My mom, Gina Lowry, uses the six million dollars from selling our family hotel to buy my cousin, Harry Sullivan, a villa. The next day, my fiancé of five years, Charles Gomez, dumps me.

"Vivian, this is the end for us," Charles says, sitting in the café of a five-star hotel. His tone is so matter-of-fact that it sounds as if he's merely discussing a business deal.

The engagement ring in my hand suddenly feels burning hot.

I ask, "Why? Our wedding is next month."

He stirs his coffee casually and replies, "Your family is known for favoring sons above all else. I looked into it. Your parents sold off the family business and gave all the assets to your cousin, Harry."

A chill runs through my whole body as I argue, "That was my parents' decision. It has nothing to do with me!"

"Does it really have nothing to do with you?" Charles looks up, his gaze sharp. "You're a daughter of the Sullivan family. In the future, you'll have to keep supporting your useless cousin endlessly. My family won't have any part in such an unreasonable practice. It's simply too embarrassing."

In a trembling voice, I plead, "Charles, we've been together for five years. Is what we have less than these worldly considerations?"

He lets out a light scoff. "What we have? Vivian, you're 28. How are you still this naive? In our circle, marriage is never just about two people."

He stands up and adjusts the cuff of his custom suit. "I hope you find someone more suitable for you."

I watch his resolute back as he walks away. Biting my lip hard, I refuse to let the tears fall.

My phone chimes as a message from my mom comes in.

In the photo, Harry is standing in front of a luxury villa with his arm around the influencer girlfriend he's been dating for three months. He is smiling smugly, like he's at the top of the world.

Mom sounds overjoyed in her voice message. "Vivian, look how grand Harry's new home is! Now, he won't have to worry about his marital home when he gets married!"

I stare at the photo and laugh through my tears.

The moment I leave the family group chat and block all my relatives, my fingertips feel ice-cold.

I sneer inwardly, "Since a daughter can never compare to a son in your hearts, then from now on, that precious nephew of yours will be your only family. When he drives you out of the villa bought with your entire savings, I wonder if you'll remember the daughter you abandoned today."

Three days later, an unfamiliar number kept calling me persistently.

"Vivian Sullivan, why did you block all your family's numbers? How can you be so thoughtless?"

It was Eunice Lowry, my maternal aunt.

"Aunt Eunice, is something the matter?" My voice was so calm that it surprised even me.

"Your mother is so angry she might have a heart attack! You'd better unblock them right now!"

"But I don't think there's anything left to say between us."

"Is it just because your parents used the money from selling the hotel to buy Harry a villa?" Aunt Eunice asked dismissively. "So what if your parents help Harry out a little? Your uncle, Freddie Sullivan, passed away young, and both Harry and his mother, Dora Hodge, hadn't had it easy."

"Help him out a little?" I scoffed. "Aunt Eunice, I wouldn't call giving him six million dollars to buy a villa in cash helping him out a little."

The line on the other end fell silent all of a sudden.

"I've worked at Gomez Group for five years, rising from designer to director with an annual salary of one million dollars. During those five years, I practically lived at the company. Pulling all-nighters to review proposals is a common occurrence for me, and I'm often late even for dates with Charles."

I took a deep breath and continued, "The down payment for the apartment by Hapburg River that I have my eye on as our marital home is eight million dollars.

"I'd saved up three million dollars and was still five million dollars short. So, I asked Mom and Dad to lend me five million dollars, promising to pay them back monthly. But guess what they said?"

Aunt Eunice stayed quiet.

"Dad says I'm no longer their responsibility once I'm married, and that buying a house is on the man. Mom, on the other hand, says since Charles' parents are rich, I should just have them foot the bill."

I dug my nails deep into my palm. "And then, they turned around and gave their entire six-million-dollar savings to Harry. He's only 22 years old. Not only did he drop out of college, but he also spends every day clubbing.

"Yet, Mom insists he gets nothing but the best real estate out there. Otherwise, he'll have no shot at finding a good wife."

"Vivian, you shouldn't think that way. Your parents are just trying to do right by your Uncle Freddie."

"Doing right by Uncle Freddie?" I cut her off. "He's been dead for ten years! In these ten years, Harry's tuition, living expenses, sports car—tell me, which of them hasn't been paid for by my parents?

"And now, they've even given him money they could have saved for their retirement just to be seen as loyal and devoted?"

Aunt Eunice sighed and said, "Your parents have old-fashioned views. They think carrying on the family line is the most important thing."

"So, a daughter isn't even considered family?" I shot back. "I'm already 28 years old, but because of this, Charles broke up with me. Aunt Eunice, tell me—what am I supposed to do?"

"Charles Gomez broke up with you?" Aunt Eunice asked in a surprised tone.

"The day after Mom sent me the photos of Harry's villa, Charles said he'd never marry a woman whose family expects her to bankroll her cousin," I replied with a wry smile.

Aunt Eunice was speechless.

"They want a son to carry on the family line? Fine, I'll give them that. But from now on, I want nothing to do with them. If they want someone to care for them in their old age and see them to their graves, they can go find their precious nephew, who they've spent six million dollars raising."

"Vivian, don't be impulsive."

I hung up without another word.

Then, I turned on my laptop and started searching for a studio rental. It didn't matter how small or expensive it was or which district it was in—Elcester, Winsworth, or Hapburg—as long as it allowed me to establish a foothold in Summercaster.

Without relying on my family or marriage, I'd earn that five-million-dollar shortfall myself.

A week later, while I was handling my job resignation handover, I received a call from my father, Roland Sullivan.

"Come home, Vivian," he said in a tone that left no room for refusal.

"I'm busy. If you've got something to say, say it over the phone."

"Your mother has been hospitalized for high blood pressure."

He paused, then added, "Come back and see her."

My chest tightened sharply, but I quickly regained my composure. "Is it serious?"

"She needs to recuperate. As her daughter, shouldn't you come back and take care of her?" he replied reproachfully.

"I can't get away—I'm busy with work."

"Is work more important than your own mother?"

"Yes," I replied calmly. "Because Mom has Harry to take care of her, while I only have my work."

Heavy breathing came from the other end of the line.

"Vivian, are you abandoning your parents over just a bit of money?"

"Dad, that wasn't 'just a bit of money.' That was the family's entire fortune," I corrected him. "That money was the security for my marriage, yet you destroyed it with your own hands."

"It's our money! We can give it to whoever we want!" he roared.

"Exactly," I said with a nod. "So, my time and energy are mine to give to whomever I want as well. And right now, I want to give them to my career."

"Why you—" Dad was so angry that he was left speechless.

"Besides, why can't you take care of Mom? And what about your precious Harry? He just received six million dollars from you, so shouldn't he be the one taking care of her?"

"You ingrate!"

"Dad, let me do the math for you," I said coldly. "I'll lose nearly five thousand dollars for just one day of leave. Add in the round-trip plane tickets and the work disruption, and each trip back home will cost me at least 30 thousand dollars in losses."

Dad remained silent, his breathing heavy.

"After insurance reimbursement, the out-of-pocket portion of Mom's hospitalization bill is at most a few thousand dollars. You still have your retirement savings, right? Don't tell me you can't even come up with that amount."

Suddenly, he was on guard. "How do you know we still have retirement savings?"

"So, you really did keep something in reserve." I laughed, my voice icy cold. "Last week, when Aunt Eunice said you'd given everything you had to Harry, I almost believed her."

They weren't fools, so of course they had left themselves a safety net. I was just never included in their plan.

"You gave Harry six million dollars and kept a secret stash for yourself. Yet, I—your own flesh and blood—couldn't even borrow five million dollars from you," I exclaimed emphatically. "Dad, am I really worth that little to you and Mom?"

A long silence followed.

"Vivian…" Dad seemed to want to explain.

"Don't bother," I interrupted him. "If Mom needs money for medical treatment, you have your savings. If she needs someone to take care of her, both you and Harry have plenty of time. So, it doesn't matter whether I go back or not."

"You're really not coming back?" he asked in disbelief.

"No," I said. "Take care."

I hung up the phone and blocked this number as well.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Gomez Tower, I gazed out at the bustling, vibrant Summercaster's night view.

As it turned out, a daughter was nothing but an outsider in my parents' eyes. They'd rather leave their fortune to their useless nephew than give me a single penny.

Fine by me. This way, I could finally cut all emotional ties with them and truly live for myself.

Half a month later, Harry's wedding took place at the most luxurious resort in our hometown.

The extravagance was staggering. The wedding procession was all Rolls-Royces, and the bride's gown, custom-made in Yiferia, was reportedly worth a million dollars.

Some "well-meaning" relatives kept sending me the wedding photos and videos.

"Vivian, look how magnificent Harry is. Your parents must be so proud."

"Vivian, why didn't you attend the wedding? The whole family is here—you're the only one missing."

I looked at the photos. My parents were seated at the head table, their faces flowing with pride as they soaked up all the compliments from friends and relatives.

Next to them sat Harry, looking insufferably pleased with himself, as well as his gorgeous bride.

I deleted every single message expressionlessly.

The day after the wedding, my grandmother, Johanna Hancock, called me.

"Vivian, are you still angry at your parents?"

Grandma was the most reasonable person in the family.

"Hey, Grandma," I said, my tone softening a little.

"You not coming to Harry's wedding yesterday really made your parents look bad," Grandma said with a sigh. "All the relatives kept asking about you, and all your parents could say was that you were too busy with work."

"I really am busy."

"I know. I heard Charles broke up with you?"

"Yeah."

"What a shame. You two were such a good match." Grandma sighed again. "Vivian, I know you've been wronged. What your parents did was foolish. Instead of doting on you, they went and fawned over a nephew."

Grandma's words brought tears to my eyes. It was the first time since everything happened that a family member had spoken up for me.

"Grandma, I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me," Grandma retorted. "I know your father better than anyone. He's obsessed with how others perceive him. To him, carrying on the family name is everything.

"He thinks throwing Harry a lavish wedding means he's done right by the ancestors and can hold his head high in front of all the relatives."

"So, for the sake of his image, he can just sacrifice my happiness?" I retorted.

"He didn't think things would turn out like this. He's always been stubborn. But I think your mother and Dora were the ones stirring things up behind the scenes."

"It doesn't matter. What's done is done," I stated flatly.

"After having too much to drink at the wedding, your parents bragged to everyone about how the whole family envied them for buying Harry such a great villa."

Grandma's tone turned dismissive. "I scolded them. I said, 'Are you stupid? Why are you taking care of someone else's son instead of your own daughter?'"

I listened quietly.

"Your father's expression immediately darkened, and he said I wouldn't understand. Vivian, don't stoop to their level. Money comes and goes, but family is forever."

"Grandma, I'm doing this out of spite. I've just finally woken up."

"Woken up to what?"

"To the fact that I can't depend on anyone but myself," I answered. "I'll build my own career and live my own life. As for them… Well, they have their precious nephew, the one they're so proud of, to take care of them in their old age."

"Vivian…"

"Don't worry, Grandma. I'm doing well. Once my business is stable, I'll bring you to Summercaster to live with me."

"Alright, alright."

After hanging up, I looked out the window. Dawn had just broken over the horizon, the light bathing the skyscrapers in a shimmering golden glow.

I knew that from today onward, this was a path I would have to walk alone.

I turned on my laptop and sent outreach emails to several potential clients.

"Hello, I'm Vivian Sullivan, former Head of Design at Gomez Group. I have now started my own independent practice, specializing in high-end design projects, and I look forward to working with you."