Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 34

Looking at her slender arms and legs, it was obvious she was lying.

“From now on, I’ll give you a monthly allowance of ten thousand dollars. You’re not allowed to go to that job tomorrow.”

The standard allowance for a Mercer child was one hundred thousand a month.

“Give me a million a day, thirty million a month, and I might consider not leaving early and coming back late.”

Before Adrian could speak, Lacey exploded.

“In your dreams! Mira, when did you become so greedy?”

Mara, standing to the side, thought to herself, *Hmph, a million a day? Why don't you just go rob a bank?*

But what she said was, “Mom, Dad, don’t be angry. My sister is just… just…”

“Stop speaking up for that disobedient girl,” Adrian interrupted Mara.

“If you can't agree to my terms, then there's nothing to talk about. You go your way, and I'll go mine. Let's just stay out of each other's business.”

After saying that, Mira turned to go back upstairs.

“Sister, hurry and apologize to Mom and Dad,” Mara said, playing the part of the concerned older sister.

“Ignore her. Let her go. From now on, don't even think about getting another cent from this family. And she can forget about us paying her tuition when school starts.”

Adrian had made his final decision.

Mara’s lips curved into a slight smile, but she said, “Dad, isn’t that a bit too harsh?”

“She brought it on herself.”

“Mira, stop being so stubborn with Mom and Dad. Apologize, quickly,” Ethan said, having come downstairs at some point.

Apologize? For the few dollars they were tossing her way? She didn’t want their charity.

Mira just gave him a faint glance before heading upstairs to sleep. She was exhausted today anyway.

Ethan sighed helplessly. *Sigh, the relationship between my sister and the family is getting worse and worse. If only she were half as sensible as Mara.*

***

She checked the time. It was just past seven. As she prepared to head back, she looked up and saw that a circle of spectators had formed.

Most were elderly people out for their morning exercises, along with a few young people on their way to work and some children.

“That young lady looks so thin, I didn’t expect her punches to be so powerful.”

“You must be new here, right? I haven't seen you around before.”

“Will you be practicing again tomorrow? We’d love to come watch and maybe learn a few moves.”

…

Mira smiled at them. “I just moved in. I’ll probably be practicing around this time most days.”

With a nod to the crowd, she started walking back, their voices trailing behind her.

“Practicing martial arts is great. It strengthens the body and gives you the ability to defend yourself.”

“Not many kids these days are willing to work so hard. All summer long, they stay up all night and sleep all day…”