5
Rachel heard her words and laughed: “Of course they were my designs! The boss said my ideas were especially fresh and interesting. Brynn’s company will definitely love them. I was just too busy before and could only send them over today. Good thing Brynn helped out, otherwise if we missed today’s deadline, it would’ve been over!”
Aunt Karen quickly ended the call.
She paced back and forth in front of me, anxiously scratching her head and face.
The relatives around pieced things together and said: “So Brynn was working overtime for Rachel’s sake? And then Peter personally ruined his sister’s job?”
They turned questioning gazes towards me.
I nodded: “The company has its rules. This was supposed to be decided before Christmas. I pleaded with the leadership repeatedly to extend the deadline for Rachel. Submitting by 8 PM tonight was the absolute last chance. No exceptions!”
“That can’t be!”
Aunt Karen cried out anxiously.
I frowned: “Why are you yelling at me? Your son unplugged the network cable, you took my phone away, and your son personally deleted the files. Who are you blaming?”
Aunt Sarah unexpectedly spoke up for me: “That’s right, Karen. We all saw what happened. You encouraged Peter to cause trouble and ruined Brynn’s work. Otherwise, why would an executive like Brynn be working overtime on Christmas?”
Uncle John smiled at my parents: “Brynn is really impressive! To be an executive at only 28 years old – she must be making a lot. Maybe $3 million a year?”
My parents smiled faintly for the first time, not continuing the topic. They just asked me: “Brynn, is there any way to salvage this?”
Aunt Karen nodded, all her earlier arrogance gone. She asked me: “Brynn, Rachel is cousin after all. You can’t just stand by and do nothing!”
your
I didn’t waste words. In front of them all, I sent the files Rachel had just resent me to the partners‘ group chat.
My partner replied bluntly: [Don’t bother sending anything. We agreed on the rules. We’ve already decided on the best proposal with the client. This matter is closed.]
I shrugged: “Nothing I can do now.”
Aunt Karen’s face changed instantly: “Aren’t you an executive? Can’t you just say the word and choose whoever’s proposal you want? You clearly just don’t want to help us!”
I didn’t mince words: “First, if Rachel’s boss really valued her abilities, he wouldn’t lay her off. Saying her proposal was excellent was probably just being polite. Second, everyone knew the deadline was before Christmas. Rachel was the only one who couldn’t submit on time. I reminded her more than once to send it by 8 PM tonight, preferably before noon. But what did she do? She waited until the last minute. That shows her lack of capability!”
“Third, if it weren’t for your and Peter’s interference, even submitting at the last minute, I could have gotten her proposal in on time!”
She deflated: “What does this have to do with me and Peter?”
www
y
I said directly: “Go check the security camera footage at Grandma’s house. You have the password, don’t you!”
She started crying again: “No, Brynn, I really have no other choice. Just lend me the money first. You’re such a big executive – $500,000 is nothing to you, right? I can pay you back slowly in the future!”
at all?”
I sighed: “What do you mean ‘pay me back slowly‘? So you’re not planning to pay me back
She mumbled: “That’s not what I meant. I’m just really desperate right now. I borrowed 150,000 before and haven’t paid it back. I couldn’t borrow the next 150,000 through official channels, so I borrowed privately. Now they’re at my door demanding repayment! I’m really in a bind! Please transfer the money to me so I can pay them off first. You’ve always been the person I trust most. You can’t just stand by and watch me suffer, can you?!”
18:56 Thu, Dec 26 – G 1
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I told her: “That’s easy to solve. Your mom just showed us her bank account – she has
you. Take $200,000 in savings. It’s money you gave her anyway. Ask her to pay it back for this opportunity to come clean about everything. It’ll save you from having to keep up the act in the future. Plus, your mom is in the wrong this time. It’s the perfect chance to tell her – she won’t dare do anything to you.”
Before I could finish speaking, she exploded:
“Telling my mom the truth would be no different from killing me! I can’t believe how heartless you are. You’re my cousin, and you won’t even help me with this small favor? You really have no conscience!
“Besides, me getting laid off is all your fault! As my cousin and an executive with a third of the decision–making power, wouldn’t choosing my proposal have been a piece of cake for you? I bet you’re just jealous of me and afraid I’ll do better than you, so you deliberately sabotaged me!”
My heart turned cold.
All these years, I had pitied her difficult situation and helped her countless times, both openly and in secret. When she first graduated, I helped her find an apartment and a job. Whenever she urgently needed money, I transferred it to her without hesitation. I even kept my own entrepreneurial success a secret from the family to protect her fragile self–esteem. Otherwise, her mom would definitely have put even more pressure on her.
In the end, she didn’t appreciate any of this kindness at all.
I coldly replied: “Since you think I’m so heartless, we don’t need to stay in touch anymore. Solve your own problems!”
With that, I hung up the phone and blocked her number.
When I returned to the room, I saw my grandma smiling and walking towards me:
“Brynn, you’re a good girl. You’ll listen to Grandma, won’t you?”
I laughed coldly: “That depends on what it is.
