10
It was a big day for “our” family.
Janet’s fortieth birthday.
She was much younger than my dad. Met him at eighteen, had Sarah at twenty, hidden
away in his love nest.
This was Janet’s first birthday since moving in. My dad was going all out. Promised her a
huge party.
I rolled my eyes.
く
nuyu
I rolled my eyes.
A pair of tacky lovebirds.
He’d showered my mom with gifts, two birthday parties a year, one for her American
birthday, one for her Chinese birthday.
Anything to keep her family happy.
Standard operating procedure for charming a
woman.
I didn’t want to go, but Janet and Sarah had worked their magic. My dad ordered me to
attend, to give “Aunt Janet” my best wishes.
L
Aunt Janet.
I almost threw up.
I agreed. I had a gift in mind. My dad was
right.
It was a birthday. I had to celebrate. With a
bang.
The party was packed with Janet’s family.
Too bad they hadn’t upgraded along with her.
Loud. Tacky. Obnoxious.
L
Not that I was prejudiced. It was just a fact.
They were decked out in new, expensive
clothes, strutting around like… well, like the
roosters my grandma used to keep.
I found a quiet corner with a drink.
The peace didn’t last.
Sarah appeared with a heavily made–up
woman. I squinted. One of Sarah’s cousins, I
think.
They both wore designer dresses, looking
down their noses at me.
<
“Olivia, wow, you’ve really let yourself go.
That dress is tragic.”
The cousin sneered, covering her mouth with
a perfectly manicured hand.
Sarah joined in, twisting the knife, “Seriously,
it’s embarrassing. If you can’t afford something decent, just ask. I have a couple of
dresses I don’t wear anymore.”
11
She leaned closer, scrutinizing me.
“No makeup either?” She smiled, loud enough for nearby guests to hear, “I’ll have someone send you some of my old lipsticks and stuff. Don’t be shy. It’s all practically new.”
く
Sarah was determined to humiliate me.
She wasn’t worried about looking like the
wicked stepmother. Everyone here was either
Janet’s family, or my dad’s business
associates.
She wanted to use me as a stepping stone to
social acceptance.
Too bad Sarah had terrible taste in targets.
She kept striking out with Ethan. She wasn’t going to win with me either.
I took a sip of my wine, then replied calmly,
く
“No thanks. I don’t use cheap makeup. It
breaks me out.”
“And…”
“You’re right, sis. This dress is cheap. Got it at a thrift store, two for fifty bucks. This party hardly deserves anything from my closet.”
I tugged at the hem of my dress, smiling sweetly. “Cheap dress for a cheap birthday party. Perfect match.”
Not a shout, but loud enough for the
onlookers to hear.
<
Sarah and her cousin were speechless, their
faces turning an interesting shade of green.
They stalked off, muttering.
I grinned, finishing my wine.
Round one to me.
But the main event was yet to come, little sis.
