Blurb：
Discover the emotional family drama in this compelling novel about two sisters, Sophie and Emily, navigating their mother's blatant favoritism. When their father suffers a car accident, Emily handles the hospital admissions, insurance payments, and hiring a private aide, while Sophie's simple gesture of paying for a sixty-dollar lunch becomes the center of their mother's praise. This story delves deep into themes of parental bias, financial struggles, and the silent sacrifices of the overlooked child. Perfect for readers who enjoy complex family dynamics, relatable characters like Emily, the responsible older sister, and Sophie, the seemingly more considerate younger sibling. Explore how money, care, and recognition are unfairly distributed in this gripping tale of love and resentment.
Content：
Taking Mom cherry picking, she suddenly spoke up.You know, you can be quite tight with your money.
I looked up, a bit slow on the uptake, staring at her in confusion.
Why would you say that?
You might have money, but sometimes you're really not as considerate as your sister.
Let's be blunt, you're stingy.
Mom emphasized the point, repeating it with clear indignation.
"Sure, you seem generous sometimes, always giving me cash, buying the household essentials, but you've never taken me out for a meal."
"Your sister's different, she always picks up the check."
It suddenly clicked. So that was the issue. That lunch Sophie paid for two weeks ago was still a thorn in Mom's side, unresolved.
Two weeks ago, Dad was suddenly in a car accident, fracturing his arm.
I rushed him to the ER, ran around paying fees, hiring a private aide.
By the time Sophie arrived, I'd pretty much handled everything.
So Sophie treated us to lunch at the diner near the hospital.
Mom's expression turned sour right then. She hinted, not so subtly, "You're the older sister."
Sighing, I resignedly pulled out my wallet. It was just a meal, barely sixty dollars. I really didn't want Mom stewing such a small amount.
But Sophie was quicker. She waved her phone playfully. "Already taken care of!"
Mom was immediately aghast. "Sophie! Where did you get the money? The Uber here alone cost over a hundred! With me here, and your sister, why on earth would you pay?"
Sophie, worried I'd be upset, shot me a quick, apologetic glance with a helpless little smile.
Then she looped her arm through Mom's, coaxing her.
"Mom, it doesn't matter who pays. The hospital deposit, the private aide – wasn't that all Emily? It's only fair I cover the small stuff."
"Once the insurance settles, all that money will be reimbursed anyway. Emily's just fronting it, it's not like she won't get it back," Mom muttered stubbornly.
But in reality, when Mom did receive the insurance settlement, she never paid me back.
That was fine, honestly. Dad was sick, it was only right I contributed. I didn't feel slighted.
What hurt was that Mom kept bringing up that meal Sophie paid for.
"She shouldn't have paid. Her job is so unstable – freelance works is up and down. She can barely support herself."
"Lunch was Sophie's treat. Honestly, Emily, you really lucked out because of your sister."
I spent thousands, Sophie spent sixty, and somehow I was the one benefiting from her?
I was on the verge of snapping back when I saw Dad shaking his head at me.
For the sake of my poor, injured father, I didn't argue at his bedside.
In just one afternoon, Mom managed to tell everyone she knew – via phone calls, in-person chats, video calls – about Sophie paying for lunch.
The whole world knew Sophie had treated.
And me?
I strained to listen, only catching Mom murmuring, "The younger one's just more thoughtful, you know? Knew we were starving and took us right out." Or, "Emily was there all morning, never once thought I might be hungry, didn't even offer to grab me a bagel."
I couldn't take it anymore.
Making an excuse, I turned and left.
Tears streamed down my face.
It wasn't that I hadn't thought she might be hungry, I was simply too swamped to think.
Admissions, tests, payments, dealing with the police report, finding an aide… I hadn't had a moment to breathe.
I've always known Mom played favorites.
In college, she promised Sophie and me each a thousand bucks a month.
But for me, covering textbooks, supplies, food, everything… it was never enough. Sophie always had money left over.
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The End