My college campus was being used for state exams, so the dean announced an early spring break. My parents told me they had just bought my brother, Liam, a brand-new car, and that he would pick me up to bring me home. Excited, I hopped into Liam’s shiny new SUV. I paused for a second when I saw a custom sticker on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat: "Princess Tiffany’s Seat." Liam gave an awkward laugh. "It’s fine, Maya. Just hop in." I didn't think much of it. I sat down, figuring we were family. Surely his girlfriend wouldn't mind. Halfway home, Liam’s phone started blowing up with a FaceTime request. He pulled over to answer. Tiffany’s voice whined through the speakers. "I’m mad, Liam. Like, really mad. You took forever to pick up just because you're getting your sister? Who’s your actual baby?" I felt second-hand embarrassment. I leaned over and waved. "Hi Tiffany! It’s Maya. Sorry to interrupt you guys." Tiffany’s eyes went wide on the screen. There was a few seconds of silence before she shrieked. "Liam! What is wrong with your sister? Does she have no shame? Is she blind? Can she not read the sticker that says 'Girlfriend’s Seat'?" My face flushed hot. Instinctively, I apologized. "I’m so sorry, Tiffany. I didn't mean to offend you. I’ll be more careful next time." I thought that would help. Instead, she exploded. "Shut up, you little pick-me girl. Don't call me Tiffany. We aren't friends. Liam, this car is tainted now. I don't want it. Tell your parents to buy us a new one." I went home and told my parents exactly what happened. After some deep consideration, my parents decided it was time for Liam to get a new girlfriend. Chapter 1 Liam tried to calm her down on the phone, but Tiffany was relentless, hurling insults at me that made my stomach turn. Finally, Liam snapped. "Tiffany, can you stop? That’s my sister. My blood." Tiffany’s eyes instantly welled up with fake tears. "You’re yelling at me? Liam, you’re yelling at me for another woman? You are unbelievable! Sob." Liam panicked immediately. "No, babe, wait. I didn't mean it. Don't cry." She pouted, her voice trembling. "Then tell me right now. Who is more important? Me or your sister?" Liam turned to look at me, his face twisted in agony. I mouthed the words to him: Choose her. He gave me a look of pure gratitude and turned back to the phone. "You. You are the most important person in the world to me." Tiffany wiped her dry eyes and smirked. "That’s better. Your sister really needs to learn some manners. If I were there, I would have slapped her." I froze, then turned my head toward the window, forcing back the tears stinging my eyes. Liam spent another twenty minutes cooing at her before hanging up. He sighed, looking defeated. "Maya, I’m sorry. Tiffany just... she has trust issues. She gets insecure and overreacts. Don't take it to heart." I felt sick, but I didn't want to make things harder for him. I just nodded. The car started up again, but the silence was deafening. Chapter 2 We got home thirty minutes later. Mom and Dad had prepared a feast of all my favorites: mac and cheese, brisket, the works. But because of the drive, I had zero appetite. I picked at my food and went to my room early. That night, Mom knocked on my door. "Maya, honey? Is something wrong? You’ve been quiet since you got back." I shook my head, not wanting to worry her. Mom sat on the bed and took my hand. She tilted her head and smiled. "Did you forget? We promised to be best friends forever. What kind of best friend keeps secrets?" I looked up at her warm smile, and the dam broke. The grievance I’d been holding back poured out in tears. Mom wiped my face. "Don't be scared. No matter what, Dad and I have your back. We’re basically superheroes. There’s nothing we can’t fix." I managed a laugh through the tears. "Mom, I’m twenty, not two." "So? Even at twenty, you’re still my baby." With her support, I told her everything about the car ride. Mom went silent. She looked at me thoughtfully. "Are you willing to forgive her this one time?" I felt a pang of sadness, but I nodded. "For Liam." Mom smiled, a glint in her eye. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, I’m giving you a present." The next morning at breakfast, Dad slammed his coffee mug down. "We’re going to the dealership. You’re getting a car." My eyes widened. "What? Why?" Dad glared at Liam. "We were going to get you one eventually, but we’re doing it now. My daughter shouldn't have to walk on eggshells just to sit in a passenger seat." Liam turned bright red. "Dad, it was a misunderstanding. Tiffany knows she was wrong. It’s my fault for not handling it better." Mom scoffed. " glad you realize that. Your punishment is coming with us to help your sister pick out a ride." Liam nodded vigorously. There’s an eight-year gap between Liam and me. I was the miracle baby my parents prayed for, so naturally, I was spoiled. Liam was raised with one rule: Protect your little sister. He felt guilty about yesterday. He was stuck between his girlfriend and his family, like the filling in a bitter Oreo. Plus, Tiffany really had crossed a line. He ruffled my hair. "Pick whatever you want, kiddo. I’ve saved up some cash. If Mom and Dad’s budget isn't enough, I’ll cover the rest." Mom laughed. "Keep your money, kid. We treat you both equally. Maya gets a $40,000 budget, just like you did." Before we left, Liam’s phone rang. His face fell. He stammered, "Uh, Mom... Tiffany wants to come too." Mom smiled a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Great! Girls know what girls like. Maybe she can give Maya some advice." Liam nodded, but he looked like a man walking to the gallows. Chapter 3 We hadn't been at the dealership long when Tiffany showed up. She looked furious, whispering aggressively at Liam in the corner. Mom and Dad noticed immediately. Mom leaned over. "Liam, is everything okay?" Liam gave a pained smile and shook his head. Tiffany glared at him, clearly fed up. "Fine! If you won't say it, I will." She turned to my parents. "Cindy, Dave, listen. You guys have money to burn on a car for Maya? Why not upgrade Liam’s car instead?" "You know what your daughter did yesterday, right? She’s disrespectful. And you guys are enabling her. Someone has to pay for bad behavior." Mom’s face darkened. Tiffany, oblivious to the changing atmosphere, kept going. "Besides, why buy a car for a girl? She’s just going to get married and leave the family eventually. It’s a bad investment." "Maya is an adult. You should stop paying her tuition and giving her an allowance. She needs to get a job. Stop letting her leech off the family. It’s embarrassing." Mom gritted her teeth and smiled an icy smile. "Miss Miller, I’m curious. In what capacity are you lecturing me? Our family finances are none of your business." "I thought you were here to apologize to Maya. If this is your attitude, maybe you should leave." "Apologize? Ha!" Tiffany laughed like Mom had told a joke. "Cindy, don't you know who I am? I’m Liam’s girlfriend. Your future daughter-in-law." "Let’s be real. Every dollar Maya spends now is a dollar taken away from Liam’s future inheritance. Which means it’s taken away from me. I have a right to protect my assets." Mom frowned, genuinely baffled by this logic. "Excuse me? Since when is my money your money?" Tiffany tilted her chin up. "Isn't it obvious? The assets go to the son. Liam is the son. Therefore, half of that belongs to me." Mom let out a cold laugh and looked at Liam. "Liam, is this what you think too?" Liam looked horrified. He tried to pull Tiffany back. "Tiff, stop. Please. Mom and Dad can do whatever they want with their money." Tiffany shoved him away, chest heaving. "Liam, are you stupid? I’m fighting for us! The more they waste on her, the less we get!" Liam tried to grab her hand again. "I have a job. I have hands. We can make our own money. We don't need theirs." Tiffany screamed and bit his arm. Hard. Liam flinched but took it. Mom watched, her expression shifting from anger to disgust. They whispered for another ten minutes. I don't know what Liam promised her, but Tiffany finally stopped looking like she wanted to murder us and smiled. Chapter 4 I ended up picking a white SUV, right around the $40,000 mark. Tiffany rolled her eyes the whole time, but seeing my parents' stone-cold faces, she kept her mouth shut. Afterward, my parents took us to a nice steakhouse for lunch. While we were eating, the topic of real estate came up. Mom swirled her wine and joked, "Liam can buy a house wherever he wants, but Maya has to buy a condo in our neighborhood. I don't want some punk stealing my flower pot without me knowing." I opened my mouth to tell Mom to stop treating me like a kid. Suddenly, Tiffany shrieked. "Liam! Is your mother insane? First the car, now a house? Homes in your neighborhood are like, two million dollars! Why does she get one?" People at nearby tables turned to stare. Mom’s face, which had just relaxed, turned to stone. Dad tried to save the mood. He cleared his throat and asked Liam, "So, son, when do you two plan on getting married?" Liam started to speak, but Tiffany slammed her fork onto her porcelain plate. Clang! "Marry? With what money? Your daughter is draining the family accounts dry!" Mom ignored her, cutting her steak with surgical precision. Dad paused, then said, "We aren't billionaires, but we have enough set aside for Liam’s wedding." Tiffany sneered. "Is that so? Well, here are my conditions. First, we need a five-bedroom house in the hills. Only my name on the deed. Second, a cash wedding gift of $100,000. Finally, my parents raised me well, so you need to buy them a condo too. Nothing fancy, maybe 2000 square feet." Dad’s face went pale. Mom put down her knife and fork. Her voice was flat. "Okay." Dad looked at Mom, shocked. Tiffany froze, then a greedy smile spread across her face. "However," Mom continued, "Since we are providing all of that, what are you bringing to the marriage? What is your dowry?" Tiffany’s face twisted. She stammered, "My... my mother said she would give us ten handmade quilts. They are made from organic cotton grown on my grandfather’s farm. You can’t buy that kind of quality." She looked proud, as if these blankets were rare artifacts. But I could see the hesitation in her eyes. Mom actually laughed. "Ten quilts? We are putting up millions of dollars, and you’re offering bedding? Is this a stand-up comedy routine?" Tiffany’s eyes turned red again. She looked at Liam, tears flowing. "Liam! Your mother is mocking my family! Is she saying we’re poor?" Liam had his head in his hands. "No, Tiff, she’s not... let’s just eat. We can talk about marriage later." Tiffany opened her mouth to scream, but Mom cut in, her voice lethal. "There will be no 'later.' Liam, I am warning you. If you marry this woman, you will not see a single penny from us. Not for the wedding, not for a house, not for anything." Mom stood up, grabbing her purse. "Let’s go, Maya, Dave. I’ve lost my appetite." Tiffany sat there, mouth open, watching us walk away.
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