[You have money for gold jewelry. Money for bottle service. But nothing for me?]
[This isn't right. I lent you that money because you were sobbing and desperate.]
This time, the reply came fast—and nastier.
[Sis, come on. Are you seriously stalking my feed now?]
[That chain is for appearances. I need it to close business deals. It's an investment.]
[Besides, you drive a Benz, live in a penthouse downtown, and pull in millions a year. Why are you sweating $50,000?]
[If I had even a tenth of your money, I'd have given you that amount just for fun. I wouldn't even ask for it back.]
When he'd come to me, he'd sworn the bride's family demanded $100,000 in bride price—non-negotiable. No money meant no wedding, and she'd threatened to end the pregnancy.
My uncle's family couldn't scrape together that much. After pooling everything they had, they were still $50,000 short.
My heart softened. Family helps family, I'd thought. I transferred the money without a second thought.
Now I saw it clearly: I was the farmer, and he was the snake.
[Jarvis, that's beside the point. My money doesn't grow on trees either.]
[We agreed on one month. It's been six. If you have money to spend, you have money to pay me back.]
[Don't make me forget we're family.]
His response was a single sticker: "Heh heh."
Then came a voice message. Sixty seconds long.
[Everyone, listen up! This is my loaded cousin—worth millions—and she's threatening her own family over a measly $50,000!]
[Sis, you're really something. If you're not afraid of being the family villain, come and get your money. I've got nothing.]
[Go ahead and sue me! Let's see what the court says. Let's see how our relatives talk about you behind your back!]
Laughter erupted in the background of the recording. A whole crowd, cackling.
A chill ran through me.
This family's values, I thought, are rotten straight down to the roots.
Since he had no shame, I saw no reason to spare his dignity.
This wasn't just about fifty thousand dollars. It was the test Grandpa had laid out before he died.
The old neighborhood was slated for demolition soon. Under the compensation policy, Grandpa's house qualified for eight replacement homes.
He'd transferred the property into my name and left a notarized will—kept secret from everyone else.