The five-piece one. That was supposed to be my brother's responsibility.

I wasn't unwilling to give. I just refused to be played for a fool.

So when Mom asked me to buy the New Year goods, I smiled and agreed.

Then promptly forgot all about it.

——

The day before New Year's Eve, I walked through the front door carrying exactly one thing: a carton of milk.

Mom stared at the box in my hands. "Tania. Where's everything I asked you to buy?"

I slapped my forehead. "Oh no—sorry, Mom. It completely slipped my mind."

She went still. For a long moment, she just stood there. Then her face contorted into something that was trying very hard to be a smile.

The room went silent.

I ignored the array of expressions aimed my way and shrugged. "Can't Stan and Isabella Fox just run out and grab everything? There's still time."

I stretched, not bothering to stifle my yawn. "I was up at five to catch my flight. I'm going to take a nap."

I'd barely turned toward my room when Mom grabbed my wrist.

"You promised." Her voice shook. "And now you show up with milk? We have a house full of guests! Are you trying to make us a laughingstock?"

Only then did I notice the relatives arranged across the living room sofas, watching with undisguised interest.

Ah. Right.

In previous years, I hadn't just bought our family's New Year goods—I'd supplied gifts for everyone. Mom cared about appearances, so I always picked the expensive stuff. The fancy imported chocolates. The high-end nuts in lacquered boxes. Everyone would ooh and aah and tell Mom how lucky she was to have such a successful daughter.

Now? One carton of milk. And the vultures were circling.

On cue, Aunt Maureen Fox's son burst into tears. "You said there'd be snacks! I waited ALL DAY! I want something yummy! I WANT IT NOW!"

Aunt Jill Fox pounced next. "Tania, we've been here since this morning. Your mother kept saying you were coming—we've been waiting and waiting!"

She leaned forward, eyes glittering. "We wanted to see what fancy things you'd bring back from the big city. Your mom's always bragging about how successful you are. We were dying to be impressed."

Her tone curdled. "And now you 'forgot'? Or maybe—now that you've made something of yourself—you don't want to acknowledge us poor relatives anymore?"

It wasn't just Mom. Everyone had gotten used to my generosity.

I arranged my face into something wide-eyed and harmless. "Oh, Aunt Jill, I'd never! I think I just inherited Mom's condition. You know—the forgetfulness."

I tilted my head, all innocence. "She's always been like this. Take Isabella's gold bracelet, for instance. Mom asked me to buy the wedding jewelry for Stan, and then just... never paid me back. Still hasn't remembered, actually."

I let that land before continuing. "Oh, and their apartment renovation? I covered that too. Mom forgot about that one as well."

The murmuring started immediately. Heads swiveled. Eyebrows climbed.

Uncle Walter Fox cleared his throat. "Now hold on. I have to say something here." He fixed Mom with a look. "That's not right. Why is Tania footing the bill for Stan's family expenses?"

Mom's face flushed crimson. She sputtered, mouth opening and closing, grasping for words that wouldn't come.

Finally, she managed: "What are you saying in front of everyone?! It's not like I was never going to pay you back!"

I seized the moment. "Let's table all that for now. Just give me the money for the New Year shopping, and I'll go pick everything up."

Honestly? I wasn't planning to boycott the whole thing.

I just needed to know—given everything—how much Mom would actually hand over. How much she expected me to cover this time.

It wasn't that I refused to contribute. I just refused to be treated like an idiot.

In previous years, the New Year haul ran well over ten thousand dollars. Even if Mom didn't track every price tag, she knew the ballpark. She had to.

If she gave me five thousand, I'd let it go. I'd stop keeping score.

Mom hemmed and hawed for what felt like an eternity before finally sending the transfer.

I glanced at my phone.

Two hundred dollars.

Two hundred. That wouldn't even cover the rounding error.

The disappointment hit like a punch to the sternum. She knew. Of course she knew. She was just playing dumb—because as long as she pretended not to notice everything I'd poured into this family, she didn't have to reciprocate.

And if she didn't give me enough, well, I'd just make up the difference myself. Right?

The old me would have. But now that I understood exactly where I stood with her?

Not a chance.

I spent every last cent of that two hundred. Not a penny more.

When I walked through the door, the look on Mom's face shifted from eager anticipation to something approaching cardiac arrest.

"Tania! I gave you money for New Year shopping—we have a house full of people and THIS is what you come back with?"

I shrugged, the picture of helpless resignation. "Budget constraints. My hands were tied."

While everyone exchanged bewildered glances, my nephew broke the silence first.

"Where's my game console? You said I was getting a game console!"

I ruffled his hair. "Be good, okay? Auntie's broke."

Stan Fox shot to his feet, palm slamming against the table. "Tania, don't push your luck! Mom gave you money and you buy this pathetic haul—who do you think you're fooling? We all know what things used to look like!"

His voice climbed higher. "Did you pocket Mom's cash? You're a grown woman—is this really the hill you want to die on over a few bucks?"

He wasn't done. "And what's the big deal about buying your own nephew a game console? When did you turn into such an ingrate? It's pocket change!"

I let a beat pass before responding, my tone flat. "That console costs three thousand dollars. Since it's no big deal to you, why don't you send me a red envelope for three thousand right now? Pocket change, like you said."

Mom materialized at my elbow, dabbing at nonexistent tears. "I raised you with my own two hands—I never expected greatness, but I didn't think you'd nickel-and-dime your own family. You're breaking my heart."

She pressed on. "You and Stan grew up together, flesh and blood. What's wrong with a sister helping her brother out a little? That's just how family works."

The relatives who'd been eyeing the conspicuously meager spread piled on.

"Tania, I always thought you were such a good girl. How could you do something like this?"

I drew a slow breath.

"Mom. What I've 'helped out' with isn't 'a little.' You think money grows on trees for me?"

I ticked off the items on my fingers. "I won't even mention the furniture and household odds and ends. The three hundred thousand Stan borrowed for his house. The hundred thousand for Daisy's wedding jewelry. The two hundred forty thousand for their renovations. Lee Fox's clothes and toys—tens of thousands, easy. And every New Year, between the shopping and the red envelopes? Tens of thousands more."

My voice didn't waver. "All these years I've been working, I've allowed myself two thousand a month for living expenses. Two thousand. Everything else went straight into propping up this family. Did you ever—once—stop to consider me?"

Mom's mouth opened and closed. "You... you earn more. Your brother isn't as successful as—"

I didn't let her finish. I pulled out my phone. "Since nobody's satisfied, let me solve that. I'll transfer your two hundred back. I'm returning everything I bought. As for the New Year shopping?"

I met Stan's eyes.

"That's on you now."

"After all, with only a two-hundred-dollar budget and so many demands, I really can't deliver. The capable should do the heavy lifting—I'll just have to be the useless one."

"Oh, and since I'm so incompetent, remember to pay back all that money I've given you over the years. You wouldn't want to watch me starve on the streets, would you?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I transferred the two hundred dollars to Mom.

She was so furious she could barely speak. "You—!"

Stan steadied her with a hand on her arm. "Mom, just leave it to me. I'll take care of everything perfectly."

"Don't waste your energy on this ungrateful brat. She wants to nickel-and-dime you and refuse to lift a finger? From now on, leave these things to me."

"So what if she spent a little money? Big deal. I won't ask you for a single extra cent!"

I couldn't help but laugh coldly. We'll see if you keep that promise.

What I didn't expect was that Stan actually came back with a haul.

The relatives gathered around, eyes widening at the trunk packed full of New Year goods. "Stan really is the pillar of this family! Look at that problem-solving ability—absolutely unmatched."

"Everyone kept saying Tania was doing so well for herself, but if you ask me, she can't hold a candle to Stan. Capable and filial—you couldn't find a better son if you searched with a lantern."

"Sons are the ones you can count on. Daughters, no matter how successful, are just going to marry out eventually. Their hearts aren't with us."

They peered into the trunk, oohing and aahing. Every item was a premium brand. There was even a case of Moutai.

Mom basked in the praise, her smile never faltering.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned and shot me a sidelong glance. "Too bad I also gave birth to an ungrateful wretch. Should've never had her. All she does is make everyone miserable."

I didn't bother responding. I was too busy wondering how Stan had managed to buy all this with two hundred dollars.

Given that he'd tried to scam money off me just to buy his wife's wedding jewelry, I didn't believe for a second he'd willingly dip into his own pocket for this.

I crouched down and started examining the pile of goods on the ground. It didn't take long to spot the problems.

No production dates on the packaging. Seals that had clearly been broken and resealed. Knockoffs from God knows where.

More likely, only the packaging was real—and whatever was inside came from somewhere I didn't want to think about.

Just as I was inspecting the goods, Mom yanked me aside.

"Ungrateful thing! Don't you dare touch what your brother bought!"

I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't dream of it. I just hope you all have the fortune to enjoy it."

Mom's teeth clenched so hard I could hear them grind. "You little—what's that supposed to mean?!"

I shrugged. "Nothing. Just wishing you all the best."

She glared at me, speechless with rage, until Stan cut in. "Mom, why bother with her?"

He pulled the case of Moutai from the trunk and announced to the relatives, "One bottle for everyone here—except Tania."

I let out a cold laugh. "Please. Don't waste it on me. I couldn't handle such blessings."

The moment he finished speaking, the relatives descended on the goods like locusts. Within minutes, only a few empty cardboard boxes remained.

They walked away beaming, unable to contain their delight.

It wasn't long before Mom rounded on me again, eyes blazing. "You ungrateful wretch! Look at your brother—he's the one willing to sacrifice for this family. What good are you?!"

I shrugged, utterly indifferent. "Since you think he's so much more reliable, go to him for everything from now on. And don't come to me—especially when it involves money."