Chapter 3The Dumpster Baby Heiress

Time flies. The kid was in elementary school.

"Get me two corn dogs on your way home. With sweet chili sauce."

I fished out three dollars and fifty cents from the drawer for my daughter.

"Mom, I have a test this afternoon. Also, corn dogs are two dollars each now."

She stood by my bed, puffing her cheeks.

I pouted.

"I'm fifty cents short. Cover it for me. I'll pay you back when Grandma sends money."

Yes, I was still leeching off my parents.

Before it was just me, now it's two of us. My mom regretted everything.

Afraid I'd spend her granddaughter's share, she sent the money separately.

My daughter sighed like a little adult and walked to the door.

"Mom, I have a test today," she repeated.

"Oh. If you don't know the answers, just skip them. Come out early."

"Why?" She was confused.

"If you're late, the corn dog stand might close."

Bang. The door shut.

I shuddered and went back to scrolling TikTok.

People say raising kids is hard, but once you get the hang of it, it's not that bad.

My friends' kids were in middle school, so I dumped Penny on them every few days.

Plus, with my mom's financial support, I had zero stress. I even skimmed off the top sometimes.

Most importantly, now that she's bigger, she can do more than just buy soy sauce!

She can buy vinegar, salt, scoop litter, pick up packages, grab takeout... she's so useful.

"Mom, why do you think my biological parents didn't want me?"

When Penny got to middle school, she started asking questions.

"Did something happen at school?" I was confused.

I never hid that she was abandoned.

She never mentioned it before. Why today?

Penny slammed the table. "It's that Chloe Wu in my class! Just because her family is rich, she bullies me."

"Today was parent-teacher conferences. Her dad came in a luxury car. She mocked me in front of the whole class for not having a dad~"

"That's pretty mean. You didn't roast her back?"

It was annoying, but it was a fact.

I didn't want to sugarcoat it. I wanted her to face reality.

"Of course I did! I told her to tell her mom to dress up better, or else when my mom steals her dad, she won't have a dad either."

"Mom, you can do it, right? So many hot guys like you, Chloe's old dad should be easy."

I choked.

I didn't know she knew about the models I snuck home at night.

"Also Mom, I told the teacher you were recovering from childbirth this time. What do I say next time? I'm running out of excuses."

I never went to parent-teacher conferences. Her homeroom teacher was my homeroom teacher. I didn't want to hear him nag.

I looked at my cat, Mr. Whiskers, feeding three kittens in the corner. I had an idea.

"Next time, tell him your sister is having her one-month celebration. You really can't get away."

Penny was speechless and rolled her eyes.

Penny overperformed on her high school entrance exams. She got second in the city.

I was terrified.

"Did you buy the answers? That's illegal, you know!"

Penny's grades were okay, but second in the city? Impossible.

"Oh, Mom. Would I do that?"

"I just... peeked a little at the answer sheet of the guy sitting diagonally in front of me. Just a little bit. Hehe~"