Willow's voice filled the room—that fake, sugary tone she used whenever she wanted something.
"...Oh, Ella, just cancel the ticket! Cancel it!"
"Why waste money on the high-speed rail? Money's tight—save where you can!"
"Just ride with your uncle. One straight shot, way faster than the train!"
"We're family, don't be formal. It's convenient anyway. We'll pick you up right at the school gate!"
"...What? Worried about traffic? Don't be silly!"
"We'll leave off-peak. Smooth sailing, I promise! Just listen to your auntie—refund the ticket!"
The recording ended. The silence that followed hit harder than any accusation.
Dad turned on Victor. "Well? Did the kid make this up too?"
Victor's mouth opened. Nothing came out. His face went white, then flushed deep red. Sweat beaded at his temples. He couldn't meet anyone's eyes.
"Fine. Let's say Ella wasn't clear about the arrangement," Mom said, her voice ice. "What about the delay? She said you stopped to buy a bag. True or false?"
"No! Of course not!"
Willow denied it instantly, but her eyes darted around the room. Her confidence was cracking.
"She's guessing! The traffic was from an accident. Bad luck. Just a coincidence..."
I kept my voice level. "Guessing? Check the dashcam. Or show us the receipt for that bag. The timestamp won't lie."
Willow choked on her words. Her face turned a blotchy purple.
Victor snapped his head up, glaring at me—embarrassment and rage mixed together. The look of a man whose last dignity had just been stripped away.
Dad pointed a shaking finger at Willow. "Do you have no shame? Lying through your teeth to scam a child? She earned that scholarship penny by penny, staying up all night studying! And you try to steal it?"
Mom's eyes were red—not with tears. With fury.
"Victor, I am your biological sister!"
"Have I ever shortchanged you? When you were in school and we were struggling, I sent you half my paycheck just for living expenses!"
"When you bought your house, Logan and I gave you eighty thousand. Did we ask for a promissory note? No!"
"What did we want from you? Nothing! We just thought family should look out for each other."
She turned her glare on Willow. "And you. When you broke your leg, who took care of you for a month?"
"When your mother needed surgery, who contacted the hospital? Who fronted the medical bills?"
"We did it because we're family. Never asked for a cent back!"
"And this is how you repay us? Extorting a thousand dollars from my daughter? Making up fees for gas and wear-and-tear?"
"Where is your conscience?"
The words cut through the air like knives.
Victor's neck veins bulged—humiliation and anger fighting for control. But Willow tore off the mask completely.
"Why bring up ancient history?" she shrieked. "That was then! One thing has nothing to do with the other!"
"Even brothers keep clear accounts!"
"Doesn't driving burn gas? Aren't tolls money? Isn't wear on the car costing us? Is our time worthless?"
"Why should we give her a ride for free?"
"What's wrong with a thousand dollars? If you ask me, we got the short end!"
