Brooke snapped angrily, "Mom, I’m a sentimental person, so I’ve always remembered my father and my brother. But isn’t that what you taught me? You said we should never forget where we come from, and that gratitude is the root of one’s character. Do you really want me to become an ungrateful person?"
"If I forget my father and brother, won’t I eventually forget the kindness you’ve shown me for raising me all these years? The way I treat them now only proves how loyal and filial I’ll be to you in the future!"
I sighed deeply. Brooke had a point—I had taught her those values. Maybe it wasn’t entirely wrong for her to cherish family ties. With that thought, my expression softened.
Sensing her advantage, Brooke pressed on eagerly, "Then hurry up and buy it for me!"
But I still shook my head. "I can’t buy this car for you, sweetheart."
What Brooke didn’t know was that I had already ordered a limited edition Ferrari for her at the start of the year. Based on the timeline, it should arrive in just two days. Since a better car was on the way, there was no need to buy this one.
Brooke’s face fell instantly, her frustration spilling over. She kept asking why, over and over.
After a long, exhausting day, her persistent nagging grated on my already aching head. Annoyed and desperate to end the conversation quickly, I blurted out, "Because… because I don’t have any money. I’m… I’m bankrupt!"
The room fell into an eerie silence. Brooke’s expression froze as if she’d been struck by lightning, and I had to fight the urge to laugh.
After what felt like an eternity, she stammered, "Mom… are you serious? You’re joking, right? That’s not funny. Just tell me the truth."
Determined to keep up the surprise, I stayed in character. "I’m not joking. The economy’s been bad these past couple of years. You’ve seen how I’ve been working non-stop, coming home late, leaving early."
"I’m serious. The company’s bankrupt. The house and the cars… all mortgaged."
Decades in the business world had sharpened my acting skills, and Brooke’s disbelief quickly melted into reluctant acceptance. I expected her, someone who valued family bonds, to encourage me, comfort me, or even promise to stand by my side through tough times.
But I was wrong.
Brooke shoved me aside, her face flushing with rage. "Are you insane? You went bankrupt now—on my birthday? Couldn’t you have gone bankrupt earlier?"
"I’ve already told all my friends and classmates about the grand birthday party I’m throwing. I even bragged about showing up in a luxury car! And now you’re telling me this? Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for me?"
"You’ve ruined everything! How did I end up with a foster mother like you?"
Her words hit me like a slap. I was stunned, completely blindsided. My heart sank. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tried to reason with her gently, "Brooke, don’t be so upset. I can still recover. Over the years, I’ve given you plenty of private savings. If you could just help me out, I—"
Before I could finish, Brooke cut me off sharply. "My money? What money? I already used it to buy a house for my father and brother. Do you think supporting two men is easy?"
Maybe it was my audacity to even ask for money that finally pushed Brooke over the edge. She began pacing back and forth, fuming.
"Of course! My dad and my brother were right all along," she snapped bitterly. "A woman can’t stay rich forever—especially one without a man. It’s only a matter of time before she loses everything."
"If I’d known you’d go bankrupt this soon, I wouldn’t have held back. I should’ve squeezed more money out of you while I still had the chance."
