To raise the startup capital for my studio as quickly as possible, I threw myself into an insane work mode.

I also moved out of my luxury apartment and into an old tenement building, cutting my rent from 12 thousand dollars down to four thousand dollars a month.

At the same time, I worked over 16 hours a day and turned down every unnecessary social activity.

All designer bags, fine dining, and luxury skincare products disappeared from my life as well. Breakfast was a sandwich from a street cart, lunch was a cheap takeout, and dinner was often just a bowl of instant noodles.

I started taking on every project I could find. Not only did I take on design work, but I also accepted brand marketing and event-planning gigs. As long as a job was legal and paid, I took it.

Within three months, I had lost 15 pounds. The dark circles under my eyes were deep, but my gaze had never been sharper.

The number in my bank account crept slowly from three million dollars to 3.7 million dollars. With every deposit, I felt myself getting one step closer to my goal.

During that time, my parents tried every way possible to reach me.

My aunt, Alice Sullivan, said, "Vivian, your mother cries every day and says she misses you."

I replied, "If she misses me, she can video call me. Oh, right. I blocked her."

My uncle, Clyde Lowry, said, "Your father hasn't been well lately. Are you trying to drive them to their death?"

I replied, "They have their retirement savings and the nephew they spent six million dollars raising. They'll be fine."

Harry even sent me a message, his tone smug and fake.

"Vivian, I heard you're going solo these days. Need any help? Tricia brought two million dollars into the marriage, so I've got plenty of cash on hand."

"No, thanks."

"Vivian, don't be mad at Uncle Roland and Aunt Gina. They're just looking out for me. How about this? I'll wire you five thousand dollars every month. Think of it as my way of supporting your business."

I let out a cold laugh at his condescending tone. "Harry, are you having fun spending that six million dollars? Is the Rolls-Royce comfortable to drive? Are you getting used to living in the villa?"

"Vivian, what do you mean by that?" Harry asked, stunned.

"Oh, nothing. Don't worry yourself about my business. Keep your money, because you'll need it to take care of my parents in their old age. After all, you're their most successful investment."

With that, I blocked him and got peace at last.

…

At the end of the year, I landed a large-scale brand design project, with a fee of 800 thousand dollars.

The client gave me special recognition at the project wrap-up meeting.

"Thanks to Ms. Sullivan's design, we've seen at least a 30% increase in our brand's ability to command higher prices."

I took the check and ran the numbers in my head—this 800 thousand dollars plus what I'd already saved brought me to 4.5 million dollars.

Just 500 thousand dollars more to go.

That was when I ran into Charles at the client's office. He was attending the meeting as a representative of the partner company.

He looked at me with a complicated gaze. "Vivian, I heard you started your own business?"

"That's right, Mr. Gomez."

"Why put yourself through all this hardship?" he said with a hint of pity in his voice. "If you need help—"

I smiled and cut him off, "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm doing just fine."

After the meeting ended, Charles stopped me and said, "Vivian, I heard about what happened in your family."

"It's all water under the bridge now."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "What if we started over?"

I stopped walking and looked at the man I had once loved for five years.

"Charles, there's no way we can go back to the way we were before," I replied calmly.

"Why not? Aren't you already independent now? As for my parents, I can talk to—"

"Back then, I wanted to marry into wealth," I interrupted him. "But now I've come to realize becoming wealthy myself is far more interesting."

Charles was stunned.

"I wish you happiness," I said and turned away.

That night, I dreamed of us in college.

Charles asked me what my dream was after graduation. I said I wanted to have my own design studio and to do the kind of design I truly loved.

When I woke up, I discovered that my pillow was damp.

I opened my mobile banking app and looked at the balance—4.5 million dollars.

Very soon, I would reach my goal.

I didn't go home for Christmas. The rent for my studio was cut in half, on the condition that it stayed open through the holidays.

On Christmas Eve, I sat in the studio alone, revising design drafts on my computer.

Outside the window, dazzling fireworks illuminated other people's happy reunions.

My phone buzzed. It was a video from Grandma.

In the frame, Grandma sat in the center, surrounded by Mom, Dad, Aunt Dora, Harry, and Tricia.

"Vivian, Merry Christmas! Do take care of yourself in Summercaster!" Grandma called out to me through the screen.

My parents sat off to the side, their expressions stiff. Mom's eyes were red and swollen, while Dad's face was set in a hard scowl.

Harry pulled Tricia close and leaned into the camera, beaming. "Vivian, Merry Christmas! Tricia and I wish you all the best with your business in Summercaster. Hope you find a new boyfriend soon!"

In the background, Aunt Dora's shrill voice rang out. "What's the point of wishing her all that? It'll only make her feel worse! Harry, you're the lucky one. Not only did you marry a good wife, but you're also about to become a father."

The video ended there.

I turned it off and went back to work.

Three days later, Aunt Eunice called me. "Vivian, are you really not coming home for Christmas? Your mother barely touched her Christmas Eve dinner. Instead, she just kept crying."

"I see."

"Your father too. When he has too much to drink, he calls you an ungrateful daughter."

"Let him."

"Tricia's pregnant with twins!" Aunt Eunice said excitedly. "Your parents are over the moon. They're planning another big party to celebrate."

"Congratulations."

"Dora's hinting that your parents should take out their retirement savings and invest in another hotel for Harry. You know, with the babies coming, expenses will be huge."

Aunt Eunice paused before adding, "Vivian, I'm telling you this as a heads-up. If you don't come back soon, even those retirement savings might be gone."

I gripped my phone tightly. "Thanks for telling me, Aunt Eunice."

I hung up and immediately booked a flight home for the next day.

I wasn't going back to fight for the money, but to cut things off for good.