Chapter 2

I took screenshots of every payment from the past two months.

The next day at noon, I caught Madison outside the lecture hall.

Her smile froze when she saw the screenshots.

"Chloe, you actually went through all the accounts?"

I held my phone up for her.

"Look. You deducted extra money from my allowance every week. Once or twice might be a mistake, but it's almost every payment."

Madison scrolled through the records. The longer she looked, the slower her fingers moved.

"This one might have been for something we bought together."

She scrolled again.

"And this one... I really can't remember."

I took my phone back.

"Then don't make things up. Just calculate what you owe me and send it."

Her face went pale.

"You're talking like I deliberately stole your money."

That was when Ryan walked up behind us.

One look at her reddened eyes and he hurried over.

"What happened?"

Madison shook her head and turned away.

"Nothing."

Ryan noticed my phone.

"You seriously checked every little transaction she made?"

I showed him the screenshots.

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't checked."

He glanced at the numbers, then pushed my hand down.

"It's a few dollars here and there. People make accounting mistakes. Chloe Bennett, have you ever actually needed that kind of money?"

My chest tightened.

"That's not the point. It's my money."

His face darkened.

"Do you have to be so aggressive? Madison spends hours managing four people's expenses. Some days she barely has time to eat. And you're interrogating her like she's on trial."

Students nearby began to look over.

Madison tugged at his sleeve.

"Ryan, please don't."

The way she said his name seemed to make him even more protective.

"She's been spoiled since she was little," he announced. "Everyone in our family caters to her. Now she's picking fights with people who are doing her favors."

I clenched my hands.

When I first went away to a school camp, Ryan had stuffed so many snacks into my bag that I could barely zip it.

He'd even warned my roommates, "She acts tough. Make sure she actually eats."

Back then, my brother couldn't stand the thought of me going hungry.

Now I'd gone an entire day without food, and he was embarrassed that I was arguing over money.

Ethan and Noah arrived a few minutes later.

After hearing half the story, Ethan frowned and tried to pull me away.

"Enough. Everyone's watching."

I shook his hand off.

"My money is missing. Am I not allowed to ask where it went?"

"Nobody said you couldn't ask," Ethan snapped. "Could you at least say it differently? She's done our budgeting for years without charging us a cent. How do you think she feels when you keep accusing her?"

Noah looked through the screenshots in our group chat.

"A few of these entries really don't match," he admitted calmly.

I looked up, hopeful for half a second.

Then he added, "But this didn't need to become such a huge scene. We've known each other our whole lives. Assuming she's guilty right away is hurtful."

I stared at him.

"The money she kept was mine."

He paused.

"Chloe, your temper's been pretty bad lately."

The last of my patience disappeared.

I pointed at Madison.

"Fine. If you three trust her so much, keep letting her manage your money. But give me mine back."

Madison finally burst into tears.

She tapped on her phone, and a transfer came through. It was only a few hundred dollars.

"Chloe, I'm advancing your weekly allowance this time," she said, wiping her face. "You can't accuse me of stealing just because I wouldn't give you an advance. Please learn to manage your spending."

Ryan saw the payment and visibly relaxed.

He patted her shoulder.

"There. Don't cry."

Then he turned to me.

"You've got your money early. Can we drop this now?"

I almost laughed.

She'd sent a fraction of what she owed me, and they acted as if I should be grateful and shut up.

By then, a small crowd had gathered. Madison kept wiping her eyes. Ryan stood protectively in front of her. Ethan looked increasingly angry with me.

To everyone watching, I probably looked like the bully.

I turned and left.

That evening, the group chat lit up again.

Madison had won an award, so the others had gone out to celebrate.

Ryan posted a photo of a table covered in food. Noah complained that the cake was melting. Ethan uploaded a picture of Madison wearing a paper crown.

Only much later did Ryan ask:

*Why isn't Chloe here?*

Ethan replied immediately. *I thought you invited her.*

Noah wrote, *She's been upset lately. Probably didn't want to come.*

Madison waited a moment, then added, *I was scared she'd be annoyed if I asked.*

Ryan answered, *Stop blaming yourself for everything.*

I erased the words I'd typed into the chat: *Did any of you bother to ask me?*

Then I opened the expense sheet Madison had just posted.

I scrolled down and stopped.

*Group dinner — $30 per person.*

I opened their photo again.

Four people. Four sets of silverware. Four chairs.

But Madison had deducted a fifth share from my money.

Before I could confront her, Mom called.

She asked about classes, then said casually, "That extra money I sent a few weeks ago—do you still have enough?"

My pen froze over my notebook.

"I transferred it directly to Madison," Mom went on. "She says you've been spending too much lately, so she asked me not to send you large amounts all at once."

I sat up slowly.

The two months of payment records were still open on my laptop.

I checked them from beginning to end.

Madison had never given me that extra money.