"Forget it, let it go. The child's grown up—don't say such ugly things. Savannah's a good kid; we all know that."

But my mother wouldn't stop. She never did. Not until she'd verbally ripped me to shreds.

"Today is your sister's big day! Everyone's happy—who are you putting on this show for? Or did we offend Your Highness somehow?"

Her tone was lofty, overbearing. Same as always.

I waited for a gap in her tirade. When I spoke, my voice trembled despite my efforts.

"When Lily went abroad, you paid for it. Sold everything to support her. Why did you lie to me? Why did you say you didn't spend a dime?"

Dead silence.

When my mother's voice returned, it was cold as ice.

"So that's what this is about. You were waiting to throw this in my face." She scoffed. "Yes, we paid for your sister's schooling. So what? It's our money. We give it to whoever we want. Since when do you get a vote?"

Rage surged through me. My hand shook.

"For her schooling, you sold the house and the land without hesitation," I choked out. "But when I begged to borrow fifteen hundred dollars—when I offered to write you an IOU—you refused. Said it was impossible."

"We're both your daughters." Tears stung my eyes. "How can you be this biased?"

My vision blurred. It wasn't just the money.

Lily's future matters, but my life is worthless?

What hurt most was the betrayal of Grandma's wishes. Before she passed, she'd said the house would go to Lily, but the land was meant for me. They'd sold my inheritance without a second thought to fund Lily's life.

The phone was snatched away. My father's voice boomed through like thunder.

"Savannah Cox! You dare talk to your elders like this? Did all that education rot your brain?"

"We spent money on your sister because she's been obedient since she was a child! We did it willingly!" He was roaring now. "And look at you—not even married, and you're already calculating your parents' assets? Ungrateful wretch!"

He didn't let me respond.

"I'm telling you now: it's our money. We give it to whoever we please. You, Savannah Cox, don't get a say. Not one bit!"

Arguments lose their meaning when the bond is already severed.

I didn't think I could be this calm. My voice remained steady, devoid of the tremors wrecking my insides.