"The New Year's Eve dinner? Eighty-eight thousand for the table. I paid for it."
"This villa we're all living in? The deed is in my name."
"And the reason Leo Acevedo is getting into that elite elementary school? My connections. My apartment's school district registration."
"So tell me—who exactly needs to learn about boundaries?"
——
I'd come home for the holiday break with gifts for the whole family, plus a separate eight-thousand-dollar red envelope for my little nephew, Leo.
For New Year's Eve dinner, I'd booked a private chef's table. Eighty-eight thousand dollars for one seating.
The mood at the table had been warm—festive, even—until the plate of sweet-and-sour ribs arrived.
I'd always loved that dish, and I was genuinely hungry, so I helped myself to a couple of extra pieces.
Leo suddenly let out a wail.
"Auntie's mean! She ate all the ribs!"
My father's face darkened.
"Lola, how old are you? Still snatching food from Leo?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "There's still half a plate left. If it's not enough, I'll just order another one."
But my sister-in-law shot me a look from the corner of her eye.