But this was my house. Why should I leave?
"Put my things back in my room and return everything to its original state. I'll pretend this never happened."
Everyone hung their heads, saying nothing.
I laughed indifferently.
My parents always favored Tony, always thinking of him first when it came to good food and fun things.
As a child, being able to eat what he left was already a great privilege for me.
Later, when I started making money in college, they seemed to like me a bit more.
Mary became more affectionate, and Jason would remember what I liked to eat.
I thought those childhood grievances would be soothed.
Now, I was also a child loved by my parents.
But today I realized that they had not changed.
They still favored Tony.
Why were they good to me? Maybe because I could make money, buy houses and cars, and support the family.
To them, I was just a good source of money.
While we were at an impasse, a young girl in a white dress suddenly appeared at the door.
Seventeen or eighteen years old, radiating sunshine.
Mary ran over to open the door and greeted her warmly, "Chloe, you're here. Come in, you must be tired from the trip."
Chloe smiled and said, "Hello, Auntie Brown, it's OK. The train is very fast now."
As Mary warmly took her suitcase and Jessica joined in.
I just watched them. They surrounded the young girl, welcoming her into my room.
I heard Mary say, "This will be your room from now on. Make yourself at home."
Chloe thanked her cheerfully, saying how kind Mary was.
Meanwhile, I stood alone under the scorching sun, unnoticed and unimportant.
In this family, there was no longer a place for me.
They treated a stranger with more warmth than they ever showed me.
I turned and left the house, heading to the bank to print out my transaction records from the past few years.
Every transaction was documented.
I returned home with the statements in hand.
t was evening by then, and they were happily having dinner together.
The moment I walked in, the lively chatter ceased.
When I entered, suddenly there was no sound.
Chloe looked up and said, "This must be Lydia. Come and join us for dinner."
I didn't want to take it out on the innocent, so I replied softly, "I've already eaten."
Then I turned to Jason and Mary.
"Dad, Mom, I just went to the bank and printed out all my transaction records for the past few years.