To take care of my mother after she fell and injured herself, I turned down a promotion and took a week off work to stay by her side.

On the day she was discharged from the hospital, she smiled and handed me a small envelope.

“Suzy, you’ve worked hard these past few days. This is just a little something from me. Go treat yourself to something good.”

I wiped my hands, a quiet warmth spreading through my chest.

When I opened the envelope, I froze for a moment.

Inside was $2.

Still, I told myself it didn’t matter. The amount wasn’t important. What mattered was the thought behind it.

But the very next day, while scrolling through social media, I came across a post from my younger brother, the one who hadn’t shown his face at the hospital even once.

Nine photos filled the post, all of them showing off a sprawling luxury mansion. In the center was a photo of the purchase contract.

The caption read: “Officially the owner of a $2 million riverfront house. Big thanks to Mom for the support!”

I called my mother directly, trying to keep my voice calm.

“Mom, I saw on Victor’s social media that he bought a house outright. Where did the money come from?”

On the other end, her voice was full of delight.

“Oh, Suzy, you saw it too? This is wonderful news! Our family finally has a place in the city center!”

“I’m asking where the money came from,” I interrupted.

She paused, and her tone turned slightly uneasy.

“Suzy, that’s the compensation your father received from the construction accident years ago. Before he passed, he loved your brother the most. I’m just fulfilling his wish.”

The compensation from my father’s accident had only been a little over two hundred thousand dollars. So where did the rest come from?

I refused to let it go. “But the house cost $2 million in full. The compensation alone wouldn’t cover that, right?”

My mother hesitated before answering. “The redevelopment payment for our two old houses came through a few days ago. I gave it all to Victor so he could buy the place.”

My mind buzzed.

I hadn’t even known about the redevelopment payment until now.

“Mom, the compensation from Dad’s accident and the redevelopment payment from our old houses both legally include my share. You didn’t say a word and gave it all to Victor to buy a house?”

Her voice immediately turned sharp.

“Suzy, what are you implying? Are you trying to fight your brother over family money?

“Your brother just landed a job at a big company. The next step is getting married. How’s he supposed to do that without a proper home?

“As his sister, you should be supporting him. Instead, you’re asking for a share? Don’t you have any shame?”

I let out a bitter laugh, tears stinging my eyes.

“I’m the one without shame? Mom, when you got hurt, I gave up a rare promotion opportunity and took a week off work to take care of you until you left the hospital.

“You handed me $2 in an envelope, and I actually felt touched. I thought at least you remembered what I’d done for you.

“But during that entire time, Victor never even showed his face. Yet with a wave of your hand, you gave him $2 million to buy a house.

“I’m your child too. Don’t you think this difference in treatment is a little too obvious?”

My mother clearly didn’t see anything wrong with it. Instead, she spoke to me with the tone of someone giving a patient lecture.

“Suzy, why are you being so unreasonable? Victor is a son. He’s the one who’ll carry on the family name. When I’m old, who do you think will take care of me?

“You’re a daughter. Sooner or later, you’ll marry and belong to someone else’s family. What’s the point of giving you money? So, you can pass it on to outsiders?

“And besides, that two dollars was just for good luck. When did you become so petty?”

Petty?

When I first graduated and started working, I earned four thousand a month. Every payday, my mother would complain about how poor she was. Without fail, I sent her three thousand.

I lived frugally myself, wearing cheap clothes and renting a tiny, rundown apartment.

So, the money I had saved all those years had ended up turning into a luxury house under Victor’s name.

And I was only worth those two dollars for “good luck.”

“Fine, Mom. If I’m just someone who’ll eventually leave the family, then give me back the salary I’ve been leaving with you these past few years.”

I said leaving because every time she asked for money, her excuse had always been, “I’m saving it for your future wedding.”

There were two seconds of silence on the other end before my mother’s impatient voice came through.

“What do you mean your money and my money? We’re family. Why are you being so calculating! Anyway, we’re celebrating Victor buying his new house today. Come home and join us for dinner instead of being so sarcastic!”

With that, she hung up.

Listening to the dead tone from my phone, I wiped away my tears.

Dinner?

Fine. I would go back and make sure to enjoy that meal.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I saw the living room packed with relatives.

Victor stood in the middle of it all, talking animatedly, practically spraying spit as he bragged.

“Aunt Linda, you have no idea how hard it is to get into the Rivers Group! People line up just hoping for a chance!

“But the moment I walked in, the interviewer spotted my talent. He said people like me are one in a million!

Linda beamed so widely the wrinkles on her face deepened.

“Oh, I’ve always said Victor was a clever child!”

My mother sat nearby, dressed in a brand-new silk dress, smiling so hard she could barely close her mouth.

“Of course he is. Look who he takes after. Our Victor is destined for big things.

“His starting salary might only be about five hundred a month right now, but Mr. Rivers thinks highly of him. He plans to keep Victor close and groom him for management.”

I stood in the entryway, feeling nothing but bitter irony.

Victor’s so-called great job…

That position existed because my boyfriend, Ethan Rivers, had quietly spoken to HR to arrange a spot for him, just to save me the embarrassment of my brother being unemployed.

The role itself was little more than an extra logistics assistant. Anyone with working arms and legs could do it.

Yet in Victor’s telling, it had somehow become proof of his exceptional talent and the boss’ special favor.

Keeping my face cold, I changed my shoes and walked inside.

The lively room fell silent for a few seconds the moment I appeared.

My mother glanced at me, the smile on her face fading slightly. She pointed toward a small stool in the corner.

“You’re here? Sit over there. Perfect timing. We’re about to eat.”

It was an extra seat, far from the main table, the kind of place one’d leave for a servant.

I walked straight up to her and held out my hand.

“Mom, I’m not here for dinner. I’m here to take my money.

“For the past few years, I’ve sent you three thousand every month. That’s about a hundred thousand in total.

“You said you were saving it for my wedding. I need it now. Transfer it back to me.”

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Victor frowned and walked over, his face full of irritation.

“Sis, what are you doing? We’re family. What do you mean your money? Once it comes into this house, it belongs to the family.”

I looked at him coldly.

“Victor, you used my hard-earned money to buy a luxury house, and you still expect me to smile at you?

“There’s half of my money in that house. Either you pay me back, or you add my name to the deed.”

My mother slammed her fork onto the table and stood up.

“Suzy! Have you lost your mind?

“In front of all these relatives, do you have no shame at all? Do you think renovating that house costs nothing? Do you think furniture is free?”

I was trembling with anger.

“That’s my money! Why should it pay for his renovations?”

My mother replied without the slightest hesitation. “Because he’s your brother. Because he carries on the family name.

“You’re the older sister. Helping your brother is only natural.

“And besides, even if that money were given back to you, you wouldn’t be able to keep it. Who knows when some useless man might trick you out of it?”

Linda munched on a potato chip and spoke in a mocking tone.

“Suzy, that’s where you’re wrong. A woman eventually marries into another family. If your brother does well, you’ll have more standing with your in-laws.”

Another aunt chimed in.

“That’s right. I heard you’ve been dating someone for years and still haven’t brought him home. He must be some poor nobody you’re too embarrassed to introduce.

“If that money ends up in an outsider’s hands, that would really be a waste.”

Victor straightened his tie smugly and looked at me with open contempt.

“Sis, I’m just saying… that boyfriend of yours probably doesn’t even have a proper job, right?

“He’s nothing like me. I work for the Rivers Group. That name alone carries weight.

“As for your money, just think of it as an investment in me. Once I make it big, it’s not like I’d let you go hungry.”

To protect these so-called family members, I had always hidden Ethan’s true identity. I only told them he was a regular entrepreneur starting his own business.

And because of that, in their eyes I had become easy prey, while Ethan had turned into some worthless nobody.

“Victor, do you really think you got into the Rivers Group because of your own ability?”

I stared straight into his eyes, speaking slowly, word by word.

Victor froze for a moment, then his face twisted with embarrassment and anger.

“Suzy, stop being jealous! Is it really that hard for you to admit someone else is better than you?

“Someone like you who only knows how to live off a fixed salary—what do you know about working for a major company?”

My mother rushed over and shoved me.

“Get out! If you’re not here to eat, then get out! Stop embarrassing us!”

That shove completely shattered the last bit of attachment I still had to this family.

I staggered back two steps from the shove.

Once I steadied myself, I felt strangely calm.

“Fine. I won’t stay for dinner.”

I took out my phone, turned on the recording function, and held it up in front of them.

“Since you’ve already taken things this far, let me make something clear as well.

“First, that hundred thousand was money I left with Mom for safekeeping. I have the transfer records, and I also have voice messages where Mom admitted she was holding it for me.

“That money counts as unjust enrichment. I will file a lawsuit to recover it.

“Second, Dad’s accident compensation and the redevelopment payment from the old house both count as inheritance and shared family assets.

“As a first-priority heir, I’m entitled to my share. I will be taking that money back as well.”

The room erupted in shock.

The relatives stared at me like I was some kind of monster.

My mother’s face changed instantly. She screamed and lunged at me, trying to grab my phone. “Suzy! You dare sue me? I’m your mother, you ungrateful brat!

“I raised you all those years, and now you want to sue your own mother over money?”

I turned sideways and dodged her swipe, speaking coldly.

“You remember you’re my mother now? When you handed me that two dollars, did you remember I was your daughter? When you spent two million on a house for Victor, did you remember me then?

“You raised me when I was young, and I’ll take care of you when you’re old. That’s fair. But that doesn’t mean I have to support a useless brother, and it certainly doesn’t mean I’ll let you drain me dry.”

When Victor saw that my mother hadn’t managed to grab my phone, he rushed forward as if ready to hit me.

“Damn it, you’ve got some nerve! Causing trouble in my new house? You want me to slap you?”

I didn’t step back. Instead, I took a step forward and stared straight at him.

“Go ahead. Touch me and see what happens. I’ll call the police right now. You just started working at the Rivers Group. Let’s see if they still want you after you get a police record.”

The moment his job was mentioned, Victor backed down.

His raised hand froze in midair as he glared at me through clenched teeth.

“Fine, Suzy. You’re ruthless. For a little money, you’re willing to throw family away.”

“Family?” I let out a cold laugh. “That’s your version of family, not mine. In this house, I’m nothing but an ATM. An outsider.”

My gaze swept across the relatives who had been pointing fingers at me just moments earlier.

“Today, in front of everyone here, I’m formally notifying you. Within three days, transfer the hundred thousand I left with you, along with my share of Dad’s compensation and the redevelopment payment. Every dollar of it.

“Otherwise, the court summons will be mailed straight to Victor’s company.

“And starting today, I’m removing my name from the family registration. From now on, other than the minimum support required by law, I won’t give you another cent.”

After saying that, I didn’t bother looking at their stunned faces. I turned and walked out.

Behind me, my mother’s heart-wrenching cries rang out.

“What kind of curse is this! How did I raise such a monster! Cutting ties with your own mother over two dollars!”

The relatives’ accusations and Victor’s angry shouting blended into a chaotic noise behind me.

I strode out the door and stepped into the elevator.

The moment the elevator doors closed, I leaned against the wall of the cabin, and the tears finally fell.

Only now did I truly accept the truth.

My mother had never loved me.

After leaving the building, I took out my phone and called Ethan.

His warm, steady voice came through the line. “Suzy? What’s wrong? Your voice doesn’t sound right.”

Hearing him, the tension I’d been holding finally broke.

“Ethan…” I choked out. “I don’t have a home anymore.”

There was a brief silence before his voice came back, firm and certain.

“Where are you? I’ll come get you. As long as I’m there, you’ll always have a home.”