A Ruling Passion – Chapter 0308

She had gone slightly overboard with her words. The mother and daughter may bicker most of the time, but this time, Arianne sensed it, the atmosphere was different than usual. It was more somber, nothing like the explosions that usually happened after a huge suppression.

Tiffany did not yell at Lillian, but replied to her in a very calm voice instead, “Yes, I give you $2,000 a month. My pay is $12,000 a month. Once I exclude your $2,000, I have $6,000 to pay for rent. The remaining $4,000 has to be used for water, electricity and a month’s worth of living expenses. Your $2,000 isn’t calculated in the living expenses, and I’ve been paying for your takeout too. Sometimes, you ask me for extra allowance for mahjong games. Have you ever considered how I’ve been surviving?”

Lillian did not seem guilty at all. The expression on her face was of fury and disdain.

Arianne finally understood why Tiffany’s financial situation was so dire. Actually, when Tiffany and Lillian were the only ones living together, a one-room apartment would have been more than enough, and it would have been much more affordable. However, in order to pander to Lillian’s lifestyle, Tiffany had tried her best to give Lillian a slightly better living situation and had even given her two thousand dollars as allowance. However, after using the remaining four thousand for water, electricity and living expenses, Tiffany had nothing left to spend on herself.

At this point, Tiffany could no longer stop, “If you were a fair and reasonable mother, we could have chosen to stay in a slightly more inferior home in the suburban district. The rent would have been cut into half. If you didn’t waste so much money, we’d have some left. You make me feel as if my future is indefinite. If I didn’t have you around, I could live on my own in my company’s hostel. My daily expenses would be limited to one breakfast and one dinner a day. I’d have some money left, and I could save. Was your purpose in having a daughter just so that she could earn money and support your lifestyle? So I’m supposed to work myself to the bone and struggle, just because you’ve given birth to me? You have brought me into this world, and my job is to send you away when your time comes, to look after you in your old age and arrange a proper burial when you die. You’re only in your early forties. Is that considered old age? Am I supposed to start looking after you then? Do you want to force me into suicide?"