Mom's eyes lit up instantly, and she rushed over to grab the gift box.
"Yes, yes, yes, come in!"
She tore into the packaging. Inside was a red, diamond-studded toasting dress and a heavy set of gold jewelry.
"Oh my God! This is way too beautiful!"
Caroline cried out, snatching the gold necklace to hold against herself.
"Mom, look! The workmanship, the weight!"
Mom was grinning so wide her face might split.
"Gorgeous! This is what real gold looks like!"
She slipped the bracelet directly onto Caroline's wrist.
"Carrie, this makes your skin look so fair. Perfect as a first-meeting gift!"
My head went boom. I rushed over and grabbed Mom's wrist.
"That's my engagement token! What are you doing?!"
Mom shoved me back.
"What are you yelling for? Your fiancé sent this to show respect to us!"
"Once it comes through this door, it belongs to the Colemans! I'm your mother—what's wrong with giving some to your sister?"
Caroline shielded the bracelet.
"Georgia, you're way too stingy. Colin has so much money—he'll buy you more later."
"So what if I want this one?"
The shove sent my lower back slamming into the table corner. I sucked in air through my teeth.
Three hundred thousand dollars on the floor, completely ignored. But three pieces of gold in my hands? Suddenly family property.
I took a deep breath.
"Everything Colin gives is registered."
"If I'm not wearing this set at the engagement banquet, he'll report it stolen."
"Mom, you don't want Caroline dragged to the police station the moment she gets back, do you?"
Mom's expression shifted. She yanked the bracelet off Caroline's wrist and threw it back in the box.
"Fine, take it! All you ever do is use outsiders to threaten me! Ungrateful brat!"
Caroline stomped her foot.
"Enough!"
Mom shot me a glare.
"It's just some crappy gold anyway. When you marry someone even richer later, you'll make her sick with envy!"
I took the gift box and went back to my room.
Mom's voice followed through the door.
"What a piece of work! Depression? She's just scheming and rotten inside! Who's she putting on this sick act for!"
I slid down against the door, coughing violently. In my palm—a smear of dark red.
I pulled out a utility knife and measured it against my wrist.
Too shallow. Not enough. Wait a little longer.
Three days later, Colin came. He brought gifts and a detailed engagement schedule.
"Uncle, Auntie, I brought bird's nest and cordyceps for you."
He set everything down.
"Georgia hasn't been feeling well lately. Thank you for looking after her."
Mom sat in the main seat and snorted.
"Not feeling well? Rich-person problems. Back when she did farm work, I never heard her complaining about this and that."
Colin's smile faltered. He glanced at me. I kept my head down, twisting the hem of my shirt.
"Hey, brother-in-law!"
Caroline squeezed up beside him and hooked her arm through his.
"I heard you do investments? Check out my Dylan!"
"His singing is amazing. We're all family now—just casually throw in a few million, put out an album?"
Colin pulled his arm free.
"Sorry, I invest in the real economy. I'm not familiar with entertainment."
Caroline's face darkened. She turned to Mom.
"Mom! Did you hear that? Who does he think he is?"
Mom set her teacup down hard.
"Colin, you're about to be family. You won't even help with this little thing?"
"And that three hundred thousand in bride price you gave Georgia—it still hasn't hit our account. Care to explain?"
I jerked my head up.
"What bride price? That three hundred thousand was my—"
"Shut up!"
Mom glared daggers at me, then turned back to Colin, eyes calculating.
"We want another sixty-six thousand as a 'leaving-mother fee.' And it goes directly into my hands."
