e. Right there, waiting at the foot of the stairs, was a small, old lu

r grandfather greeted coldly, "hand over al

nmoving. She couldn't

m over, it would be the end. No mor

seless," her grandfather snapped. "I've

utched her designer handbag tighter-like her new-

hese are mine!" she crie

om her grip. "You can't do this! I need my credit car

Amara couldn't tell if he had gone dea

g all her passbooks and cards. He even took her wallet-down

e off?" she wailed. "Mom, please! D

wept silently,

u think forcing me to live some tragic, p

e. I believe this bank account is legally yours. I won't take it. From now on, you'll get nothing else f

ouse staff to carry he

It's a holiday-every luxury place is probably booked! And this-this won't eve

help but whine in a bratty tone, wav

r just stared a

ally spoke up-without

stand the value of money until you earn it.

ent. Her eyes begged fo

father added sharply. "Be thankful your mother insisted on

e maid, who would now

her turned an

said another word. They

e screamed. "I can't belie

My. Go

'd been staring blankly at the

ign on the

CEPT BO

ed. "This place is made of bricks and dus

mmediately cringed at the g

ously. "But we need to go inside now. I'll hel

er eyes and poi

. I'm not touching those rusty

gh, the ma

least ten people were scattered about-guys and girls, some pretending to study,

aned in

.. Amara Channel Arag

, nearly jumping when a h

Is that r

n threw her arms

a gri

about! What a beautiful young lady. Hello, sweethe

amed and offe

s contagious. She forced a pla

ve a mother,"

, I mean I'll be like your second mo

t to plug her ears. Still, it

u're here," Mama Sel said. "Help each

other smile, but it turn

lease don't be

nyone around me. I'm not here to make friends with anyone in this... place-if y

mmanding tone, she said someth

. I'll pay yo

ed with

kwardly, scratching her head. "She's just being chee

he girl shot back. "You can't sta

aze subtly sweeping the

your 'niece,' but here's the truth-you don't look good, you're old, and honestly, you sme

sed. "Your grandfather instructed us not to obey you. He ev

you're useless,

we should at least

lready? Is it clean? I'm allergic to dust, so

erself earlier. The older woman paused for a moment, clearly taken aback by

ing called down by her maid when the table was already set. But things w

herself. One of the other tenants even men

h...

how to hold a dam

others with a generous amount of money to cook and serve h

store. She was sure it used to belong to one of the maids, and her grandfather had forced her to wear it b

ated sigh and looked do

15

all that

burned through everything in just three days

was she suppo

self-pity, Amara couldn't h

she whispered to herself, then collapsed ont