I Am Super Rich
Copyright© 2025 by Arise
Chapter 22: Family’s ATM
“What? Do you want me to hit you again?” Billy roared.
“You can beat me to death but I will not give you a single cent.”
“You ... You damned girl! You’re trying to anger me and give me a heart attack, aren’t you? I don’t care. You’re going to give us the money whether you like it or not!” Billy pointed at Pearl and scolded.
Tears of indignation swelled in Pearl’s eyes as she shouted back at him, “You’ve always favored him just because he’s a boy! You give him the best you can afford, while I have to make my own money to pay for my university fees. What have you done for me?
“He wants to go to university, but we can’t afford it? Fine, I’ll borrow the money for him and slowly return it by saving as much as possible from what I earn. I spend as little as possible on myself. Do you know what kind of life I’ve been living? I’ve even fainted at work from malnutrition!
“My work only got better afterward, and I only kept a small portion of my earnings for living expenses. I sent everything back home to you, so what more do you want from me?”
“And you, brat! What did you even learn in university, huh? You have shown not an ounce of gratitude, and now you want five million dollars from me? What do you take me for, an ATM? Let me make myself clear t o you right now, I will not give you guys a single cent anymore from now on.”
Pearl had kept this bottled up inside for too long. She had never been recognized as a person of value at home no matter how well she performed, all because she was born a girl instead of a boy.
It did not matter if she scored first place in every exam, as her parents would never spare her any praise or recognition.
Sam, however, was showered with their parents’ love and care, no matter how much trouble he caused. All he had to do was tell on her, and she would be beaten immediately.
When she got into university, she almost had to drop out because her parents were not willing to pay for it.
They said that ladies did not need to study because they were going to be married off anyway, so she might as well start working to help feed the family.
Had it not been for her teacher’s sponsorship and her part-time job, she might not have been able to graduate in the end.
Now her parents have come to ask her for five million dollars for her brother’s wedding. Where was she going to get the five million from? She might have gotten a promotion, but David never said anything about a pay raise!
Pearl’s sudden outburst silenced everyone present.
Especially Leigh and Billy, for their usually obedient daughter had suddenly talked back at them. They were too stunned to speak for a moment.
“I don’t care! We’re not going to leave this place until you give us the money!” Leigh said shamelessly.
“If that’s the case, then I might as well tell you the truth. My boss took pity on me, that’s why he let me stay here. Do you know how much money this house costs?”
Pearl did not wait for them to guess before she told them the answer.
“Four hundred million.”
‘Four hundred million?
‘Oh my God!
They did not have a grasp on how much four hundred million was, but it should be enough to buy an entire street in their town.
They even refused to believe it when Sam said that the house Pearl lived in costs at least fifty million. There’s no way a house can cost so much! Only now did they realize that fifty million was much too little.
“Do you know how much four hundred million is? Anything in this house is enough to buy an entire house back home!”
“If you’re not going to leave, then I will! Just don’t blame me when the security guards come here and start seizing you people for burglary. Breaking and entering into an area as high class as this one can land you around ten years in jail, you know.”
Pearl turned to leave once she finished speaking.
“Stop right there! How dare you rebel against us, you damned girl!” Billy stood up to hit Pearl, only to be held back by Leigh.
“Dad! Ever since I was young, you’ve never referred to me as anything other than “damned girl”, you know. I am your daughter! Yet I mean less to you than those beggars outside,” Pearl said with tears in her eyes.
Sam was also shocked. He originally thought that as long as he called his parents over, Pearl would end up giving him anything he wanted. That was how things always have been, after all, but things did not go according to plan this time.
“Pearl, we...”
“Shut up! I know what you’re planning. You called mom and dad over so that I would cave under their pressure, didn’t you? How old are you this year, huh? Can’t you make your own money to pay for your own marriage?”
Pearl then ignored them and walked toward the door.
The others in the room immediately stood up to follow her. They were not from the city and there was no one they could turn to for help should they get thrown in jail for ten years.
Just as Pearl arrived at the doorway, the main doors opened from the outside.
It was already dark by the time David arrived at River City. He would have arrived way earlier had he not been held up on the road.
Exhausted, he returned to the South River International Residence and opened the doors to his home. Only for him to see Pearl with reddened eyes about to leave.
“Huh? Miss Pearl? What’s wrong? Are you going out?”
Then he spotted the people standing behind Pearl. “Who are they?” Pearl felt her chest tighten when she saw David.
‘Didn’t he go home for the holidays? Why’s he back so soon? And now of all times too.’
“My apologies, Mr. Lidell. These people are my family members. They came over to visit me from home, so I thought I’d bring them here to sit down. I’ll show them out right away.” Pearl replied nervously.
She was afraid that David would be angry. Anyone would be upset to know that random people had come into their four-hundred-million-dollar house while they were out.
“Where are you going so late at night? There are plenty of rooms here, why not just stay the night?” David asked.
Pearl had overthought the seriousness of the issue. Houses were meant to be lived in anyway. There were many rooms in this house, and it could most certainly house these six guests.
David did not mind housing them.
“No, no, it’s alright, Mr. Lidell. I already arranged hotel rooms for them, so I’ll be...”
Billy interrupted Pearl, “You must be this damned girl’s boyfriend, huh? You’re already living together, so might as well get married as soon as possible! We might just be an insignificant family, but there are still proper rites to perform! We’re not asking for much, just ten million dollars, and a house and car for your brother in River City. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, and if you can afford such an expensive house, I’m sure these requests mean nothing to you, right?”
David was stunned,
‘Damned girl?
‘Is he talking about Pearl?
‘What kind of father calls his own daughter that?
And he’s mistaking me for Pearl’s boyfriend!
‘But considering that we do live in the same house, I guess it makes sense that people think we’re living together?
‘Ah, there’s no clearing this misunderstanding, is there?
‘But ten million dollars, and a house and car in River City? Why does it feel like he’s selling his daughter off?’
David glanced at Pearl but did not say anything.
Pearl’s chest heaved and she stared at her father with fear. Tears fell without stopping down her face as she shouted, “Dad! Stop with that nonsense!”