Dad, beaming, agreed and gave the servant a
bonus. The others immediately started vying for
my attention, offering all sorts of favors.
I didn’t know what had caused Dad’s change of
heart. But I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. If he reverted to his old ways, I’d
leave. For now, I’d enjoy the ride.
Tiffany stayed in her room all morning, skipping
breakfast.
Dad joined me for breakfast, asking if there
was anything else I wanted.
I shook my head, happily munching on a pork
bun.
Mom came in, giving me a cold look before
σ
<
murmuring to Dad, “You were too harsh on
Tiffany yesterday. She cried all night. Her eyes
are swollen.”
Dad placed a bowl of chicken soup in front of
me, telling me to eat it with the buns. Then he
frowned at Mom. “You need to understand,
Ashley is our real daughter. She shares our
blood. I know you’re closer to Tiffany, and I
don’t expect you to suddenly favor Ashley, but
at least be fair.”
“I’ve always been fair! All the kids get the same allowance,” Mom protested. Then she changed the subject. “Fine, you don’t care about Tiffany, but you should care about your son. Ethan’s been in his room since dinner last night.”
Dad waved her away dismissively. “Aren’t you his mother? Go check on him. I want to have
breakfast with my daughter.”
Mom: “…”
<
After breakfast, Dad offered to drive me to
school himself. Tiffany finally emerged,
dragging a suitcase, tears staining her face.
Mom rushed to her, ordering a servant to take
the suitcase and fussing over her.
Tiffany mumbled that she wasn’t hungry, then
looked up, tears threatening to spill again. Until
she saw Dad pull out a black, unlimited credit
card.
Her tears vanished instantly, replaced by a
sweet smile. “Daddy, I have enough allowance,
but since it’s from you, I’ll take it. Thank you,
Daddy. I’ll use it wisely.” She reached for the
card.
Dad handed it to me.
Tiffany was shocked, then furious. “Dad?!”
Dad frowned. “You said you had enough
allowance. Why do you need the card?”
Tiffany: “…”
Mom, after the morning’s events, was more
composed, but still disapproved. “Honey,
Ashley’s never used a card like this. She’s a
student, and she gets a good allowance. She
doesn’t need it.”
Dad pressed the card into my hand. “That’s
precisely why she needs to learn. Ashley’s
seventeen. She needs money for books, clothes,
bags, watches, everything! Of course she needs
it!”
Tiffany stared at the card in my hand, her eyes
burning with jealousy. I saw her fists clench,
and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of
satisfaction.
I obediently took the card.
As we were about to leave, Mom’s panicked
cries echoed through the house. “Ethan! Ethan, what’s wrong? Wake up! Don’t scare Mommy…”
Ethan had apparently passed out in his sleep.
Dad, unable to leave, instructed the senior chauffeur to drive me. Tiffany, fuming, left in a separate car.
I had the driver drop me off at the bank. With Dad’s card, I was treated like royalty. In under ten minutes, I had $5,000 in cash tucked into my backpack.
Back in the car, I pulled out the class directory and found Jake Riley’s number. Jake was the school’s resident bad boy, fearless in a fight, even more ruthless than Tiffany’s crew. They were all terrified of him. He’d helped me once before when I was being bullied, and they
hadn’t messed with me in front of him again, though they’d gotten worse behind closed
doors.
<
I called Jake. “It’s Ashley Miller. I need a
bodyguard. Meet me at the school gate. I’ll pay
you a thousand dollars.”
Jake was always broke. I figured I was right.
“Deal,” he said instantly.
I hesitated. “Will you…hit girls? And…will you go into the girls‘ bathroom?”
Jake chuckled. “If my client says so, I’ll do it.”
Tiffany’s posse was waiting at the school gates. Last time, I’d been too self–conscious, hiding behind my hair, head down, shoulders slumped. This time, my hair was in a high ponytail, my
face clear for all to see. I walked tall.
They smirked, following me.
I spotted a lean, tall figure striding towards me from one of the buildings. My anxiety eased,
<
Near the bathrooms, the biggest girl grabbed
my shoulder. They shoved me inside, blocking
the view from passersby. A few girls inside
screamed and ran out.
They demanded Dad’s credit card. I didn’t
answer. They grabbed my backpack and tried
to shove my face into a toilet.
Then Jake walked in.
84
He was a whirlwind, his long legs taking down
several girls in seconds. He grabbed the
ringleader and pummeled her until her nose and
mouth were bleeding.
