Chapter 1Every month Dad sends my brother Jasper $10,000 for college through me, but when he comes home, he's skin and bones.
"My sister only gives me $1,000 a month. It's not enough! My phone's broken and I can't even afford to fix it!"
I'm stunned. Pull out my transfer history to show him.
"$10,000 every month. I sent it ALL. Where's the other $9,000??"
He whips out his phone. Shows his monthly deposits—
Really only $1,000 available.
Mom and Dad instantly start yelling at me.
"You pocketed all that money?!"
"Spending your brother's living expenses on yourself—you have no shame!"
But I'm the only one who catches something on his phone.
"Mom, Dad, I know where that nine thousand went."
"You need to ask your precious son about it."
...
After Jasper got into college, we had a deal.
Dad sends ten grand to my account every month.
I load it all onto Jasper's card.
I did it every month. Not a dollar missing.
Then one day, I'm at the coffee table working on project files when the door slams open.
Jasper storms in looking pissed.
Throws his backpack down.
"This sucks!"
"A thousand bucks a month. I'm starving at school!"
I look up, totally confused.
I send ten grand every month.
Why's he saying he only gets a thousand?
When I don't stop working, Jasper comes over and squats next to me.
"Sis, my phone's dead. Give me a few thousand for a new one."
I frown.
"It's only the seventh. I just sent you ten grand. A few thousand for a phone should be fine."
Jasper jumps up and glares at me.
"Bullshit! I only get a thousand every month!"
"Wait—are you stealing my money?"
I'm trying to fix this document. Don't have time for this.
"I don't have time for your drama. I sent the money."
He looks at my desk and freezes.
"You got a new laptop?"
I nod. "The old one died. Had to replace it."
Jasper's face goes dark. "You've got money for a laptop but won't buy me a phone?"
I don't look up.
"I don't have money. I sent all your living expenses. You want my money? Not happening."
Jasper loses it. His eyes go crazy.
He swipes his arm across my desk.
BANG!
The laptop crashes to the floor.
Screen goes black.
"Why do you have such an expensive laptop?"
"You stole my money—you're living good on MY dime!"
I freeze.
My heart drops.
The file wasn't saved!
I grab the laptop. My hands even shake.
"Are you insane? I NEED that file!"
Mom was resting in her room.
She comes charging out. Doesn't ask what happened—just screams at me.
"Your brother's finally home and you pick a fight."
"Wren, what is wrong with you?"
Same thing every time.
Never asks questions. Always blames me first.
I'm furious and hurt. I point at the broken laptop on the floor.
"Your son smashed my laptop. Destroyed my file. And it's still my fault?"
Mom knows how important this file is. Her face changes.
She turns to Jasper.
"Why'd you mess with her stuff?"
Jasper doesn't care. He yells even louder.
"I only get a thousand bucks a month! She's stealing the rest."
"And she bought that laptop with MY money!"
"I did NOT!" I snap back.
Mom hesitates.
"Your sister does send you ten grand every month."
"And I went with her to buy that laptop—she paid cash."
"She didn't touch your money."
That one fair comment sets Jasper off.
"Right! Poor me!"
"I can barely eat one meal a day at school, can't pay for course materials, everyone laughs at me!"
"But can you guarantee that laptop wasn't bought with my money?"
"Because I know it was!"
He storms back to his room and slams the door.
"I bought it with MY OWN money! BRAT!"
I shout at his door.
Crashing sounds come from inside.
Jasper's tearing his room apart.
Chapter 2
Behind me, Mom starts her lecture.
"Jasper never lies. Did you steal his money or not? You have no shame."
"I didn't!"
But Mom's not listening.
She grabs her phone and calls Dad.
My chest feels tight.
I pick up the scattered papers from the floor.
Dad calls me back within minutes.
The second I answer, he goes off.
"Wren, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"You make your own money and you're still stealing from your brother—do you have no shame?"
"I'm warning you—give him back every cent."
"If I hear you didn't, I'm coming home tomorrow and we're dealing with this!"
"Dad, I really didn't—"
He hangs up before I finish.
I'm about to call back when Grandma calls.
"Jasper told me you stole his money. Give it back. Or you're not my granddaughter anymore."
"Grandma—"
Beep.
She hangs up too.
All the hurt crashes down.
My eyes burn.
I didn't do anything wrong, but no one will listen.
"Tch. Nice act."
Jasper's leaning against his door now.
Looking at me with pure mockery.
"Didn't cry when you were spending my money, did you? Serves you right."
Mom comes out of the kitchen.
"Raising you all these years—we raised an ungrateful brat."
Their accusations crush my last bit of patience.
I don't bother explaining.
I grab the broken laptop and leave.
Right now I don't care about anything except fixing this computer and saving my job.
The repair drains most of my savings.
By the time I get home, it's dark.
The family already ate.
The kitchen's empty—not a scrap of food left for me.
I make instant ramen. Then I start recovering the files.
I work until midnight.
Finally salvage everything and send it to my boss.
My nerves relax. I check my phone. My blood runs cold.
Dad sent a bunch of messages.
Says since I won't pay Jasper back, I better wait—he'll deal with me when he gets home.
Attached are screenshots Jasper sent him.
The images are clear.
Every month, only a thousand dollars in transactions.
I type back: "I didn't take his money. I'm not paying anything back."
I hit send.
A red exclamation mark pops up.
I've been blocked.
I'm stunned.
I send ten grand every month.
But Jasper's card really only has a thousand dollars.
Where'd the other nine thousand go?
The more I think, the weirder it gets.
Maybe the screenshots are fake.
I debate with myself. Then I message Jasper's advisor.
"Hi, I'm Jasper's sister. He said he's not getting enough food at school—is that true?"
The advisor replies right away.
Sounds concerned.
"Honestly, yes—Jasper's struggling."
"He often only eats one meal a day."
"Sometimes after paying for materials, he doesn't eat at all."
"He's still growing, and college costs money. Your family really needs to send more."
So Jasper wasn't lying.
Every month, he really does only have a thousand dollars.
But every month, the ten grand I send is real.
The contradiction sits heavy in my chest. I can't figure it out.
I open a video app and scroll mindlessly.
Then one video pops up. My eyes go wide.
I finally know where the ten grand goes—and why Jasper only has a thousand.
Chapter 3
Next morning at breakfast, I keep my emotions in check.
Sit down at the table in silence.
Try to figure out how to bring this up.
Jasper starts his crap.
"Some people stole my money and still sit here eating."
I grip my spoon tighter.
"I didn't take your—"
Before I finish, Mom snatches the bowl out of my hands.
Dumps it straight into the trash bin.
Her face is full of disgust.
"You stole your brother's money and you still eat my food? Shameless."
Suddenly, all my anger explodes.
"I told you I didn't! I have screenshots of every deposit—Dad saw them all. I'll show you!"
I reach for my phone.
Jasper's watching with total mockery.
"Who's gonna believe you? Those are fake."
I'm moving too fast. My car keys slip out and hit the floor.
My stomach drops. I bend down.
But Jasper's faster. He grabs them first.
He stares at the keys. Eyes light up. Whips around to Mom.
"Mom! When did she buy a car? Where'd she get the money? She used my money!"
Mom slams her hand on the table.
"Wren! Using your brother's money to buy a car—unbelievable!"
I'm frantic. Reach for the keys.
"No! This is my boss's car."
"The company was busy last month and he lent it to me. It's not mine!"
Jasper holds the keys tight and dodges. Won't give them back.
"You bought it with my money!"
I'm losing it. Almost shouting.
"Your monthly allowance couldn't even buy a car—give it back!"
Then someone yanks my arm from behind.
SLAP!
A sharp slap lands across my face.
The burning spreads across my cheek.
I freeze.
I look up. Dad's standing next to me. Face like thunder.
Jasper runs over to Dad right away.
"Dad, she stole my money to buy a car."
"She even said the money you give me every month is too little—not enough to buy a decent car."
I'm holding my burning cheek.
"That's a lie—that's not what I meant!"
Mom's face lights up.
"No wonder you've been coming home right after work. You secretly bought a car."
I feel like I'm suffocating.
"I've said it a million times—my boss lent this to me. I didn't buy it!"
Dad doesn't believe me.
"Keep lying. No point anymore."
"Since you bought this car with your brother's money, the car goes to your brother."
Jasper's face explodes with joy.
He clutches the keys tight. Grinning.
"Yes! Thanks, Mom and Dad!"
He turns to me. Smug. Waves the keys in my face.
"Thanks, sis! Thanks for the car!"
I clench my jaw. Stare coldly at the three of them.
I know right now, they're beyond reason.
I force down my anger and tell myself: once they calm down, I'll explain everything.
That afternoon, Grandma shows up with a bag.
She steps through the door—shoes still on—and starts screaming.
"You heartless girl! Stealing from my grandson—do you have conscience?"
My lips press tight.
I don't bother defending myself anymore.
Jasper rushes over. Retells the whole thing with extra drama.
Grandma listens. Face full of sympathy.
Pulls a thick envelope from her pocket. Stuffs it into Jasper's hands.
"My sweet boy. I'm so sorry."
"Here's some money I saved up. Take it."
Grandma doesn't give me a single kind look.
Jasper holds the envelope and jangles the car keys. Looking excited.
"Perfect. Now that I got a car, I'm taking everyone out for dinner!"
I have no choice. Follow the family into the borrowed car.
Jasper grips the steering wheel. Face glowing.
We park in front of a restaurant. Everyone gets out.
The second we're standing there, I hear familiar voices laughing nearby.
It's some of Jasper's classmates.
