I missed a flight to the most important conference of my career. Desperate, I asked to borrow my parents’ car—but they looked at me with pure contempt….

I missed a flight to the most important conference of my career. Desperate, I asked to borrow my parents’ car—but they looked at me with pure contempt. “Your sister needs it for a spa day. That’s more important.” I even dropped to my knees, begging. My father answered with a slap. “You’re so troublesome. Why can’t you be like your sister?” I left with blood on my lip and said nothing. Two days later, my mother called in panic: “Why aren’t the bills being paid?”

Chapter 1: The Battered Plea