Chapter 1When Mom and Dad separated, they made a deal: Dad takes Cassandra, Mom gets me.
So Dad poured everything into my sister—his time, his money, his love.
Whenever I needed anything, he'd brush me off: "Your mom's got you. Go bug her."
But Mom? She had this twisted sense of fairness: "You're both MY kids. Whatever I give you, Cassandra deserves too..."
College hit, and Mom could only spare a few hundred bucks a month to survive.
I was literally drinking water to feel full, skipping classes to work dead-end jobs just to breathe.
But it was NEVER enough.
There I was, crying over exam fees I couldn't afford, when Cassandra's Instagram story slapped me in the face—
Her sweet sixteen: Dad gifted her a month-long European vacation.
And Mom bought her this stunning gold bracelet.
I stared at the receipt in her photo. $6,880.
That same month? Mom had only given me exactly $688 to live on!
$6,880 versus $688. Are you KIDDING me?
I was DONE playing the perfect daughter.
Time to show them what happens when the "good kid" finally snaps!
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Cassandra's perfect little life made me sick to my stomach.
I completely snapped and called Mom, screaming my head off:
"Why the fuck are you spending $6,880 on a bracelet for her when I'm living on $688 a month?"
"Do you have any fucking clue what it's like trying to survive college on pocket change?"
I was seeing red and just went off:
"You're cool with me starving my ass off for months, working like a dog—"
"But god forbid your little princess gets something that costs less?"
"What kind of sick joke of a mother are you..."
I gripped my phone and just broke down sobbing.
I was SO damn tired—
To scrape together living money, I delivered food to classmates, climbing stairs for hours.
While they napped, I was trudging up flight after flight.
My hands and legs would shake uncontrollably at night.
When roommates went out? I NEVER joined.
Even fifty bucks was a week's worth of food for me.
Especially, I was stuck in pre-med—Mom's dream, not mine—constantly buying materials, taking endless exams.
Zero time for fun, zero downtime.
Even study time had to be squeezed in between jobs.
To save money and time, I lived off protein powder—cheap bulk stuff that barely counted as real food!
I thought I was being understanding.
But then she drops six GRAND on some meaningless jewelry for my sister.
I cried and screamed at her.
But Mom just sighed:
"What choice do I have? You're BOTH my flesh and blood. I can't just take care of you and ignore her!"
"You grew up with me—I barely got to raise her!"
"She's turning sixteen, and you're gonna begrudge her a birthday gift?"
Playing the perfect mother card, as usual.
But I was done with Mom's pity party:
"Fine, get her something! But why something so damn expensive?"
"She lives with Dad—she doesn't NEED anything."
I was seething:
"Dad literally said one parent, one kid, and you're still—"
Before I could finish, Mom snapped:
"Just because your dad's a crappy father doesn't mean I have to be a crappy mother too!"
"They're BOTH mine! Why should I raise one and abandon the other?"
"You little brat, how can you be so heartless?"
"I should've taken your sister instead and left you with him!"
That comment made my anger explode:
"Nobody ASKED you to take me! Dad originally wanted ME anyway!"
"YOU'RE the one who left Cassandra with Dad to live the good life while dragging me into this mess!"
Chapter 2
I'm two years older than Cassandra.
When Mom and Dad separated, I was ten, she was eight.
Dad figured I was older, easier to handle, so he wanted to take me.
Mom originally wanted Cassandra too—she was cute, sweet, totally adorable.
But Grandma shut that down:
"How are you gonna work with a little kid?"
"The older one's responsible. She can help with chores, do stuff around the house."
"The little princess can't handle living like that."
So Mom was "forced" to take me instead.
Even though I was heartbroken, I quietly accepted moving from a big house to a tiny room.
I thought even living with Mom, Dad would still take care of me.
WRONG.
Dad cut off my allowance, tutoring, after-school programs—everything.
He said:
"Your mom and I agreed—one kid each. You need something? Ask HER!"
"She wanted equality, right? So why are you coming to me for money?"
He trashed Mom completely. For her sake, I never asked him for another dime!
After moving in with Mom, I tried not to worry her.
While she worked, I handled housework and cooking.
To save money, we ate peanut butter sandwiches and instant ramen every meal. I never complained.
Blazing summer heat, 104°F, our little place had no AC and we couldn't afford the electric bill. I'd lie awake sweating all night.
I accepted ALL of it.
But she HAD money—she was just saving half for Cassandra.
Cassandra already had a full cup, but Mom still wouldn't give me more than half of hers, even as I was dying of thirst.
What kind of sick "fairness" was that?
I completely went off on Mom—
Called her toxic, said she ruined my childhood and college years.
I called her delusional and shameless:
"As if you're even in the same league as Dad."
"What's he pulling in every month compared to your paycheck?"
"Cassandra's living it up like some princess while I'm stuck here as your personal slave, and you seriously don't get how messed up this is?"
I didn't just block her—I posted all over social media, swearing to cut ties completely.
Any relative who tried to play peacekeeper got blocked instantly.
I even applied to drop out.
I was literally starving! I couldn't afford this education!
Word about me dropping out to work reached Dad pretty quickly.
He called.
I blocked and deleted him immediately.
He never took care of me anyway—why keep his contact info?
My professors tried desperately to convince me to stay. I said I'd "think about it" and got a week off.
But I packed up and found a job at a boba shop instead.
Screw that college anyway!
I never wanted to be a doctor in the first place!
My uncles and aunt came to find me, trying to get me back in school.
They "apologized" on Mom's behalf:
"We had a talk with her. She knows she messed up."
"From now on, she'll make sure you can actually eat before buying Cassandra stuff."
I just laughed coldly:
"She's always talking about being 'fair'—let her give me the SAME life Cassandra has!"
"Same parents, but somehow I'm living like trash."
"Dad was gonna choose ME originally..."
That thought made me hate Mom's betrayal even more.
I'D chosen HER. I'D given Cassandra the good life.
But Mom just took it for granted, feeling guilty only about Cassandra she "gave away" to Dad.
I absolutely refused to go back to school, even threatened:
"When my mom's dead and gone, maybe Dad will let me come back and live the good life."
"At least I won't be starving my ass off delivering food just to survive. Then I'll think about going back to college."
I was basically announcing I'd be a total ungrateful brat.
Apparently Mom had a complete breakdown when she heard this.
But I didn't give a damn.
I used to care SO much about her—did she ever care about me?
If she'd just made sure I had enough to EAT before buying Cassandra expensive gifts, I never would've hated her this much.
When Cassandra found out, she actually showed up at the boba shop to start shit with me:
"How could you say that about Mom?"
"Do you have any idea how much I wish I could've lived with her?"
Watching her get all righteous, I grinned:
"Wanna switch?"
"I'll go be Daddy's little princess."
"You can do Mom's chores and be her emotional punching bag, huh?"
Chapter 3
Cassandra's face went rigid:
"I... I..."
She didn't dare give up her cushy lifestyle.
I rolled my eyes and totally ignored her.
After rambling for ages, she finally said:
"Grandma and Grandpa want you home for dinner tonight."
Now THAT'S what I wanted to hear.
That evening, I went back to Dad's side.
Dad wouldn't give me money, sure.
But letting me eat and sleep there.
Sometimes Grandma and Grandpa would have me over for Sunday dinner.
Then at dinner, they'd try getting me to convince Mom to come back.
Before, I respected Mom too much to help with that mess.
But now I just sat there stabbing at my food:
"They've been separated for years. This can't go on forever."
"Either get divorced or end the separation."
Grandma quickly agreed:
"Exactly!"
"Just mention it to your mom."
I chuckled:
"That's Cassandra's job!"
"She's Mom's precious baby—Mom would rather starve me than let her go without birthday presents."
"Mom actually LISTENS to what she says."
"Anything I say goes in one ear and out the other."
Everyone knew exactly WHY I'd "cut ties" with Mom.
This made Cassandra tear up.
Dad slammed the table:
"Quit being such a sarcastic little shit!"
"Your mom starving you is HER screwed-up problem, not Cass's fault."
"Besides, I don't give you money because your mom started this whole 'equality' bullshit, and didn't you support her?!"
"One parent, one kid—Cass takes care of me when I'm old, you take care of your mom. Perfect system!"
"Even if I gave you money, you wouldn't appreciate it. You've always favored your mom since you were little. When you're older, you'll take care of her anyway."
"Might as well put everything into Cass..."
He sounded so reasonable, so logical.
His theory: whoever raises the kid gets taken care of by them.
He wasn't giving me money, but he wasn't expecting me to take care of him either.
If I had issues, blame Mom!
But...
"The logic's totally fair."
"What about feelings though?"
I looked at him:
"Just because I live with Mom doesn't mean I'm not your daughter anymore?"
"You buy Cassandra new phones like it's nothing, designer bags, fancy shit."
"Did it ever cross your mind that even throwing me $200 here and there would save me 20 hours of work?!"
I was full of resentment.
If Dad and Mom had actually gotten divorced, maybe I wouldn't be this bitter.
Divorced couples genuinely don't want to deal with each other's kids.
But that wasn't my parents' situation.
They were only separated because of some stupid fight.
The whole thing started because Mom wanted what other families had—spouses sharing housework and decisions together.
But Dad thought since he was out making the big bucks in business, why shouldn't he get to rest when he got home?
He had money—just hire a maid.
But Mom went ballistic.
Said Dad looked down on her, blah blah blah…
It escalated because Dad said some really nasty stuff.
So a small issue became huge.
And I automatically took Mom's side.
But if they were really committed to splitting up, why not just get divorced?
Why this separation bullshit?
Why make me feel like I didn't have a father?
What I really wanted to know:
"If Cassandra had gone with Mom instead, Dad—would you still not give a damn?"
