“Why not?” Ethan snapped, slamming his hand on the table. “It’s just a bag! You make so much money every month, why can’t you buy one?”
It was laughable. I smirked, “I’m just not buying it.”
With that, I got up and headed back to my room. Just before I closed the door, I could still hear him grumbling, “Look at her! It’s my birthday, and she’s being so stingy!”
Lilith was whispering something too, shooting me a glance as she spoke.
I ignored them, feeling a deep sense of disappointment. These people—this is the family I’ve always longed to be close to.
But now that fate’s given me a second chance, I’m not going to let their schemes get the best of me.
Not long after, my mom came in with a plate of watermelon, practically pushing it at me, eager for me to eat.
I didn’t move. Instead, I looked at her and said calmly, “Did Ethan put you up to this?”
She looked a bit flustered, probably ready with some excuse, but I cut her off. “I already told him I’m not buying it. They’re only twenty—what do they need with a $10,000 bag? I don’t even spend that much on mine.”
“Tell him it’s not happening.”
“Why won’t you buy it for me?”
Ethan suddenly barged in, pointing at me accusingly. “Claire, with that attitude, do you really think I’m going to take care of you when you’re old? If you’re too stingy to drop sixty grand, you’re just setting yourself up for a lonely death. Let’s see who’s going to be there for you!”
“Who said I’m counting on you to look after me?” I replied, my voice icy. “Just because I don’t plan on getting married doesn’t mean I don’t want kids. I’d rather spend my money raising my own children than waste it on you.”
My mom was taken aback. “Who are you going to have kids with?”
“Adoption. I don’t need to give birth myself,” I said. “There are plenty of kids in the system who need a home. I’ll have plenty of choices.”
“That’s ridiculous!” My mom snapped, getting worked up. “Those kids aren’t even related to you!”
“If I raise them, they’re mine,” I said, locking eyes with Ethan. “Better than relying on an ungrateful brat like him.”
“They’re not your blood! What kind of nonsense is this?” My mom fumed. “We should spend our money on family, not waste it on strangers! You’ve got plenty of cash, why throw it away on other people’s kids?”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll move out.”