"Alicia, what are you doing moving things around in the middle of the night?"

I calmly canceled the button for the thirty-first floor and pressed the fifth floor instead.

"I'm just preparing since you're coming over."

I stepped forward, linking my arm with Mom's, and smiled brightly, trying to sound casual, "There's nothing to eat at home. I didn't have time to tidy up, so I went out to buy some goodies to treat you."

When my parents heard that, the smiles on their faces grew even bigger.

If it weren't for what I had gone through in my last life, I would have believed they were truly happy to see me.

They didn't notice anything unusual.

They just grumbled about how I was wasting money again as they followed me inside.

Last time, when they came over...

I thought I was the host and they were the guests.

So I willingly gave them the master bedroom and let my brother have the second bedroom.

I made my bed out on the balcony.

And I was quite pleased with myself, thinking I was being a dutiful daughter.

I completely ignored the fact that if they cared about me, they would have considered whether it was appropriate for their daughter to sleep on a balcony.

The balcony wasn't well insulated, and the blanket I slept under always felt damp.

Even though it was June, every night felt bitterly cold to me.

Within just two months, I felt uncomfortable all over.

Once we were inside, I warmly invited them to sit wherever they liked.

After that, I stopped talking, quietly packing up the fruit I had intended to take up to the thirty-first floor.

My brother, Randy Duarte, dropped his stuff and began wandering around the house, critiquing my decoration as he went.

I pretended not to notice their subtle moves.

Once I was finished, I yawned and said, "Mom, Dad, I've been working overtime, and I'm exhausted. Just feel yourself at home."

Standing by the master bedroom door, I pointed to the side.

"The second bedroom is over there. You can decide how you want to sleep. There are blankets in the closet. I'm going to take a shower and head to bed."

Mom opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but I lowered my eyes and shut the door.

The next day, I deliberately stayed in bed until late morning.

Back at home, I had never realized that my mom was always gaslighting me.

She used to say that girls should learn to do more, to be more responsible, so that one day when they married, their in-laws would respect them.

Because I had grown up with that kind of teaching, I never thought there was anything wrong with it.

So, at home, I was always willing to take on all the chores, taking care of everyone while doting on my brother as well.

By the time I finished washing up and came out, they were already sitting at the table, eating breakfast.

As soon as she saw me, Mom enthusiastically waved me over.

"Alicia, come eat! I made your favorite food.

"And look, I brought this sausage from back home just for you."

I glanced at the table, which was filled with dishes that Randy liked, and said nothing.

I picked up my knife and fork and started devouring the food.

A flicker of surprise crossed my Mom's face.

I laughed coldly to myself. So, she knew all along that I didn't like this food.

She had always known.

But people could change.

In the last life, when food became scarce...

Mom secretly rationed my meals, while I worried they wouldn't have enough to eat.

Every time I barely ate, I would say I was full.

They never bothered to check if I was full. As long as her precious son was well-fed, everything was just fine.

This time, I wasn't going to burn myself out just to keep others warm.

After nearly two months of going hungry, everything tasted good.

And it had been a long time since I had eaten such delicious home-cooked food.

These past two weeks had been so hectic. Whenever I got hungry, I would just grab a piece of bread to get by.

I had only just finished all the work late last night.

Thinking about everything I had stashed away upstairs...

I felt more secure than I ever had before.

Three days passed quickly.

After three days of braving the rain to explore the nearby area, my parents and Randy were stuck inside. They could no longer go out.

Standing on the balcony, Dad took a drag of his cigarette and sighed, "This rain isn't normal. It's been coming down for so long."

Mom, holding the remote, was watching TV.

"I think it's great! It was so hot a few days ago, and now the rain is cooling things down, making it more comfortable.

"Hey, Luka."

Mom sat up straighter, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Forget the weather for now. Don't you think something's been off with our daughter lately?"

Dad snorted coldly, "Who cares? We raised her this long, and what did we get? A thankless child.

"If she doesn't give this apartment to Randy, I'll stop recognizing her as my daughter."

Mom panicked and nervously glanced around. "Hey, lower your voice. Let me think about how to talk to her tonight.

"Fortunately, we've done a good job keeping up appearances."

I sat on the thirty-first floor, feeling a cold emptiness inside.

Through the surveillance feed, I could hear every word they said, crystal clear.

Whatever unrealistic hopes I had disappeared with Dad's words.

That evening, when I got home, we fully settled into our routine of staying indoors.

At dinner, Mom put a shrimp on my plate.

"Alicia, there's something I want to discuss with you."

I looked at her without saying anything.

She seemed a bit embarrassed but pushed on. "Your dad and I, we're not capable enough. Randy's graduated, well, and you know about his girlfriend. She won't marry him without a house.

"So…"

She didn't finish, waiting for me to eagerly give up on the apartment, just like I had in my previous life.

Seeing that I still hadn't responded, Randy lost his patience.

He put down his knife, looking at me with a pleading face. "Alicia, I know you love me the most. You wouldn't just leave me hanging, would you?"

I glanced at him and said, "Mom, when I bought this apartment, you used Randy's girlfriend as an excuse not to contribute a single cent.

"Now I've borrowed money to buy the place, and you're…"

Before I could finish, Dad slammed his knife down with a loud smack.

"You're the elder sister. Why are you being so stingy?"

Dad dropped his pretense. This time they had come intending to pressure me.

He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.

In my last life, I fought back out of frustration, which led to endless struggles afterward.

Thinking of that, I lifted my head. "Dad, don't be annoyed.

"I never said I wouldn't give it to him. I'm so close to my brother. What's mine is his in the end."

After they heard that, I could see the change on their faces.

Mom's previously shifty eyes lit up with a big smile, and she immediately served me with more meat.

My brother beamed, wrapping his arms around mine and babbling about how his sister was the best.

I observed their reactions quietly.

Inwardly, I was cursing my past stupidity.

Dad forced a couple of loud, awkward laughs. "I knew it! Alicia's always loved her brother.

"That thing I said earlier? I was just kidding. Do you think my angry act was convincing?"

I stared at him, my lips curling into a cold smile. "Dad, I was joking with you too."

The corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

For a moment, the table was engulfed in an eerie silence.

I broke into exaggerated laughter. "Dad, this is what you call a joke. Funny, right?

"Don't worry. Randy is my brother, so I'll do everything I can to help him."

Watching their constantly changing expression, I felt a rare sense of satisfaction deep in my heart.