chapter 6

Screw this!

I bit back my rage, grabbed the piggy bank, and smashed it on the floor.

"Ah!" Bella screamed, covering her ears.

Mom, dad, and Daniel were all startled.

Dad barked, "Zoe! Are you out of your mind? What if you hurt Bella?"

Mom also scolded me, "Bella said the study is just temporary. If you want to move back, of course, we'll fix your room. But if you're not, we can't let it sit there collecting dust."

My eyes burned red. I gritted my teeth and snapped at Daniel, "Where's my money?"

Daniel wouldn't meet my gaze but tried to act tough. "I bought Bella a suitcase. She's going to Montevia in a couple of days. What's the big deal? It's just some lousy cash."

I was about to blow up more, but Bella had already started crying.

"Zoe, please, don't fight. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have joined the study tour.

"We're family. Don't let money ruin us. And don't argue because of me. You came back because you missed Mom and Dad, right?

"Zoe, I'll pay you back soon. If you're still mad, I can leave right now."

Saying that, Bella suddenly had an asthma attack, and her face turned pale.

Daniel dug through her bag for her inhaler and shot me a glare, mocking me. "Happy now, Zoe? You came back and wrecked the house, even made Bella sick. Maybe you shouldn't have come back at all."

I was so angry that I raised my hand to slap him, but Bella jumped in front of him, putting my hand against her face.

"Hit me, Zoe. Just don't hit Daniel. It's all my fault." Her eyes were swollen from crying.

Seeing her sick and struggling, mom and dad's hearts broke.

"That's enough! Zoe, money, money, money—you only care about money. Is this how we've been raising you?" dad shouted, spittle flying.

Mom looked at me, heartbroken. "Zoe, did you forget how good Uncle David was to you? Instead of being grateful, you keep picking on Bella. There's a limit to your nonsense."

"Zoe, you maniac! If you dare touch Bella, I won't let you off." Daniel lunged at me.

Smack—

I slapped Daniel so hard that his lip split.

"Yeah, I really am crazy. I never should have almost lost my life saving you when I was five," I said.

Those words shocked everyone, and Daniel looked like he wanted to chew nails.

"Did I ask you to save me? You just played the hero!" he said.

Dad reproached me, "Listen to yourself! Now you think hitting people is okay? After all the years we raised you, this is what you learned?"

Mom gently touched Daniel's mouth, disappointment written all over her face. "Zoe, will you only be satisfied if you turn this home into chaos forever? Targeting Bella, hitting Daniel—you don't even care about me and your dad anymore, right?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Have I ever made a scene? You said there wasn't enough money to pay my fees, so I came back to get the pocket money I saved myself.

"And Daniel took my money without saying a word and gave it to Bella. Did I make a fuss about it?"

For a moment, mom and dad seemed like someone had choked them, and their eyes flickered with a hint of guilt.

Seeing them move, Bella clutched her chest, looking miserable, eyes red as she stared at me. "Zoe, it's all my fault. Daniel just wanted me to have some fun.

"I know you blame me for stealing mom and dad's love, and that's why you lost your mind and hit Daniel. I'm the outsider in this family; I'm the one who should leave."

With that, she covered her mouth and ran out. Mom, dad, and Daniel hurried after her in a panic, surrounding her and coaxing her, saying that this family couldn't do without her.

I packed my stuff without emotion. As I headed downstairs, mom called out to me. "Stay for dinner before you go. Bella said she wants to make up for your birthday. She baked a cake with me."