To surprise my adopted daughter on her birthday, I pretended to reject her request for a luxury car as a gift.
Jokingly, I told her that my company had gone bankrupt, and she would no longer be able to live the life of a rich lady.
I expected her to reassure me, to say we'd face difficulties together.
But instead, her expression changed the moment she realized I wasn’t joking.
"Are you crazy? Why did you have to go bankrupt on my birthday?
If you were going to fail anyway, couldn’t you have picked another day?"
"My biological parents were right. A woman like you was never meant to stay rich forever."
Before I could even react, she pulled out a termination agreement she had prepared in advance.
Looking at her flushed, angry face, I felt my heart grow cold.
Without a word, I signed the papers.
Once the formalities were done, I turned around and bought a luxury car worth tens of millions—right in front of her.
As she stood there, stunned and confused, I simply smiled.
"Do you like it? This was supposed to be your gift."
——
The moment I got home, exhausted and barely able to catch my breath, my adopted daughter, Brooke Stone, ran up to me, grinning and holding a tablet.
"Mom! You’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for hours. I’m so sleepy."
Despite my fatigue, I forced a smile. "Why are you still up so late?"
Ignoring my question, she eagerly showed me the tablet.
"Mom, you know my birthday is in a week. You’re always busy, so I figured you’d forget to buy me a gift.
I picked it out myself—now you just have to pay!
Aren’t I considerate?"
I followed her gaze to the screen.
A pink Maserati.
Three million. Not expensive for me.
Before, I would have agreed without hesitation. But this time, I paused.
"You already have a sports car and a sedan. Why do you need another one?"
For the first time, I refused her request.
Her expression darkened immediately.
"Why are you being so stingy? It’s only three million! That’s nothing for you!"
"You’re right," she scoffed. "You bought me two cars. But I already gave them to my dad and brother ages ago.
I don’t have a car anymore."
I had always known she stayed in touch with her biological father and brother, but I never imagined she would give away the gifts I bought her.
My expression turned cold.
But Brooke acted as if she didn’t notice and continued, "My dad is a man—he can’t just take taxis everywhere, right?"
"And my brother became an adult last year.
Like his sister, it was my duty to get him a coming-of-age gift.
Wouldn’t I be heartless if I didn’t?"
"You just don’t understand how the world works.
Sure, you adopted me, but my dad and brother are my real family—
my blood ties. And yet, despite all your wealth,
you didn’t give them anything.
So, of course, I had to step up."
Her voice trembled, as if she was the one being wronged.
I didn’t comfort her. Instead, I asked coldly, "So, adopting you means I have to support your entire family?
Your lazy, gambling father and your unemployed brother—am I supposed to provide for them, too?"
Brooke flinched, guilt flashing across her face.
But then, she turned defiant.
"Mom, what are you even saying?" she snapped.
"That’s my dad. My real dad.
Blood is thicker than water.
You expect me to be like you?
Alone, without family or friends, just because you’re an orphan?
You’ve never been married.
You don’t have children of your own.
You wouldn’t understand."
I was furious.
Before I could say another word, she turned away.
