In Torrential Rain, Eccentric Parents Reveal Their True Colors

Three days passed quickly.

After three days of braving the rain to explore the nearby area, my parents and Randy were stuck inside. They could no longer go out.

Standing on the balcony, Dad took a drag of his cigarette and sighed, "This rain isn't normal. It's been coming down for so long."

Mom, holding the remote, was watching TV.

"I think it's great! It was so hot a few days ago, and now the rain is cooling things down, making it more comfortable.

"Hey, Luka."

Mom sat up straighter, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Forget the weather for now. Don't you think something's been off with our daughter lately?"

Dad snorted coldly, "Who cares? We raised her this long, and what did we get? A thankless child.

"If she doesn't give this apartment to Randy, I'll stop recognizing her as my daughter."

Mom panicked and nervously glanced around. "Hey, lower your voice. Let me think about how to talk to her tonight.

"Fortunately, we've done a good job keeping up appearances."

I sat on the thirty-first floor, feeling a cold emptiness inside.

Through the surveillance feed, I could hear every word they said, crystal clear.

Whatever unrealistic hopes I had disappeared with Dad's words.

That evening, when I got home, we fully settled into our routine of staying indoors.

At dinner, Mom put a shrimp on my plate.

"Alicia, there's something I want to discuss with you."

I looked at her without saying anything.

She seemed a bit embarrassed but pushed on. "Your dad and I, we're not capable enough. Randy's graduated, well, and you know about his girlfriend. She won't marry him without a house.

"So…"

She didn't finish, waiting for me to eagerly give up on the apartment, just like I had in my previous life.

Seeing that I still hadn't responded, Randy lost his patience.

He put down his knife, looking at me with a pleading face. "Alicia, I know you love me the most. You wouldn't just leave me hanging, would you?"

I glanced at him and said, "Mom, when I bought this apartment, you used Randy's girlfriend as an excuse not to contribute a single cent.

"Now I've borrowed money to buy the place, and you're…"

Before I could finish, Dad slammed his knife down with a loud smack.

"You're the elder sister. Why are you being so stingy?"

Dad dropped his pretense. This time they had come intending to pressure me.

He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.

In my last life, I fought back out of frustration, which led to endless struggles afterward.

Thinking of that, I lifted my head. "Dad, don't be annoyed.

"I never said I wouldn't give it to him. I'm so close to my brother. What's mine is his in the end."

After they heard that, I could see the change on their faces.

Mom's previously shifty eyes lit up with a big smile, and she immediately served me with more meat.

My brother beamed, wrapping his arms around mine and babbling about how his sister was the best.

I observed their reactions quietly.

Inwardly, I was cursing my past stupidity.

Dad forced a couple of loud, awkward laughs. "I knew it! Alicia's always loved her brother.

"That thing I said earlier? I was just kidding. Do you think my angry act was convincing?"

I stared at him, my lips curling into a cold smile. "Dad, I was joking with you too."

The corner of his eye twitched involuntarily.

For a moment, the table was engulfed in an eerie silence.

I broke into exaggerated laughter. "Dad, this is what you call a joke. Funny, right?

"Don't worry. Randy is my brother, so I'll do everything I can to help him."

Watching their constantly changing expression, I felt a rare sense of satisfaction deep in my heart.