"Fine, from now on, we are strangers! If I ever get rich, don't expect a single cent from me!" I shouted back, carrying my simple luggage and quickly leaving.
Unexpectedly, Daphne was not pleased with my words. "What are you bragging about? How could you ever get rich? You'll always be a pauper!"
"Yeah, she's ugly and has been to prison; her life is already over!"
"In any case, kicking her out is the smartest thing we've done!"
I heard their words but didn't look back. It was dark when I finally stopped wandering the streets and found a small motel to rest.
I ordered a ten-dollar takeout, reminding myself that I wasn't truly poor and should treat myself better. After getting out of prison, I craved for meat and fish; my stomach had been empty for too long. Thinking it over, I swiped my card to buy two chicken legs from a street vendor.
I reminisced about the past. My grandfather was kind to me, but he passed away when I was ten. My grandmother had also been kind, but only because my grandfather was a good influence. Once my grandfather died, her attitude changed drastically. She even blamed me for his death.
My parents' kindness was all a facade to make me work more around the house. They treated me like free labor. Daphne saw me as a maid and a punching bag.
I was just a coward. I never realized that my parents' true love was reserved for Daphne; their love for their children was selective. I always believed parental love was selfless, but I was wrong. They were just using me.
Now they discarded me like a rag. I was just a tool to them, meant to disappear once my purpose was served.
Fortunately, they didn't know that I was actually wealthy. That rich lady had promised me another ten million dollars next month.
If they ever found out that the daughter they looked down on had already joined the ranks of the wealthy, that she didn't need anyone's approval or support, how would they feel?
Before going to prison, I worked as a waitress in a restaurant. The next day, I returned to that restaurant with a bag containing one million dollars in cash.
The owner didn't discriminate against me; he asked if I wanted a job again. If so, the only position available was washing dishes.
I smiled at him and whispered in his ear that I had ten million dollars! The owner looked stunned for a moment before laughing at me.
"Valentina, did prison mess with your mind?" He thought I was insulting him and didn't appreciate it.
But then I slapped the card down in front of him. "There's an ATM next door; want to come and check out?"
With a look of astonishment on his face, I opened my bag and told him my plan: "I want to buy your restaurant and become the owner!"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Eventually, we settled on eight million dollars for the restaurant. Although it wasn't top-notch, it was in a prime location. The owner agreed to sell it mainly because he wanted to emigrate.
I'm not a chef nor do I know much about management, but I'm willing to learn. With only a middle school education, I studied restaurant sales and management every day.
A month later, business at the restaurant boomed with customers coming in droves.