Part 2To Buy A House For My Younger Brother, My Mother Tore Up My Admission Letter

The dining table was laden with all sorts of dishes, the kind I never got to enjoy on a regular day.

"Come on, Emma, here's your favorite pork chop," my parents beamed at me with smiles that sent a chill down my spine, their insincerity palpable.

Although the feast looked plentiful, the priciest dish—a plate of giant shrimp—was directly in front of Jeremy's bowl.

Meanwhile, I faced a greasy pork chop.

"Mom! Dad! Why are you only loading her plate?" Jeremy's voice exploded with fury. I looked up at him, and there he was, his pudgy face twisted with resentment.

"How dare you speak to your sister like that!" Miranda chided Jeremy, then turned to me with a smile that felt more like a plea than a warm gesture. "Emma, you're the older sister. Let's not hold it against Jeremy."

I'd heard that countless times growing up to the point that it was starting to sound like a broken record.

Halfway through the meal, my parents exchanged glances, and finally, they dropped the bombshell.

"Emma, you know that Jeremy just turned eighteen. We're looking to buy him a house, but we don't have any extra cash on hand… Do you remember that wealthy old man from the village? The one you've met at a wedding last time we visited? He wants you as his wife, to bear him some children."

Hearing that, which echoed my past life, I couldn't help but feel a cold smirk curling at the corners of my mouth.

Noticing my silence, Miranda pressed on. "You're an adult now, and this could be a great opportunity. He's loaded, and you'd be set for life! After all we've done for you, it's time to give back."

"How much is the wedding gift?" I asked suddenly.

My parents froze, the persuasive words dying on their lips at my question.

"Three hundred thousand dollars! Just enough for Jeremy's down payment on a house!" Marvin quickly piped up, holding up three fingers.

I fell silent again, choosing my words carefully as I watched their growing urgency.

Jeremy, unable to contain himself, blurted out, "Emma, do you..."

"I'm in," I calmly cut him off, my agreement hanging in the air like a heavyweight.

Jeremy's vulgar remark was halted mid-sentence, his suspicious gaze boring into me.

"Emma, are you sure?" My parents were taken aback, their initial coercion fading into disbelief.

"Yes, Dad, Mom. As the older sister, it's only right that I help Jeremy. Besides, three hundred thousand is a lot of money! Do you know how long you'd have to work to save that up? I'd be foolish not to agree!"

Setting my utensils down, I flashed them a genuine smile, one that was completely laced with mockery.

"What about your college…" Miranda hesitated, clearly flustered.

"Mom, with that kind of money, why would I even need college? Who knows if I'll earn that much after I graduate anyway!" I insisted, firm as steel.

Those moments of uncertainty flickered in my parents' eyes, but they saw nothing but sincerity on my face and felt reassured.

"Ha! I knew you'd come around. See, this is why girls shouldn't waste their time on too much education," Marvin chuckled heartily. "What good is it if you just end up married? Better to grab a rich husband now and make some money to support us."

As he raised his glass in laughter, a grim smile crept onto my lips, hidden from his view.