When I Had Telepathy, I Started to be Myself

On my sister Julia Roberts' birthday, I unexpectedly overheard her and my niece Natalie Portman's true thoughts.

I had given Julia a custom-designed gown, and she smiled warmly as she reached out to receive it. Her tone was incredibly gentle as she said, "We're family, you shouldn't have spent so much on such a pricey gift. Julia will feel guilty!"

Just as I touched her fingertips, I suddenly heard her inner voice. She's just given me a few million in relocation funds and only sent me these shabby things. What a thankless wretch!

I looked up in shock, but Julia's face was all sweetness and light.

The jarring impact of her thoughts left me momentarily stunned.

Then my niece, who had been clinging to my arm, sweetly asked, "I want a gift too. I know Aunt Christina is the best."

At that moment, I heard Natalie, who was usually well-behaved, speak with surprising harshness in her heart, When is Aunt Christina going to die? Mom says when she's gone, all her inheritance will be mine!

My expression froze. I thought, So, this mother-daughter duo really sees me as their personal cash cow?

——

It dawned on me that whenever I touched them, I could hear their true thoughts.

Seeing that I was lost in thought, Julia tugged at my sleeve and said, "What are you zoning out for? Don't listen to Natalie; she always expects so much."

Julia gently reminded Natalie, "Do you think Aunt Christina's money grows on trees? You really should be more considerate."

Although Julia's words seemed like a reprimand, I clearly heard her inner voice. Spending on my daughter is your blessing; don't be so ungrateful!

Her hand was warm as she held mine, but her true thoughts left a chill in my heart.

To her, my money seemed like it was just falling from the sky—free for the taking.

Julia led me to sit at the dining table while she paraded around in front of the mirror in the gown I had given her.

She looked so happy, and if I hadn't heard her true feelings, her acting might have fooled me completely.

I sat by the table, frozen, with a feeling like a thorn piercing my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Julia was oblivious to my discomfort, continuing to chat with me cheerfully.

Natalie, on the other hand, casually pulled out her phone and thrust it toward me. With an air of entitlement, she demanded, "Aunt Christina, I want that thing I like. It's only eight thousand dollars. Can you transfer it to me?"

Natalie, who was just starting high school this year, was only about ten years younger than me. She'd often asked me to transfer money or pay for things directly before, and I'd always happily complied, wanting to make sure she didn't go without.

But today, I felt a different kind of emotion.

I didn't immediately pull out my phone to make the transfer. Instead, I stared at Natalie intently.

Natalie's smile was as innocent as ever. "Aunt Christina, please?"

Yet what I heard from her was seething frustration.

Is this crazy woman having a breakdown or something? Why isn't she transferring the money?

If, at first, I thought I might be imagining things, I was now certain that this was her genuine sentiment.

I pressed my lips together and calmly said, "No, it's not happening."