Mom's expression transformed instantly. She released me and kicked the bank card across the floor.
"Oh, my sweetheart! It's so cold—why are you wearing so little? Get inside!"
Caroline tossed the fruit onto the shoe cabinet without glancing at me and threw herself into Mom's arms.
"Mom, I missed you to death! I came back to spend the New Year with you guys." She gestured behind her. "This is Dylan. He does music—super talented!"
Dylan grinned, flashing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Hello, Auntie. Came in a hurry, didn't bring any gifts. How about I sing you a song?"
I stood in the living room, blood running down my face, gripping the bank card that had been stepped on and cracked. Across the room, the whole family fussed over warmth and cold. No one asked about my injury. No one even looked at the card.
At dinner, Mom kept piling braised pork into Caroline's bowl until it formed a little mountain.
"Eat more. Look how skinny you got out there." She nodded at Dylan. "You too."
Dad opened a bottle of good liquor and clinked glasses with Dylan, his face glowing red as they chatted. In front of me sat only a bowl of white rice. I had to get my own chopsticks from the kitchen.
"Georgia, I heard you're getting engaged?"
Caroline had her mouth stuffed with meat, her eyes circling the cashmere coat on me.
"Colin's pretty generous, right? Have your brother-in-law introduce a rich guy to me too. Or get him to invest in a record for Dylan?"
My grip tightened on the chopsticks.
"He doesn't do charity."
I swallowed the metallic sweetness in my throat.
"And don't call him brother-in-law. We haven't gotten the marriage license yet."
Smack!
Mom's hand slammed the table so hard the soup bowls wobbled.
"How dare you talk to your sister like that? Not even married yet and already acting like some rich lady?"
"Your sister's being genuine! Unlike you—always scheming. People have to watch their backs just talking to you!"
"Yeah, sis."
Carrie curled her lip.
"I said it casually. Your three hundred thousand's still sitting in your pocket, isn't it?"
"What's wrong with buying Dylan some equipment? Your money isn't my money?"
My stomach churned. That three hundred thousand—I'd saved it while taking meds and working overtime. I'd even secretly stopped using the treatment money Colin gave me.
I set down my bowl. My hands trembled as I fumbled a pill bottle out of my pocket.
"Oh, taking your vitamins again?"