“Daph, I’ve booked a session with a trainer. Can you drive me to the gym in a bit?”

Juniper stood up and started packing her bag.

She was dressed in a pristine white dress and tucked away in her bag was a set of sleek sports underwear, ready for whatever came next.

“Juniper, I have an important class coming up. I can’t take you.”

I turned my gaze away, striving to keep my voice steady and casual, though it felt anything but.

Upon looking around, I recognized the familiar surroundings belonged to Juniper's parents' house.

Out of the blue, a realization hit me like a cold splash: I had been so naive. We were just two college students, each with our own lives and dreams.

Yet here I was, ensnared by my mother's unyielding expectations and Randal's relentless pressure, doing my best to cater to Juniper’s every whim. And in the end, it was that very surrender that had led me to my own demise.

Juniper was quick to express her displeasure. "Daphne, what important class could you possibly have?"

"Aren’t you on summer break? Besides, your brother told you to take care of me. If you don’t drive me, I’ll tell Mom and Randal that you’re bullying me on purpose."

My mother had always been the model of favoritism, treating Randal like royalty while leaving me in the shadows. No matter what happened, she would invariably side with him first.

When Juniper got pregnant, her family instantly became my mother’s new “protected ones.”

If Juniper had ever whispered a complaint about me, I would have braced myself for a tempest of punishment and scorn.

In the past, I would have been scared and obedient.

But at that moment, I had coldly retorted, "Juniper, if I had told them you insisted on going to the gym, do you think they would have let me take you?"

Juniper's face had instantly darkened.

She pointed a finger at me and said, "What’s your deal today? Are you trying to make me gain weight just because you see how well your mom and brother treat me? Is this your way of getting back at me?"

I didn't say a word. I swiftly grabbed my things and turned to head out.

Juniper was at her family’s home with her parents to look after her. Why should I be her free labor?

I was done putting up with it.

As I pushed the door open, Juniper, seething with anger, snatched an ashtray from the table and flung it at me.

I sidestepped with a sharp move and the ashtray crashed into the door, exploding into shards.

All she got in return was the resounding slam of the door as I walked out.

This time, I wasn’t going to tolerate any more of her nonsense.

She could find someone else to bother.

With only one car in the house and summer break underway, Randal handed me the keys and assigned me the roles of Juniper’s full-time chauffeur and nanny.

To make sure Juniper couldn’t find any reason to complain about me, I deliberately left the car keys right in her sight

With no one else to drive her to the gym, Juniper ended up calling Hugo Reeds, her ex-boyfriend.

Before long, I spotted Hugo assisting Juniper into the car.

Anticipating this moment, I had strategically hidden in the garage. As they strolled hand in hand towards the car, I seized the opportunity and snapped a photo.

The sight of Juniper and Hugo still being so close would likely drive Randal up the wall.

They climbed into the car, their laughter echoing and sped off in a blur.

Reflecting on it now, I realized how I had bent over backwards to cover for Juniper, only to find myself with nothing but resentment in return. Instead of earning her favor, she’d seized every opportunity to pin the blame on me. This time, I was determined to stay one step ahead.

I called my mother and said, “Mom, my local scholarship came through! Remember how I promised to buy you that massager? Why don’t you come out with me for shopping. That way, we can choose one together!”

I knew just how to hit the right note with her.

My mom wasn’t just a fervent supporter of favoring sons over daughters; she was also ridiculously stingy.

Whenever money came in, it was always funneled straight into Randal’s pockets. Not only did she never save a penny for me, but she also delighted in squeezing every last cent out of me.

So when she heard I was offering to buy her a massager, she dropped everything and stopped her square dancing on a dime.

"That sounds great! Come pick me up right away!"

I grabbed a cab to pick up my mother and told her that the car was parked at Juniper's family home because they needed it.

Predictably, my mother was irked, muttering about how inconsiderate Juniper was, showing off her in-laws' car like she was rolling in money.

I stayed silent, but my mind was busy with thoughts.

Just wait, Mom—things were about to get even more dramatic. I hoped your blood pressure could keep up.

I intentionally picked a mall just a stone’s throw from Juniper’s gym and wandered through a few stores, savoring the delay.

My mother scrutinized every option until she finally settled on a massager. I didn’t hesitate to splurge and buy it for her.

Her excitement was palpable—her smile was so wide it nearly obscured her eyes. She wasted no time snapping photos and posting them online, proudly showing off to every relative she could think of.

I checked the time—everything was falling into place.

"Mom, I heard this mall has a gym with a special promotion. Aunt Collette from next door comes here to work out and she says it’s a fantastic deal."

My mother had always dismissed gyms as a waste of money, but dropping Aunt Collette’s name was like flipping a switch.

She couldn’t resist comparing everything to Aunt Collette, determined not to be outdone.

Once I mentioned that name, my mother was instantly intrigued.

"Since we’re here, let’s go check it out," she said, eager to see for herself.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

Both my mother and Randal were firmly opposed to Juniper working out during her pregnancy, so running into her inside would certainly stir up a scene.

It would be even juicier if we discovered something else intriguing.

As we entered the mall, I took a quick glance at the parking area and saw that Hugo wasn’t in the car.

This suggested that he was probably somewhere inside the mall with us.

Last time we were here, we ended up in the VIP changing room at the far end of the gym.

As soon as my mother walked in, she asked the receptionist, "Is there a special promotion at this gym right now?"

I cleared my throat and the receptionist nodded, acknowledging the question.

The receptionist, clearly skilled at handling such inquiries, immediately added, "Yes, ma’am. We’re celebrating our gym's anniversary and there are substantial discounts for group memberships. Plus, our facilities are top-notch. Feel free to take a look around…”

I linked arms with my mother and began to scan the area with exaggerated curiosity.

Meanwhile, I kept a sharp eye on the VIP changing room, ready for any signs of activity.

In my previous life time, Juniper and the trainer had slipped into the changing room alone, deliberately sidelining me.

However, Hugo was in the mall this time unlike before. So, I couldn’t shake the worry that things would change this time around.

Just then, a young woman in workout gear emerged from that direction, catching my attention.

"How ridiculous! Nowadays, people can’t even leave their drama at the gym!"

"And some of these trainers are so unprofessional. Look, they’re playing games in here while the customers are still around..."