“Why doesn’t this child ever want to eat something good? Emily just loves meat.”
“I guess that’s just fate. Emily was born lucky.”
“Sophia was just born to suffer.”
But was that suffering my choice?
Ignoring their colorful faces, I dragged my suitcase out the door.
Their curses were shut behind it.
And I felt nothing but exhilaration.
I thought I could spend the last few days in peace, but the next evening at the hotel, scrolling through videos, I saw my mom again.
This time she wasn’t doing the “Three Glasses of Wine” toast.
Instead, she posted two clips accusing her eldest daughter—me—of terrible behavior in the past two days.
Both went viral.
As a “suffering mother,” she drew endless sympathy, and many urged her to livestream and chat about it.
So there she was, on livestream, speaking passionately.
“We mothers are too forgiving. If I’d known she’d turn out this way, I’d never have given birth to her!”
Beside her, Emily played the role of innocent little angel, handing her water with just the right touch of pity, moving the viewers to tears.
“Good thing you have another daughter, otherwise you’d be heartbroken.”
“Right, if this were ancient times, that eldest daughter would’ve been cast out by family law long ago. How dare she act so arrogantly today?”
The comments flooded in.
Some even dug up my photos, my college, and where I worked.
A few went so far as to find my phone number, sending abusive texts and calling to harass me.
The mother and daughter were delighted, though they acted pitiful, thanking viewers for “standing up for them.”
Just before the livestream ended, a famous influencer entered the room.
“Hello, I’ve got a reality show about families that would be perfect for you. Would you consider coming on so we can talk things through with your eldest daughter?”
“Of course, of course!” Mom said eagerly, nodding nonstop, even suggesting Emily join too.
“In a family, there are no grudges that last overnight. Emily and I have never given up on her!”
After the influencer agreed, they ended the livestream, both thrilled.
Not long after, Mom called me.
“You’ve been out long enough. Come back tomorrow. Your sister landed a show, and you should come see how things are done.”
“To broaden my horizons? Or to let the whole internet condemn me as unfilial?”
I sneered, which only annoyed her more.
“How can you talk to your mother like that? I’m your mom—don’t I have the right to teach you?”