Chapter 1My parents had selective hearing. Or maybe they just couldn't hear ME.
I was allergic to grains my whole life. Told my mom a million times.
She still made fried rice every single meal. For my brother.
"Oh, didn't catch that. Just eat what he leaves. You'll be fine."
My brother and I both had high fevers. The doctor gave us two shots.
My dad gave both to my brother.
"Didn't hear you. But you're the older one—you can handle it."
After college, we both lived in shitty basements. Different cities. Same struggle.
My parents took out a loan. Bought my brother a huge apartment.
"We really didn't hear you. It's just an apartment. Don't make it a thing."
I stared at the house papers in his hands.
Just... done.
That's when I learned selective hearing too.
Used to make twenty grand a month. Sent fifteen home.
Now?
I couldn't hear them nagging me to pay the mortgage.
Could only hear my dog when he was hungry.
That fifteen grand? All went to dog food.
This time?
THEY'RE the ones losing their minds.
---
The property deed in my brother's hand.
I stared at it forever.
So damn hurt.
Dad grabbed his phone, pulled Mom and Jaxon in.
"My boy's got a place now!"
He pointed the camera at the deed. All three squished together, big dumb grins.
I just stood there.
Took Dad a sec to even see me.
"Avery, what're you doing?"
He pulled me over.
"Jaxon just graduated. Me and your mom, we're getting old. You're his sister. This mortgage? Yeah, that's on you."
I smiled a little.
The house wasn't mine.
But the mortgage was.
I thought about all the times I'd bitched about my crappy basement leaking.
Every single time, they'd go, "We're old, didn't hear you right."
I kept telling myself to let it slide.
Not anymore.
I pulled out this thick stack of receipts. Slapped them down on the coffee table. One by one.
"Mom, Dad—I paid for this, didn't I? With my money?"
"You never asked. Just took it, bought Jaxon his place. Now I gotta cover his mortgage?"
Nobody said anything.
Then Mom's voice shot up.
"Oh, you wanna talk about what we did for you?"
"You wanted dresses, hair clips, all that crap when you were little! We bought you plenty!"
"Even let you finish college! Didn't make you drop out to help pay bills. Didn't force you to get married at eighteen. What more do you want?"
Dad sighed.
"Avery, your mom's right."
"Jaxon's a guy. No house? No wife. Girls don't need all that."
Jaxon was on the couch, picking his teeth.
"Once money hits their account, it's theirs. Why do you care?"
"You're already a shitty daughter. Now you want their money back?"
All three ganging up on me. I couldn't say anything.
I stared at the receipts on the table.
For years, Mom and Dad rubbed their ears and said work ruined their hearing.
So all through college, two years after—I busted my ass. Delivered food. Washed dishes. Eighty-hour weeks. Three years straight.
Finally saved enough to fix their ears.
Instead? Bought my brother his perfect life.
No point arguing.
I took a breath. Walked out.
The jewelry store downstairs—way too bright.
I had two gold necklaces in my bag. Cost me a whole month's pay.
Last video call, Mom and Dad wouldn't stop talking about Mrs. Henderson next door.
Her gold chain. How they'd never spend money like that.
So I bought these. Was gonna surprise them.
Not anymore.
I told the guy to melt them down. Make a dog tag.
Got home. Hooked it on Biscuit's collar.
He wagged his tail. Licked my hand.
He used to be a stray.
First time I saw him, he was digging through trash for food.
Looking at him, I saw myself as a kid.
So I brought him home.
"Biscuit," I scratched his head. "From now on, my money's all yours."
Chapter 2
Next day I hit the bank. Unlinked every family card.
Pulled out cash. Walked straight to the pet store.
Got Biscuit a designer outfit. Fancy kibble. And a fancy strollers.
I put Biscuit in it. Took a pic of the gold tag.
[My boy's living like royalty. Worth five figures easy.]
Hit post.
Counted in my head.
One, two, three...
My phone exploded.
I picked up. Mom's voice hit me hard.
"Avery! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"We need money and you're spending it on that dog?"
I scratched Biscuit's head.
"Mom, he's my boy. Treats me better than you ever did. Yeah, I'm spoiling him."
Silence. She hung up.
Then Dad called.
"Avery, what's going on? Your brother's got a date. Picked out a three-hundred-dollar suit. Card got declined."
"Send three hundred now. Jaxon gets his bonus, he'll pay you back."
I smiled a little.
My whole life they said they'd pay me back.
Never once did.
I sighed.
"Can't, Dad. Biscuit's got his checkup today. Three hundred."
"Are you out of your mind?" Dad's voice shot up.
"Your brother's date—this could be huge for him! And you're putting a dog first?"
I made a noise.
"I give money to Jaxon, he gets everything. I get zero."
"Give it to Biscuit? He actually wags his tail when he sees me."
"Dad, I know how this works."
Silence. He hung up too.
Five minutes later my phone blew up again.
Family group chat. Relatives blowing up my messages.
"Avery, you trying to kill your parents? Spending on a dog when your brother needs help?"
"That's so selfish!"
"Listen to me—send the money. They're your parents."
I stared at my screen.
Everyone telling me to keep money in the family.
I laughed.
My family's money never went to me.
I typed.
"I earned it. I'll spend it. Not your business."
Sent. Left the group.
Finally quiet.
After that, Mom and Dad blocked me.
Expected.
Before, I would've said sorry and sent money.
Now? Nothing.
If their forgiveness meant being an ATM, I'd take Biscuit over them any day.
Two weeks later they broke first.
Unblocked me. Called morning, noon, night.
I never picked up.
Thought I was done.
Then one day I got home from work. Table full of food.
Mom and Dad came out in aprons, smiling.
"You're stubborn, you know that?"
"It's our birthday. You wouldn't pick up, so we got your landlord to open the door."
"Sit down. We made what you like."
I looked at the food. Frowned.
"What do you want?"
Mom sighed. Handed me a Target bag.
"We're family. You can't stay mad forever."
"Look—got you some new clothes. We good now?"
I froze.
First gift in twenty-two years.
I didn't say anything. Sat down. Ate.
They kept loading up my plate.
I ate it all. Didn't talk.
After dinner I went to my room.
Biscuit came with me. Started pawing at the Target bag.
I let him. He ripped it open.
About to yell. "Biscuit, stop—"
Stopped myself.
Clothes spilled out. Mothball smell hit me.
Threads hanging off everywhere. Clearance sticker half peeled off.
Sale. $12.
I just stood there.
Then laughed.
Of course. Nothing changed.
Chapter 3
A minute later Mom and Dad walked in. Smiling.
"Come downstairs with us."
I didn't argue. Followed them to the jewelry store.
Mom grabbed this thick gold chain. Held it up to my neck.
"Perfect. Honey, pay for it."
Dad made a face.
"Remember? We gave our money to your cousin. Her kid's tuition. We're tapped out."
They played off each other perfectly.
I watched them. Smiled a little.
"Your birthday. My treat."
Their eyes lit up. Stared at my wallet.
Right when the guy's about to ring it up, I said something.
"Actually—melt this. Turn it into bracelets for my dog. Four of them."
Their smiles died.
I pointed at the clearance bin. Those fake crystal necklaces.
Two for $19.99.
"I'll take those. For them."
Mom's face went red.
"Avery, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Gold for a dog and we get dollar-store crap?"
I blinked.
"Mom, it's the thought that counts, right?"
"Plus crystal's lighter. You can put it on, take it off—no hassle."
The calmer I was, the madder she got.
"Avery! We raised you! This is how you treat us?"
"How much more you planning to blow on that dog?"
I thought about it.
"Funny you mention that. I get it now. Kids are expensive."
"Take Biscuit. Got him a custom doghouse. Twenty grand. His leash was only like eighteen hundred."
Dad's eyes went huge.
"That much money? On a dog?"
"We're drowning in mortgage payments! Two houses—"
He stopped.
Too late. I heard it.
They bought my brother a second apartment.
Nobody said anything.
Dad went quiet. After forever, he sighed.
"Avery, it's not like that. The second place... that was supposed to be yours."
"But what if you marry some guy out of state? Place would just sit there."
"Look, help Jaxon with the mortgages. Once they're paid off, we'll get you one."
I almost laughed.
Same old bullshit.
Why would I wait around when I could just buy my own place?
"If Jaxon needs a house so bad, why doesn't he buy it himself?"
Mom lost it.
"He just graduated! How's he supposed to afford that?"
"We buy him a house, he's set! We don't have to worry about him ending up on the street!"
"And it's good for you. You get married, husband kicks you out—at least Jaxon can let you crash there!"
Oh.
So I drop a few hundred grand for the privilege of maybe sleeping on a couch.
If my brother feels like it.
I smiled.
"Why wouldn't I just get a hotel room?"
"But Mom, you're right. Buy your son a house—smart move." I clapped.
Pointed at Biscuit. "You know what? There's this doghouse I want. Seventy, eighty grand. I can cover it."
Mom's face turned purple. Hand shaking. Pointing at me.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Won't help your brother. Won't help us. But you'll spend on a dog? You're a piece of shit."
I looked at her. Felt nothing.
She felt second-place once. Freaked out.
I felt that for twenty-four years.
I smirked.
"Mom, I learned it from you. Taking care of my boy."
"And my doghouse is big. Jaxon needs a place? I'll do what you did. Biscuit can share."
SLAP!
Sharp smack across my face.
Mom pulled back. Grabbed Dad. Walked out.
That was it. Done pretending.
Took me a while to move. Dug my nails into my palm. Used the pain to stand up.
Got home. Held my face the whole way.
Looked in the mirror. Half my face swollen. Looked stupid.
I didn't say anything. Just ran cold water. Splashed it on my face. Over and over.
Then grabbed my phone. Went through my contacts.
Mom. Blocked.
Dad. Blocked.
Jaxon. Blocked.
Let out a breath. Threw my phone on the couch.
No family now.
Finally didn't have to pretend.
