Chapter 4
Next day, my phone chimed.
Transfer complete: three hundred thousand dollars.
Not a penny less.
Absolutely all came from my Mom.
With that card in hand, I walked into the Fifth Avenue.
Replaced every cheap piece of clothing in my closet, and shed the skin of River Holloway who lived on eight hundred bucks a month.
Then I called Mom’s assistant.
“That Porsche Cayenne my mom got me for my eighteenth birthday-where are the ownership papers and purchase documents?”
The assistant’s voice was crisp and efficient:
“Ms. Holloway, all documents are ready. I can have them delivered anytime.”
“Is now okay too?”
DING-
With a message notification sound, the voice on the other end said calmly:
“Of course, I’ve already sent it to you.”
God! So efficient!!
I immediately found a place to print it out and put it in a folder.
Evidence in hand, time for the next step.
I headed straight my old home, that small village.
Didn’t tell anyone I was coming.
The bus stopped at the village entrance.
From a distance, I spotted that flashy white Porsche Cayenne.
My smug cousin was leaning against the driver’s door, bragging to a group of young guys.
“My uncle hooked this up! This ride’s the only one like it in the whole county!”
Pure vanity painted across his face, surrounded by envy and ass-kissing.
I clicked across the pavement in my heels, step by step.
Every eye turned to me.
My cousin’s grin froze instantly.
I stopped in front of him and smiled.
“Hey cuz, how’s my car handling?”
His face went ghost-white.
Next second, he started screeching:
“What the hell are you talking about! Dad bought this for me! Don’t come here acting psycho, you broke-ass loser!”
“Broke-ass?”
I repeated those words, mouth twitching.
Uncle Mason and Dad came running when they heard the commotion.
When Dad saw me, his face turned ugly as hell.
“River Holloway! Have you lost your damn mind! What kind of bullshit are you spouting! Get your ass home right now!”
He reached out to grab me.
I stepped back, dodging him.
Pulled the documents from my Hermès bag and waved them in front of his face.
“Dad, didn’t you always say Mom favored boys over girls? Said she looked down on me, wished I’d just die somewhere far away?”
“If she hates me so much, why would she give me such an expensive car for my birthday?”
More and more neighbors gathered around, pointing and whispering.
Dad’s lips trembled-couldn’t get a word out.
Uncle Mason tried to bluff:
“You… that’s fake! River, you’re young, don’t let people trick you!”
“Oh really?”
Right in front of everyone, I dialed 911.
“Hello, officers? I need to report a crime.”
“My car was stolen. I found it in Millfield Village, and the thief is right here.”
“License plate number is…”
Dad and Uncle Mason instantly lost their shit.
“River Holloway, you little beast!”
“River! Stop! Let’s talk this through! We’re family!”
I ignored them.
While the whole village watched the show, the cops arrived.
Documents verified, evidence solid.
My cousin hung his head, becoming the village’s biggest joke.
Grandma charged out from the crowd, pointing at my nose and screaming:
“You ungrateful little wolf! You’re cursed! How did the Holloway family raise something like you!”
“Your father suffered so much for you! Do you want to destroy our whole family before you’re satisfied!”
I looked at her face, twisted with rage, my heart turning to ice.
So in their eyes, Dad scamming Mom’s money to support the whole family was “suffering.”
As they shrieked their curses, I got into the Porsche that had always been mine.
Started the engine.
Drove off and left them in the dust.
Hey! Don’t go yet, my story isn’t finished.
You think my revenge is over?
Of course not!
