Mom's Favorite Cash Cow

I grew up in a household with just me and my younger brother, but my mom always claimed she wasn’t the type to favor boys over girls. Then, she needed surgery. She pulled me aside and whispered, "Don't tell your brother. He’s never been close to me since he was little. If he knows I need surgery, he’ll just complain." I was about to tear up at her thoughtfulness when suddenly, a stream of floating text—like live comments on a video stream—scrolled across my vision. [Poor heroine. She still thinks her mom actually cares about her. The old lady just doesn’t want her precious son to worry.] [Ugh, I’m so sick of this saintly pushover MC. She’s just sacrificing herself for nothing. It’s making my blood boil.] My hand, holding out my debit card, froze in mid-air. Suddenly, I didn't want to pay anymore. 1 After reading those floating comments, my grip on the card tightened instinctively. My mom looked at me, confused. Seeing me refusing to let go of the card, her expression soured immediately. "Maya, what’s wrong?" "Don't tell me you don't want to pay for your mother's hospital bills?" "I don't want to spend your money either, honey, but you know I don't have any cash on hand." My brain was still buzzing, but my hand moved on its own. I yanked the card back. Because as she spoke, another wave of comments rolled past my eyes. [This mom lies as easily as she breathes. 'No money'? She’s hoarding every cent to buy a house for her son.] [Her calculations are elite. She keeps her own savings untouched and plays the victim so her daughter pays for everything.] [Masterclass in gaslighting. She keeps saying she’s not traditional, says she’s not close to the son, just to trick the daughter into being a willing cash cow.] I shoved the card back into my purse. I looked at my mom and asked, "Mom, you take home $3,000 a month. I pay the water, electricity, and HOA fees. I buy the groceries, the rice, even the toilet paper. Where has your salary gone all these years?" My mom froze. In her memory, I had always been the obedient, sensible one. She often told me stories about how her own parents favored her brother and mistreated her, swearing she would never be like them. Since I could remember, she acted closer to me than to my brother, Caleb. When we went out, she’d introduce me as, "This is my baby girl, my little emotional support jacket." For years, I was grateful. I thought I was lucky not to be the neglected daughter. So, I worked harder to be good. Because she "wasn't close" to Caleb, I took care of her when she was sick. I handled the household chores. Even after I graduated and got a job, Caleb moved out, while my paycheck naturally went into the household expenses. Thinking of this, a realization hit me. My mom grabbed my hand, explaining frantically, "The money for your college tuition, I borrowed it! And the debts our family had before, I paid them all off! Maya, what do you mean by this? Are you abandoning your mother?" I didn't want to argue about the past. I just wanted to know one thing. "Mom, are you saving up to buy a house for Caleb?" Her face went pale instantly. But she denied it immediately. "What nonsense is that? Where would I get the money for a house? Besides, even if I had money, I wouldn't buy it for him. We aren't close. I don't expect him to take care of me in my old age." The floating comments scrolled faster. [This woman is incredible. Lying through her teeth. She saves every dime for the son and even skimps on the daughter’s food budget to subsidize him.] [Exactly. The MC got gastroenteritis last week because she drank expired milk. Her mom bought a clearance box for $5 but charged the daughter $20 for it.] [She’s too manipulative. She loves the son to death but pretends to favor the daughter just to suck her blood dry openly and legally.] Watching the text float by, a chill ran down my spine. I took a step back. Seeing me pull away, Mom immediately put on a heartbroken face. "Maya, what’s gotten into you? Why are you comparing yourself to your brother? Have I ever favored him over you? Don't you know better?" I shook my head. "Mom, you didn't favor him. You favored me. That’s why I had to help with chores while Caleb watched TV. That’s why I couldn't apply to colleges out of state because I had to stay close to take care of you, while Caleb could go wherever he wanted." Hearing this, Mom’s face turned ugly. "Maya, you know I can't live without you. I wanted to keep you close." I shook my head again. "That's not it." I pulled out my phone and dialed Caleb’s number. "Caleb, Mom is hospitalized and needs surgery. The doctors need to discuss the procedure. I’m just a woman, I can't make these big decisions alone. You’re the only man in the family. Get down here, or I won’t dare sign the consent forms." I didn't wait for his answer. I hung up. Mom lost it. She jumped up and got in my face. "Why did you call him?! You’re distracting him!" "He’s busy with a new project at work! He barely sleeps! Why would you worry him?!" I stared at her coldly. "How do you know he’s working on a new project? Mom, didn't you say you aren't close? Didn't you say that because he went corporate instead of working for the government like you wanted, you weren't going to get involved in his life?" Mom choked. She awkwardly explained, "I didn't mean to pry, I just... heard it from a relative. I don't get along with him, why would I care?" "Maya, you know we fight. Don't make him come here, we'll just argue." Looking at the desperation in her eyes, my heart turned to ice. I used to pride myself on having a mother who wasn't misogynistic. Now I knew the truth. Her misogyny was just advanced. She had fooled me for twenty-something years. I pressed my lips together. "Mom, don't worry. When he gets here, I won't let you see each other. No fighting. I just need him to discuss the surgery and the cost allocation with the doctor." Mom immediately spoke up. "Cost? Your brother has no money!" I glared at her. "And I do? If he has no money, do I have a money printing machine?" Actually, I did have money. I had a side hustle that was doing well. I had planned to surprise her with a lump sum once I saved enough. Thank God I never got the chance. Mom sighed. "Even if you don't have it, go borrow it. When I get better, you can pay it back slowly." "Borrow it?" I laughed out loud. "Mom, we are both your children. Why am I the only one responsible when you're sick?" I turned and walked out of the ward. The comments were flying. [The Heroine finally awakened! About time!] [She woke up, but all the money she gave her mom is gone. What a waste.] [Especially since that money is all going to the brother's down payment. That was her hard-earned cash. So frustrating.] Reading the comments, an idea formed in my mind. I took a taxi straight home. I went into my mom's bedroom and started searching. I found all the gold bracelets, necklaces, and rings I had bought her over the years. Then I found her bank book. Balance: $50,000. I took a photo immediately. Then, I took all the gold jewelry to a friend who buys gold and cashed it all out. Next, I opened the extended family Group Chat and started my performance. "Aunts, Uncles, please talk some sense into my mom. She needs surgery, but she thinks $20,000 is too expensive. She wants to come home and give up treatment. I can't convince her. What should I do?" The first to reply was my nosy Aunt Karen. She hated my mom. "Maya, is your mom broke? Let me tell you, we are all broke too. Don't ask us for money." I immediately posted the photo of the bank book. "I wasn't going to ask to borrow money! Mom has money. All my salary has gone to her for years, plus her pension. She has $50,000 sitting there. I just want you guys to tell her that saving money isn't worth dying for. $50,000 is just a down payment for Caleb, but if she doesn't get treated, she won't be around to see the house!" The group chat exploded. Aunt Karen: "Wow. Your mom is two-faced. She always talks about how sons are useless and daughters are reliable, but she’s hoarding the daughter's money to buy the son a house?" Cousin Jen: "Honestly, Aunt Linda is too much. Hoarding that much cash but always crying poor? I saw her buying expired milk last week. Maya, did she feed that to you?" Cousin Beth: "Maya, you're in a tough spot. Is she trying to make you pay for the whole hospital bill?" I typed quickly: "I called Caleb, but Mom won't let him come. I can't decide on the surgery alone. I'm just a girl, what do I know?" "Please, go talk to her. She's at City General, Room 302..." Seconds after I hit send, my phone rang. It was Mom. I picked up, and her scream nearly shattered my eardrum. "Maya! What nonsense are you spouting in the group chat?! Why did you go through my stuff? You're eyeing my money? Have you no shame?!" 2 Listening to her roar, I could imagine the vein popping on her forehead. I smiled, but kept my voice sincere and panicked. "Mom, I'm sorry! I misunderstood you at the hospital. I thought you spent all the money, but you saved it! That's great! Now we can pay for the surgery!" Mom yelled immediately, "No!" "That money is for... other uses. It cannot be touched." I laughed lightly. "Mom, do you want to die?" She choked. "You unfilial brat! How dare you talk to me like that? Of course I don't want to die!" "Then figure out the surgery fee yourself." "Heh—" I scoffed. "Mom, I don't have money. I gave you my paycheck every month." Mom countered, "If you don't have it, borrow it! Anyway, my savings cannot be touched. Maya, if you dare touch my money, I will fight you to the death." I was too lazy to argue. I hung up. I recorded the entire conversation. Immediately after, I called my brother, Caleb. He answered impatiently. "Maya, you know I'm not close with Mom. She treats you like a princess. This isn't my problem." I laughed. "Caleb, close or not, you are her son. She never abused you, never made you do chores, and gave you the best of everything. Now you're saying you won't help when she's dying? Do you have a conscience?" "Also, Mom said you're busy with a project. If you don't show up, I'm coming to your office. If you can't get time off, I'll go ask your boss for you." That scared him. "Fine! You're crazy. I'm coming." I hung up, my face void of expression. I looked at the contact name: Caleb. A strong, solid name. My birth name? Tiny. I changed it to Maya myself when I got older because Tiny was humiliating. Even our names showed her bias. From the moment I was born, everything was different. The so-called "favoritism" toward me was just a lie to keep me compliant. But it didn't matter. I didn't care anymore. 3 I sold the gold. Since gold prices were up, I got $8,000 back—more than I paid. I transferred all the money to a secure account. Looking up, the comments were scrolling again. [I like the MC so much better now that she stopped being a doormat. Well done!] [She finally stopped begging for imaginary motherly love. It hurts, but seeing the truth is better.] [Exactly. She was just a blood bag before. It was infuriating.] [Now the mom is screwed. She built that 'feminist mom' persona, and now the relatives are going to the hospital to roast her.] I checked my social media feed. Sure enough, several relatives had posted. One even posted a TikTok video from the hospital room. I remembered how my mom used to brag to relatives about being "different." While others desperately wanted sons, she claimed she loved her daughter and that sons were "debt collectors." By establishing this persona, she felt superior. She loved stirring up drama between my aunts and their daughters, then turning to me and saying, "See how lucky you are? I'd never treat you like that." Back then, I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. Now, I wanted to go back in time and slap myself awake. Thanks to the floating comments, I knew the relatives stayed in her room all afternoon, creating chaos until evening. Once they left, Mom called me. I was at the market buying groceries. I ignored the call. After I got home, I finally answered her twentieth attempt. Her weak, trembling voice came through. "Maya... where are you? Why aren't you here? I'm so lonely... I haven't even eaten..." I sneered internally but put on a voice even weaker than hers. "Mom... I don't know what happened. I think I have a fever. I took some medicine and passed out. I didn't hear the phone." "Mom, I need to rest. I can't come to the hospital. If you're hungry, ask the nurse or order DoorDash..." Hearing this, Mom dropped the act instantly. "Maya! What kind of bullsh*t is that? You dare not come? It's just a fever, take a Tylenol! Your own mother is in the hospital and you're sleeping?!" Listening to her roar, I remained calm. "Mom, I can't talk... the medicine is making me dizzy... bye..." I hung up and put the phone on Airplane Mode. I remembered when I was hospitalized for gastroenteritis. I was in so much pain I couldn't stand. Mom said she didn't know the way to the hospital, so she couldn't come. But she called me every hour to "check on me," forcing me to comfort her while I was vomiting. That night, I cooked myself a feast. Fresh shrimp, $10 a pound. Boiled simply, a massive plateful. Beef stir-fry with celery. Fresh cherries. Crisp and sweet. I even splurged on a $6 boba tea. My salary was $6,000 a month. I kept a few hundred and gave the rest to her. She said inflation was bad. Everything was expensive. So we ate like monks. One meat, one veg. The vegetable was always cabbage or potatoes. The meat was always frozen chicken scraps, and even that was rationed. Later, I saw what my assistant at work ate for lunch—beef, fish, fresh fruit. I asked if she was rich. She said, "No, I bring lunch because I'm broke. This costs like $400 a month tops." I was shocked. I gave my mom $5,000+ a month, and she fed me frozen scraps and withered apples. I got suspicious and offered to do the grocery shopping. She refused, saying, "You work too hard. I'm retired, I have nothing to do. I'll cook, you just eat." Recalling this, my heart ached for my past self. Eating my shrimp and drinking my boba, I finally realized how badly I’d been played. The floating text appeared again. This time, no one was scolding me. They were all cheering for me. 4 The next morning, I got up early but didn't go to the hospital. I knew Caleb wouldn't arrive early. I went to the mall. Bought new clothes, new shoes. Then to the salon. Looking in the mirror, I realized I hadn't had a professional haircut in years. To save money, Mom always cut it. Obviously, it looked terrible. With a proper cut, I realized I was actually pretty. I bought a coffee and a pastry and waited. A young guy approached me, blushing, asking for my number. I was flustered but gave it to him. Chatting with him, I remembered Mom's advice. She told me marriage was a trap. That men, like my dad, cheat and are useless. She told me to never marry, never date, or I’d be drained dry. "Staying with Mommy is best." Compared to my friends being pressured to marry, I thought I was lucky. Now I see she didn't want me to get married because she wanted to be the one draining me dry. I chatted with the guy for a while, then headed to the hospital. My timing was perfect. Caleb had just arrived. Standing outside the door, I heard him yelling. "You said you didn't expect anything from me! You told me to get lost! Now you're sick and want me to play the dutiful son? You're so selfish!" Mom, usually a tyrant with me, was meek as a lamb with him. "Caleb, I didn't call you! I didn't!" Caleb scoffed. "That's your trick! You made Maya call me! Threatening to call my boss? You forced me here!" Mom stammered, "No, I didn't..." I pushed the door open. "Mom, if you didn't tell me, how would I know? I didn't even know where Caleb worked." Mom was about to curse me out, but when she saw me, she froze. Shock, jealousy, and hatred flashed in her eyes. "What are you wearing?! Your mother is in the hospital and you're dressed up like a whore? God, what an unfilial daughter!" "And let me tell you, don't think about the savings account! That money doesn't move!" I pinched my thigh hard, tears welling up instantly. "Mom, don't be like this. The doctor said you can be cured! You can't give up!" "We can buy a house for Caleb later, but your health can't wait!" I wailed, playing the desperate daughter. Hearing this, Caleb exploded. He glared at Mom. "You promised me $50,000 for the down payment!" I looked at Mom immediately. "Mom, you promised him?" Mom looked mortified, head down. The lady in the next bed chimed in. "You have money but won't treat yourself? Saving it for your son's house? So you're forcing your daughter to pay?" "The girl just wore a dress and you called her a whore? What kind of life did she live before this? Did you take all her money for the son?" Mom snapped, "So what if I buy my son a house? I heard you buying your son a house last night!" The neighbor lady huffed. "I'm buying one for my son, and one for my daughter! I treat them equally! And even if I didn't, I wouldn't lie to my daughter and say I hated my son just to trick her into serving me!" Mom was silenced. Just then, a girl walked in. "Your family isn't buying the house? Then the wedding is off." It was Caleb's girlfriend. Caleb panicked. "No, no, we're buying it!" Mom nodded frantically. I feigned distress. "Mom, don't do this! You can't die just so Caleb can marry! If this gets out and his boss hears about it, he'll lose his job!" Caleb looked terrified. He looked at Mom for a solution. The girlfriend sneered. "No money, no marriage." Caleb grabbed her hand. "My project bonus will be $10,000, I'll give it all to you." She laughed. "Stop it. The house and dowry must come from your parents. Your money is already my money. Why would I use my own money to marry myself? Am I sick?" I was stunned. Selfish, yes. But better than being a doormat like the old me. She ran out, and Caleb chased her. Mom grabbed my hand, weeping. "Maya, your brother is useless. I only have you. I don't want to die..." I sighed. "Mom, you have money. You'll live." "Maya, your brother needs a house! Go borrow money for the surgery, okay?" I shook my head. "To borrow that much, I need collateral. Will you let me leverage the house?" Mom shook her head instantly. "If we sell the house, where will we live?" "Rent." "I'm old, I can't rent... Maya, how can you be so cruel? Think of something else!" "There is no other way. You have money, spend it." "Your brother can't get married without a house!" I laughed. "Why didn't you buy me one?" "You're a girl. Girls don't need houses." I shrugged. "Exactly. Mom, you're a girl too. What do you need a house for? Sell it. Pay for surgery, and give the rest to Caleb." I knew she wouldn't sell. She just wanted to bleed me dry.

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