My mother frowned, "Since you've lost your job, go find a new one. Isn't it easy for you to pay the mortgage with years of savings? Do you regret it because Reid is about to come of age?"

They always emphasized that there was no need for a girl to live in such a big house. They forced me to sign over the large flat to Reid and buy a small house for myself.

According to my mom, the monthly mortgage of five figures must be paid by me.

Money was hard-earned.

I didn't have the heart to say that at Reid's age, I was already working part-time to earn tuition fees.

As a young man, why did he always need me to give him money?

My parents never thought things through and ended up doing something stupid. I just made a perfunctory reply. I told them Reid didn't come of age yet, so I couldn't sign over the flat. But he was allowed to occasionally stay here if he wanted.

But they only listened to the first half of what I said.

Reid slammed his knife and fork down on the table and started shouting.

"Hazel Thomas, it's generous enough for Mom and Dad to let you into the house! Which is more important, my SAT or your sleep? Get out as soon as you finish eating!"

My dad chimed in, "You've just been laid off, and it must be because you're terrible at your job. Hurry up and find a new job. If it were me, I wouldn't even have the guts to come home!"

I laughed angrily.

"Dad, you also know that this is my home. Is it a crime for me to come home? You ask me for money every day. How much have you given me?"

"Mom, you are also a woman. When Grandma and Grandpa asked you to support your younger brother, your voice was even louder than mine!"

"And you, Reid Thomas, when I was about to take the SAT, you were playing games and making a lot of noise. I couldn't sleep well all night. Was my SAT not important?"

That was a sore point with my parents.

They opened the door tacitly.

The cold wind blew a snowflake into the room.

"We have raised you for so many years in vain. Get out and reflect on yourself! Come back home when you realize your mistake! Otherwise, we'll disown you."

Reid stood between our parents and echoed, "I have been calling you sister for so long in vain! Come back home when you can afford me a house! Otherwise, I'll disown you!"

They slammed the door shut!

They probably thought I had gone far away, and I heard my dad's scared voice from inside the room.

"Was I being too harsh? What if she really doesn't come back?"

My mother insisted, "It's impossible. We have brainwashed her for so many years. She will definitely realize her mistake!"

Yes, they had been brainwashing me for so long.

When I was six years old, they pointed to Lillian, our next-door neighbor, who was working in the field, and said, "Our family never favors boys over girls. Hazel, you are different from other girls. We are reluctant to let you work in the field. We'll sell everything to support your education!"

But they always complained about their own back pain and leg pain, making me voluntarily do hard labor.

When I was sixteen, they used the same trick again. So, I had to study hard for the SAT while working part-time.

I couldn't earn enough living expenses and suffered from severe malnutrition.

When I was eighteen, I became the first student in the village to be admitted to a top university.

They didn't contribute a penny, but gained a good reputation and were praised by the villagers.

Then my parents took the moral high ground. "We are getting older, and your younger brother has not been able to support himself. We don't expect much from you. We just want you to pay his tuition."

The first time I walked out of the village, I was amazed by the tall buildings in the city and felt grateful for my parents' support over the years.

I did whatever they said.

Reid's tuition was not high, and I paid it on my own.

My gratitude and generosity only increased their greed for money. They wanted more and more money from me.

In the first year of my work, my conceited parents urged me to build a new house for them in the village.

I agreed.

In my second year of work, I took out a loan to buy a flat, but they looked displeased.

They said Reid didn't have any property under his name, so why should I get myself a flat?

They argued with me for three years because I bought myself a flat.

They wanted money, a car, and a house.

I became their cash machine.

This time, my flat happened to be requisitioned by the government for an energy base.

The moment I received a huge amount of compensation, I was still thinking. Forget it, I won't care anymore. They raised me up, so I will give them half of the 3,300,000 dollars to repay them.

Just because of a joke about my unemployment, they kicked me out of the house on a snowy night and threatened to cut ties with me.

How ridiculous!

I looked at the 3,300,000 dollars in my bank account, and waves of sadness crashed over me.

In the past, I did my best to meet their demands in exchange for a few minutes of their smiles.

Now, if I took out the money, they would definitely call me sweetheart and beg me to come back home.

But what if I ran out of money and they still asked me for some more?

Now I understood that love had long been a tool for them to exploit me.

Love with conditions was not love, but a mask to conceal their real desires and greed!

Fortunately, money could solve all my problems.

No drivers picked up orders in extreme weather, so I kept raising the price and finally hailed a limo.

The small inn was fully booked, so I booked a presidential suite in a five-star hotel.

The next day at noon, I was awakened by my ringing phone. I answered it in a daze and realized it was my mom.

"Hazel, I'll give you a chance to make up for your mistake. Come to Blue Sea Hotel, and we'll forgive your nonsense last night!"

Before I could finish speaking, she hung up the phone.

Most likely it was a trap.

I wanted to see what trick they were playing.

I pushed open the door of the private room, and everyone inside was very happy. There were also two strangers sitting at the head of the table.

My mom sat me down and enthusiastically introduced me. "This is my daughter, who graduated from a prestigious university. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

A bald man named Roy nodded in satisfaction and muttered, "Indeed, not bad."

My mother enthusiastically handed the menu to another young girl.

"Freya, our family has always put ladies first. Read the menu and order what you'd like to eat. Hazel will pay for it."

Freya Hayes smiled sweetly at me and said, "Thank you, Hazel. I'll make myself at home."

Reid leaned close to Freya and lecherously kissed her before saying, "Babe, I'd like a few hairy crabs and two lobsters!"

I felt nauseous.

Damn, I wanted to cover my eyes.

At this time, Roy held the menu. My dad cleared his throat and pretended to be mysterious. "I haven't introduced this gentleman yet. This young man next to me is the husband I have chosen for Hazel!"

I almost squirted the water in my mouth.

My mother continued, "This gentleman said that he is willing to pay a dowry of 50,000‬ dollars to marry Hazel! Freya, we will be nice to you. As long as you are willing to marry Reid, we will also pay a dowry of 50,000‬ dollars!"

Wow, so they wanted to marry me off for 50,000‬ dollars and used the money to get Reid a wife.

This was not over yet. Reid reminded me, "Hazel, you promised to sign over the flat, remember?"

When it came to the house, Freya got excited. "I heard you've got a large flat. When will you take me to see it?"

She waved her empty wrist and hinted crazily, "My sister-in-law bought me a bunch of gold bracelets and necklaces when she married my brother. Hazel, you are so rich. You gotta buy me diamonds!"

Hearing her demand, Reid looked satisfied and echoed, "Of course, my sister will buy it for you!"

My mother clapped her hands regretfully. "It's our fault for being inconsiderate. Hazel, there is a shopping mall downstairs. Take Freya to pick a gift later. Just consider it as a gift from our whole family to her!"

Roy stared at me with an evil leer the whole time.

Unintentionally, a few drops of saliva flowed into the gap between his double chin.

I had no appetite at all!

My stomach was churning.

I wanted to leave on the pretext of having a stomach ache.

Reid blocked my way at the hotel door and shouted into the private room, "Mom, Dad, Roy, Hazel wants to run away!"

After saying that, he rushed up and held down my hands and feet.

Roy even provocatively lifted my chin and pouted, as if he was about to kiss me.