Everyone froze.

Katerina shrieked, hand over her mouth. Chris swore, eyes blown wide.

Dad clutched his chest and sighed. "What is this? How did it get this far? Anya, you know your mom's temper. Just let her have her way."

Katerina chimed in, all shaky and sweet. "Anya, it's just an apartment. It was theirs to start with. Why are you pushing Mom so hard?"

I was shaking with anger. Mom looked smug, like she was flashing her ultimate card—'I'm still your mother.'

Then I felt warmth on the back of my hand.

Pavel had taken it.

He looked at me, steady. "Babe, forget the apartment. Don't fight your mom over this. I'll take care of your dad. He can stay with us."

Tears stung my eyes. I sniffled and nodded. "Fine. I'll give up the apartment. But I want it in writing—me and Katerina. From now on, she takes care of Mom, I take care of Dad. No backing out. No take-backs. Ever."

Before Katerina could say a word, Mom jumped in.

"Perfect! Without you dragging me down, I'll probably live to a hundred!"

Katerina stayed quiet. With that $500K carrot dangling, she wasn't about to push back.

I dropped my gaze, hiding the ice in my eyes.

I remembered that call from last time—Mom in the hospital, Katerina begging for money.

Turns out, Amiraka wasn't all glitz. It was screaming matches, cheating, and drama on loop.

Later, Katerina found out she was just one of many. Chris cut her off, and she crumbled—tried borrowing cash to fly home.

Before I could send anything, I woke up in the past.

Now? Mom's her problem. Let's see how long they last.

***

After the apartments sold, Mom strutted around bragging she was off to Amiraka to "live the good life" with Katerina.

Relatives and neighbors were green with envy. Everyone called her lucky—said she had such a "capable daughter."

As for me? Just a bunch of pity sighs. "Anya's always been the sensible one. Who would've thought the wild one, Katerina, would marry better."

I treated it like background noise and went ahead with renting the unit next door for Dad.

When Mom found out, she lost it—stormed around saying I was unfilial for not letting Dad live with me.

Truth was, Dad was thrilled. A whole place to himself. No nagging. No orders.

When it was time for them to leave, Dad and I went to the airport to see them off.

Mom showed up dressed like some airport socialite, eyes sparkling with dreams of Amiraka. Didn't even look my way.

Dad wiped his eyes. "Call us often. If we can, we'll visit."

Mom threw in a sharp smile. "Well, Anya better start making more money. Or we won't even afford the plane tickets."

Still clinging to that blame—like I was the reason she didn't get shipped to Katerina last time.

I lowered my head. Said nothing.

Let her go live that dream—for real this time.

Dad mumbled, awkward, "Anya's still a good girl. Rich or not, she's our daughter."

My throat tightened. Last time, once Dad went abroad, I never saw him again.

I never found out how it ended for him. Whether he regretted it the way Mom did.

He was kind, sure. But soft. Mom always ran the show.

Even when he wanted to back me up, he never had the guts.

At the gate, Katerina tugged Mom's arm. "Come on. We can always come back later."

Mom beamed, then turned to me. "Look at your sister. That's what money does—go wherever she wants."

Oh? Then why didn't she come back to visit you last time?

I forced a smile and waved. "Mom, I hope you REALLY do have a good life in Amiraka."

Mom, Katerina, and Chris flew off, and for the first time in forever, life finally felt quiet.

Dad never needed asking—every morning, he'd walk, grab breakfast, then drop Eva at school.

Pavel got so choked up he hugged me and said we should get Dad something. Since Dad liked art, Pavel picked out fancy drawing paper and ink.

Dad teared up, totally stunned, like he was about to call Pavel his best friend.

The place felt alive again.

Then a late-night call yanked me out of sleep.

Half-asleep, I fumbled for the phone under my pillow. Mom's smug face lit up the screen on video.

"Look, this is Katerina's mansion! And there's a huge swimming pool!"

I rubbed my eyes, watching her pan around. "You don't even swim. Why's that impressive?"

Her smile dropped. "You never say anything nice. No wonder nobody ever liked you."

I blinked—and she hung up.

Next night, same time, the phone rang again.

I checked the clock. 1 a.m. Broad daylight over there.

She bragged that Katerina took her to some fancy mall and bought her new clothes.

I spotted the floral shirt in her hand—tag still on, marked down.

Back when she lived with me, I shopped for her every season. Got her name-brand stuff I couldn't even afford for myself. Never once heard a thank you.

She'd always say that if Katerina were buying, she'd pick the best, the most expensive.

I stared at her smug, wrinkled face. "Got it. It's one in the morning. Stop calling me like this—I need sleep."

I hung up, silenced my phone, and buried my face in the pillow.

But I couldn't sleep.

Mom knew the time difference between Bellavaro and Amiraka. She used to call Katerina at night too.

She just never cared enough to think about me.

***

After I silenced my phone, Mom went quiet for a few days when she couldn't get through.

Didn't last long—less than a week later, she started calling Pavel instead.

Middle of the night again. Her ringtone cut through the silence, jerking me awake. Pavel picked up, and her voice came in hot.

"What kind of attitude is this, ignoring my calls? Is this how a daughter behaves?"

Pavel scrambled. "Milena, please don't be upset. Anya works early—she needs sleep. She's not ignoring you."

"Hmph. Serves her right! I told her to marry rich and stay home. But no, she had to break her back for a few thousand!"

After so many nights of broken sleep, I was finally feeling human again—until that lit the fuse.

I yanked the phone from Pavel.

"Why don't you focus on your real daughter in Amiraka and leave us alone? Stop calling!"

Then I blocked her—on both our phones.

Days passed without her voice. I could finally breathe.

Then late one night, Dad banged on the door.

"Anya, open up! Your mom's in trouble!"