I once questioned Michael why he felt entitled to make such a decision.


    He replied, “Simply because you’re living and eating under my roof. You won’t be able to repay the


    kindness my family showed you throughout your entire life. It’s just a student exchange spot. How


    dare you yell at me?”


    That day, I sat on the ground dejectedly and felt like an abandoned stray dog.


    Jack wrapped his arms around Eva, the person who stole my spot, and walked toward me. They


    proceeded to trample on me with the cruelest words.


    Eva said, “Stephanie, you’re really worthless. Mike’s affection should only be reserved for my sister,


    not someone as unworthy as you. You’re nothing more than a stain in Mike’s life.”


    Jack kicked me and added, “Mike said the thing he regretted most was having Aunty Lois adopt


    you.”


    I sat there, and my body gradually stiffened.


    “Stephanie, I’ll kill you if you dare breathe a word to Mike,” Jack threatened me.


    “Don’t worry. Even if she did, Mike wouldn’t believe her. Nobody would believe a woman like her.”


    Eva strutted away proudly, holding a bag that Michael had gifted Yasmin. The bag was easily worth


    tens of thousands.


    Michael always imed I owed him and the Fords.


    Throughout these years, my living expenses at the Fords and tuition fees only totaled a few tens of


    thousands. I had a schrship that essentially waived my tuition and covered my living expenses.


    I would rather work night shifts in 24–hour convenience stores than spend any of the Fords‘ money.


    What I owed Michael was nothing more than my parents‘ funeral expenses and the penalty he had


    paid off for my family for not honoring the business contract. The workers werepensated using


    my parents‘ deathpensation and the sale of the house.


    I knew I owed Michael a significant amount of money. Still, even if it was substantial, it couldn’t


    compare to the amount Michael spent on Yasmin, her family, and friends.


    I vividly recall when I fell sick in my junior year. I had encephalitis and fainted on the school field.


    Despite my high fever, Michael insisted that I perform a physical fitness test on behalf of Eva.


    I told him I was suffering from my fever, but he remained persistent. “Stephanie, it won’t kill you to


    1. go.


    I couldn’t argue. I’ve always remembered he said, “Stephanie, you owe me“.


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    I just thought of it as repaying what I owed.


    Lightheaded, I got up from the bed and went to the field.


    That day, I fainted halfway through the half–mile run. My elbows and forehead stung from the


    scrapes.


    The doctor called me crazy and said that I didn’t value my life for attempting a physical test with a


    10% -degree fever.


    Due to this incident, the school discovered that Eva had someone else take her physical test. They


    canceled her qualification for the student exchange program.


    That day, Michael rushed into the hospital ward with a gloomy face. He nearly yanked me off the


    bed.


    “Stephanie, I didn’t know you were so cunning. How could you do this to Yasmin’s sister just


    because she got the spot?”


    He had called me cunning and calcting, but he never once acknowledged my hospitalization due


    to encephalitis.


    My encephalitis almost took half my life. I desperately needed money for the hospital treatment, or I


    would die. However, my living expenses for that month were not sufficient to cover my expensive


    medical bills.


    I had begged Michael to lend me money for the treatment. I promised to repay him after I


    recovered


    and started work.


    However, he only gave me a look of disgust. “Stephanie, you’re still pretending at this point. It’s


    such a waste that you’re not an actress.”


    My head throbbed as I dropped onto the ground.


    “If you want money, fine. Show me what you’re willing to do for money.”


    Michael grabbed my hair and sneered, “What did you exchange in return for asking Jack for money


    before? I have already told you toe to me if you need money. How can you be so dirty?”


    I stared at him nkly and exined, “I didn’t ask him for money.”


    “You’re still making excuses. You’ve been full of lies since you were a child!”


    He pushed me away and leaned against the wall. “Stop acting if you want the money. Leave, I’m


    not interested in having you around.”


    I lowered my head as my tears fell.


    He repeatedly called me dirty and vented his anger on me.


    That night, my fever didn’t go away. I bled from both nostrils and copsed in the hotel bathroom.


    The janitor discovered me the following day and took me to the hospital.


    I could’ve died if it had been any


    Yet Michael never gave me any money. Left with no alternative, I phoned Rachel. She hurried over


    from the hospital.


    She begged her father, who had never supported her ever since her parents‘ divorce, for five


    thousand


    dors.


    Rach and I both sacrificed our dignity, all for the sake of five thousand dors.


    We sharedughter and tears in the ward without uttering a word.


    I knew she was the only one I had.


    On the day of my discharge, I ran into Michael at the hospital. He appeared somewhat fatigued as


    he moved in and out of the inpatient department.