The company went public, I received a 100 million-dollar dividend, and I was ready to return to my hometown and enjoy my life.

I told my mom Mary I had something important to announce when I returned over the weekend.

I joked that the company was laying off employees and I would live with them from now on.

It was scorching hot. The security of the community said they didn't have my identity information, so it took them a long time before they let me in.

I was sweating all over and carrying my suitcase. As soon as I got to the door, I heard my brother-in-law Stephan Waston's voice, "Why are you in such a hurry? Does the staff of the Housing Authority work on the weekend? Why do you want to transfer the property suddenly?"

Mary advised, "Hurry up. Eva has lost her job. If she wants the house back, where will you live?"

Stephan said in a loud voice, "A woman in her thirties who doesn't get married but still lives off her parents. Just let her get out and rent a house!

"Tom who is lame downstairs hasn't married yet, why don't..."

***

My hand froze as I was about to knock on the door.

The joyful smile on my face disappeared in an instant.

I felt suffocated.

I didn't know if it was because I was ill or heartbroken.

I didn't expect that because of a joke I made, they wanted to sell me to the cripple as his wife.

After standing there for a while, I knocked on the door.

My parents had always preferred my older sister Stella since I was a child.

In addition, Stella gave birth to a boy when she was 18 years old. I knew my parents loved her and spoiled her son.

But Stella always spoke up for me, so I thought she shouldn't know about this.

I was stunned for a moment, and my father Johnson opened the door.

When he saw me, he frowned and muttered, "How did you get in?"

Thinking of the security guard who just stopped me, I felt bad again, but I didn't say anything and went in to change my shoes.

Mary heard the noise and came over quickly with a forced smile. She said, "Eva, why didn't you tell us or ask us to pick you up before you came back?"

"I was so busy that I forgot to tell your dad and the others that you were coming back, so we didn't go to pick you up."

"Okay."

I replied calmly, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw my ID card, birth certificate, and other certificates on the table.

I pretended to be indifferent and asked casually, "Are you going out to do something?"

Mary quickly put those things away and replied in a panic, "No, I'm just packing up."

After saying that, she quickly changed the topic, "Eva, where are you going to stay this time?"

Only then did I notice that the bed, the desk, and the wardrobe in my room were all gone.

Even the books I had treasured since childhood, the toys given to me by friends, and the diary I locked in the cabinet were all gone.

My room was filled with all kinds of miscellaneous items, leaving no place to stand.

Mary quickly explained, "It's just that there are too many things at home, and you don't come back often, I thought the room would be wasted, so I used it to store things."

"Where are the things in my room?"

Johnson kicked the bag on the balcony and said, "Don't worry, no one wants your junk. Even the junk collector refused to take them.

"You are almost forty years old and you have lost your job. Who is willing to marry you? I think the bachelor downstairs is pretty good. He is a little old, but he has several houses. You can marry him and live happily!"

I suddenly became angry.

Tom downstairs was almost fifty years old, and I just turned thirty this year. He was in a car accident, his wife died, and his leg was lame.

My biological dad wanted me to marry someone who was about his age.

He was pushing me into the fire pit.

I asked harshly, "What do you mean?"

"I bought the house you're living in now. Don't I even deserve to have a room? And you even want me to marry an old man?"

Johnson got even angrier and pointed at me, saying, "You bastard, how can you talk to your parents like that? We gave birth to you and raised you, isn't it your duty to buy us a house? Why didn't you marry someone but being rude in my house?"

Mary quickly pulled him back and pretended to wipe away her tears.

"Eva, why did you chase us away as soon as you came back and cause trouble?"

I almost laughed out of anger when I saw the two of them.

They were putting on a play in front of me.

As soon as I spoke, they refuted me, with the excuse that they were my parents, and it was obvious that they were determined to drive me away.

I didn't bother to argue with them but just pushed open the door of Stella's room.

"Stella, Mom and Dad want me to move out, please say something."

Stella was playing a game on her phone. When she saw it was me, she quickly took off her earphones and said, "Eva, wait for a moment."

I stood there in silence.

In her room, there was a sparkling crystal chandelier on the dressing table and brand-name bags were casually thrown on the floor.

"Alright, Mom and Dad, why are you arguing about this? Eva is only staying here for a few days, why don't you just clean up the room for her?

"Or, I'll just stay in a hotel for a few days and let Eva sleep in my room."

Stella took my hand and patted it affectionately.

"Eva, don't be angry. You're too busy working in the capital to come home, so they're worried about you. Eva can just find another job, why are you guys being so mean to Eva?

"Why should Eva marry someone? I think Eva is fine on her own. She can spend more time with me."

She had always protected me like this since I was a child, and my heart finally felt a little warm again.

Then Stella pulled me to sit on the sofa.

She said earnestly, "Eva, I know you are very demanding of yourself, but the pressure of working in the capital is too great. Why don't you work in our hometown?"

She used to say this often, but the more often she said this, the more I wanted to make something of myself in the capital, so I refused every time.

But now, when I looked at her kind smile, I suddenly felt something indescribably strange.

So I nodded and said, "Stella, you are right. It is difficult to find a job in the capital. I plan to live at home in the future.

"I don't plan on looking for a job for now, so I'll ask Mom and Dad to clean up my room, and you don't need to live in the hotel."

I felt her hand stiffen.

She didn't expect me to say this, but she quickly agreed, "Okay, let's live together."

Stephan was not happy and said, "Six people living in such a small place? How can we live together?"

We fell into silence.

After a while, Stella broke the silence.

"If you don't do anything, I'll help Eva clean up the room."

Mary grabbed her and said, "Have you ever done housework since you were a child? What should you clean up the room?"

I watched this wonderful play and sneered.

"Okay, I'll move out. The apartment I bought after graduation is still empty. I'll move in there."

Just as I was about to stand up, Johnson stopped me.

What about me moving out?"

He looked at Mary, then at Stella.

He murmured, "Stephan's sister is living in your apartment with her boyfriend now. It's not a good idea for you to live there."

"What did you say?" I almost didn't react.

I never expected that they would feel at ease to let others live in the house I bought without asking for my opinion.

"What about the one in the Verdant community? I paid for its renovation. I'm going to live there. Give me the key."

Johnson turned his face away and didn't respond, but Mary started crying.

"Eva, you ask for things as soon as you get home. You just want to show off to us by saying that you bought the houses and paid for the decoration. I am so miserable. I raised a daughter like you for nothing!"

She always acted like this.

Whenever I made my request, Mary started crying and blaming me. I used to be soft-hearted because I felt it was unnecessary to be mean to my family.

And now I knew they were hypocritical.

My face turned pale.

I said loudly, "Mom, stop crying. Do you think I will bear it if you cry? I'm telling you, I won't be soft-hearted again!

"And even if I'm showing off, so what? Didn't I buy the houses? Or did I not pay for the renovation? What I said is the truth!

"I have contributed money and effort to our family, but today I am homeless. I have had enough!"

Now they knew I was serious, and Mary stopped crying.

They just wanted to drive me away and make me go back to work so that they could get more money from me.

Since we'd started a dispute, I didn't mind making a bigger fuss.

"I tell you, this house is mine, and you are the ones who should leave!"

Stephan, who was standing by, muttered, "I have never seen a woman who is not married in her thirties go back home to ask for her parents' house. It's outrageous."

I sneered and rolled my eyes at him.

"That's because you're lacking knowledge and experience."

When Stephan was scolded, Stella also turned cold and said unkindly, "Eva, how can you talk to Stephan like that? Haven't I been good to you? Are you going to drive me away too?"

I looked at her and smiled, saying, "You think I don't know what you are thinking?

"Stella, I bought two houses. You took one for the convenience of your son to go to school and one for your husband's family to live in. How come you say this after taking all the benefits?

"Do you think you are kind to me after saying a few nice words to me? If you're nice to me, return the houses to me, ask Stephan to buy a house, and move out with your family!"

Stella looked grim instantly.

She no longer pretended but pointed at my nose and scolded me.

"Eva, you're a piece of junk that no one wants! Neither of these two houses is under your name. Do you think you can get them back? You're dreaming!

"And you have to support your parents. Otherwise, I will go to court with Mom and Dad to sue you and ruin your reputation. Let's see who will dare to marry you then!"

Looking at them, I shook my head silently and decided not to argue with them.

After all, I still had 500 million dollars. Things that could be solved with money were not a big deal.

I finally asked, "So, do you insist on asking me to move out?"

"Yes! Get out of here right now. There is no place for you in this house."

Johnson was already impatient and was about to take out a stick to chase me away.

"Okay, I can leave today. If you sever ties with me, I will leave immediately and never come back."

Mary stopped crying and said with a look of disgust, "Do it if you want. Do you think we want you as our daughter?

"You are over 30 and still not married. I feel embarrassed when I go out. I told others that you'd died outside. I don't have a daughter like you."

"Okay."

Even though I knew how heartless they were, tears filled my eyes.

As a layer, I quickly took out a pen and paper, wrote an agreement, and asked them to sign it.

Stella checked carefully and found nothing related to the house before asking our parents to sign.

I picked up my suitcase, turned around, and left.

I said, "From now on, I will be without parents or any relatives. We will sever our ties and have no further contact until we die!"

Carrying my suitcase, I took a taxi directly to a five-star hotel in the city and booked the most expensive presidential suite for a week.

I opened a bottle of red wine and took a bath in the bathtub.

Smelling the low-key and luxurious fragrance and looking at the night view of the city, I finally felt relaxed.

I quickly contacted my friend Kevin Park, one of the top lawyers in the industry.

He and I quickly sorted out the facts.

I paid in full for both houses and now that I'd severed my ties with my family, it wouldn't be difficult to get the houses back.

I paid for the renovation of the other house, and I kept things including payment evidence and receipts, so I could get back at least two hundred thousand dollars.

I directly transferred double the amount of salary to him and asked him to help me get it done as soon as possible.

After receiving the money, Kevin said with envy, "Ms. White, you suddenly resigned, it turns out that you can already retire. Congratulations."

I didn't say anything more but just smiled and hung up the phone.

I checked my bank account and saw the balance.

I counted several times before I was sure it was eight-figure.

My sadness faded away suddenly.

I was afraid my money would never run out until I died.

I slept soundly, and when I woke up, the dining car had served me a delicious breakfast.

Because I booked this room for a week at a time, the hotel specially provided a dedicated driver to serve me and accompany me all day.

I had nothing to do, so I went to the mall and bought a lot of clothes and had the cashier deliver them to my door.

When we passed the Marvel Villa, I asked the driver to stop.

I paid eight million dollars to buy a fully furnished villa, and I moved into it directly.

I hired someone to manage my property and also hired a nanny and a life assistant. I spent half a month comfortably.

One day, I was woken up by the phone.

Johnson was roaring on the other end of the line, "Eva, do you want to die? How dare you sue us in court?"

I laughed and said, "Mr. White, you must have made a mistake. I am suing Stella, who has occupied two of my houses and owes me two hundred thousand dollars for renovation."

"You're so unfilial! Do you think it will be of any use if you sue us in court? I will go to court with your mother and make trouble, saying that you don't support us. I want everyone to see how heartless you are!

"We gave birth to you, and you have to raise us until you die!"

I scoffed and said, "Okay, try it. See what the judge says.

"And you forgot that I studied law. The law stipulates that one can support the elderly with money or in-kind supplies. From now on, I will send you a few boxes of sanitary napkins and a box of supplements every month to nourish your brain!"

Mary grabbed the phone and started cursing.

"You bastard, if I find you, I will either beat you to death or die with you!"

"Okay, let Stella come find me."

After hanging up the phone, I thought about it and hired two bodyguards to take turns on duty at the villa.

Suddenly, the gate bell rang.

At the door was a man who looked about my age, holding a fruit gift box in his hand. He looked somewhat familiar.

"Hello, I live next door to you. I will have a party tonight, so it might be a little noisy. Please forgive me."

Then I remembered that he was a very famous internet celebrity in our city, his name was Dylan Morgan.

He was also the boss of a media company, young and promising.

I smiled and nodded, saying, "It's okay."

Seeing that I was also young, he asked, "Hey, you just moved in not long ago, do you want to join us in the evening? There are quite a few owners in the community here, let's get to know each other.

"I often see that your curtains are always drawn when I go to work, so I thought your house was empty."

I scratched my head embarrassedly and wanted to say it was because I slept until I woke up naturally every day.

He didn't give me a chance to reject. He enthusiastically dragged me to his house and stuffed some food into my hands.

I introduced myself to the people around me. We were all about the same age, so we started chatting quickly.

But what I didn't expect was that Dylan was Stella's first love.

Stella came alone, dressed in a miniskirt and high heels.

Seeing me and Dylan together, she rushed over and slapped me in the face.

"Eva, you are such a bitch! You hooked up with my ex-boyfriend!"

Dylan pulled me behind him. He didn't know my relationship with Stella and was about to explain.

But Stella stood directly on the coffee table and said to everyone, "She is my sister who is over 30 years old but still can't get married, and she even lives off our parents. Be careful!

"How shameless of you to follow me here? You're unemployed and want to hook up with men, right?"