My Roommate Tried to Become My Stepmother

After my roommates found out I was the daughter of the richest man in the country, their attitudes toward me changed.

Every month when my dad transferred me a hundred thousand dollars for living expenses, my roommate would make snide remarks.

Why does a girl need so much money?

The company will end up in your brother's hands anyway. With how recklessly you spend now, don't be surprised when they kick you out of the family!

As everyone knew, my dad only had one daughter---me.

When she demanded I hand over my allowance yet again, I finally snapped:

"Are you insane? I'll spend my money however I want. It's none of your business!"

Who knew my roommate would smirk with contempt. "Of course I can tell you what to do. After all, I'm pregnant with your dad's child. By family standing, you should obey me!"

But my dad had a testicular removal surgery two years ago.

How could she possibly be pregnant with his child?!

The hundred thousand dollars in living expenses had just hit my account, and I went straight to the boutique to buy their limited edition handbag.

I was in a pretty good mood until I got back to the dorm and heard my roommate Yasmin's sarcastic voice.

"Oh, Sophia's back. What nice things did you buy today?"

Ever since finding out I was the daughter of the richest man in the country, Yasmin's attitude toward me had completely changed.

She constantly took the lead in isolating and ostracizing me.

When I went to the cafeteria to eat, she would deliberately start trouble.

"How can the daughter of the richest man sit and eat with us commoners!"

When I returned to the dorm to rest, she would force the other roommates to act like servants.

"Don't you guys have any sense? The princess is back. Everyone better serve her carefully!"

At first, I would try to explain, but every time Yasmin would jump out to sabotage me.

Over time, everyone avoided me like the plague.

Only Yasmin, the instigator of it all, put on the act of being my savior.

"See? I'm the only one who can tolerate your bad temper."

But I couldn't stand her petty behavior.

I ignored her and walked straight past.

To my surprise, Yasmin snatched the bag from my hand and examined it carefully.

"So this is what a designer bag looks like. The texture really is different."

Seeing the greedy look on her face, I said irritably, "Give it back!"

"You already have so many bags. You don't need this one. Why don't you just give it to me?"

Before, I just thought Yasmin had no sense of boundaries.

Now I realized she not only had no boundaries, but was also incredibly shameless.

"If you want one, buy it yourself. Why should I give you my stuff!"

I snatched it back from her hands.

Yasmin's expression darkened frighteningly. She glared at me. "Does having money make you so great? Don't think that just because you have some money you can insult people however you want!"

Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she collapsed on the desk crying.

I was completely bewildered when my roommates came back from outside.

They must have heard what was just said, because they looked at me disapprovingly. "Sophia, we know your family is rich, but you can't use your wealth to trample on others' dignity."

I almost laughed from anger.

"She didn't want to pay a cent and tried to take my bag. What, should I have gotten on my knees to thank her?"

I pulled out the recording from earlier and exposed Yasmin's true face.

The roommates realized they'd been deceived and immediately distanced themselves from her.

After being set up by her so many times, I'd finally won one back.

Seeing her lie exposed, Yasmin dropped the act.

"Was I wrong? Can you even use all those bags? I was helping you lighten your load!"

"No need to worry about me. If I can't use them all, I can sell them for charity. Either way, I'm not giving them to you!"

Yasmin's face turned livid with rage. She couldn't say a word.

After suffering in silence for so long, it felt great to finally see her lose.

After this incident, I figured she wouldn't dare provoke me again!

Yasmin seemed frightened by the recording incident. She stopped making sarcastic remarks and even deliberately kept her distance from me.

Without her interference, the air felt much fresher.

I gradually let my guard down, thinking she had finally learned about boundaries and stopped looking for trouble.

The month passed peacefully.

Until the day of the holiday, I packed my suitcase and walked out of school to find William's black Bentley already parked at the school gate.

He wore a pressed dark suit, his posture upright. He looked nothing like a driver.

"Sophia, let me take that for you."

William smiled as he took the suitcase from my hand and expertly placed it in the trunk.

Just as I pulled open the car door to get in, Yasmin's voice suddenly called from behind.

"Sophia, wait!"

I turned around to see Yasmin pulling her suitcase, jogging toward me.

Her eyes glanced at William and the car, and she was still catching her breath.

"My parents are working overtime on a construction project and can't pick me up. Plus, I bought a lot of study materials this month, so I don't have enough money for a cab."

"Sophia, could you give me a ride?"

She looked at me expectantly, her tone cautious.

I frowned.

Honestly, I didn't want any more entanglement with her, but seeing those yellowed canvas shoes on her feet, and considering she really hadn't bothered me this past month.

I couldn't help but relent. "Get in."

"Thank you so much! Sophia, you're the best!"

Before I could react, she had already walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in. Her movements were so natural, as if it were her designated seat.

I froze for a moment, frowning.

Usually when William picked me up, I put my bag or files in the passenger seat. No one else ever sat there.

But then I thought, it was just a seat. No need to make a big deal out of it. So I opened the back door.

As soon as the car started moving, Yasmin began chatting with William.

"Sir, this car is so comfortable. It must be expensive, right?"

Her voice was sickeningly sweet, completely different from her sharp and bitter tone in the dorm.

William smiled politely. "It's alright. Just for transportation."

"You look so young, sir. You must take really good care of yourself, right?"

Yasmin rested her chin on one hand, staring straight at William. "Do you focus a lot on health maintenance? My mom always says men need to take care of themselves as they get older, or they'll age fast..."

She babbled on and on, every topic somehow circling back to William, every word dripping with deliberate flattery.

One moment she'd praise his suit fabric, the next she'd say his voice was magnetic, and she even meaningfully mentioned:

"My dad works construction year-round. His hands are covered in calluses. Not like you, sir. You look like someone who does important things. Even your fingers are so long and elegant."

I got goosebumps listening to her and couldn't help glancing at her.

But she acted as if she didn't notice my gaze and continued chatting animatedly with William.

William clearly sensed something was off and his responses became increasingly perfunctory, mostly just "Mm" and "I suppose" to brush her off.

But not only did Yasmin not hold back, she intensified her efforts.

As we passed a dessert shop, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! This place has such famous mousse cake! I've always wanted to try it, but it's too expensive..."

As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward William, her tone taking on a wheedling quality. "Sir, have you tried it? I heard rich people have personal pastry chefs at home. Is that true?"

"I'm not rich..."

"You're too modest, sir. If you don't count as rich, then what are we? Beggars?"

Yasmin chattered nonstop the entire way. It was incredibly annoying.

I tried to interrupt her several times, telling her to stop.

But she'd stay quiet for less than a minute before finding another topic to discuss with William.

Thoroughly irritated, I simply put in my Bluetooth earbuds to block out her voice.

It was just a short ride anyway. Once we dropped her at the subway station, we'd never cross paths again.

No point getting into another conflict over such a small thing.

However, when the car approached the subway station, Yasmin suddenly said:

"Sir, actually my home isn't near the subway station. It's in the suburbs. Could you drive me a bit further?"

Then she turned to wink at me. "Sophia, you don't mind, right?"

Before I could answer, she had already turned back to William. "My parents are working overtime today. I'm a girl carrying luggage and walking alone at night---it's kind of scary..."

William didn't respond this time. He looked at me through the rearview mirror, waiting for my decision.

Looking at Yasmin's entitled expression, that uncomfortable feeling finally crystallized into clear disgust.

Give her an inch and she'll take a mile---that was her true nature!

My patience finally ran out.

When she emphasized taking her home yet again, I refused sharply. "No! We agreed on the subway station, so it's only to the subway station."

The smile on Yasmin's face instantly froze. She hadn't expected me to reject her so firmly.

She paused for two seconds, then her eyes suddenly reddened and her voice became choked with sobs.

"Sophia, I shouldn't be so demanding, but my home really is far away. Even after getting off the subway, I still have to walk for over two hours. By the time I get home, it'll be dark."

"My parents work so hard to save money. They haul bricks during the day and watch warehouses at night. They won't even buy themselves decent clothes. I really don't want to trouble them to pick me up."

She cried while wiping her tears. "I'm not afraid of walking alone at night for any other reason, just afraid of running into bad people... If something happens to me, how will my parents survive..."

The atmosphere in the car grew heavy.

William glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes showing some sympathy. "The suburbs aren't that far by car. Maybe we should..."

I cut him off. "This isn't about distance."

But Yasmin grabbed onto it like a lifeline. "Sir, you're such a good person! Sophia, I know you're still angry about before. I'll apologize, okay?"

"I promise, this is the last time I'll trouble you. After this, I'll stay far away from you!"

"She's just a young girl. It really isn't easy for her. Let me take her."

Seeing the sincerity in William's eyes, and glancing at Yasmin's pitiful tear-streaked face, I finally closed my eyes. "Take me home first, then you can drive her."

Yasmin immediately broke into a smile through her tears.

"Thank you, Sophia! Thank you, sir! You're both such good people!"

For the rest of the drive, she was much more subdued, only occasionally glancing at William with a smile she couldn't quite hide.

When we arrived at my villa, William was about to get out to help with my luggage, but Yasmin had already jumped out first and eagerly opened the trunk.

"Let me, let me! Sophia, you live here? This house is gorgeous!"

Her eyes were filled with undisguised envy, and her attitude became much more fawning.

I ignored her and took the bag William handed me. "Drive safely."

"Don't worry."

As the car started up again, I looked back.

Yasmin was sitting in the passenger seat, saying something to William that made her face flush with shyness.

I felt an uneasy feeling, but quickly dismissed the thought.

I must be overthinking it.

After all, William was old enough to be her father.

Yasmin had such high standards. How could she possibly be interested in William?

After the holiday ended, Yasmin had visibly changed.

She no longer wore faded T-shirts, but had switched to designer clothes.

Within a few days, she'd gotten the latest iPhone.

Someone who used to be too stingy to even buy a cup of iced latte was now treating the other roommates to upscale Japanese restaurants averaging over a hundred dollars per person every few days.

Roommate Lily couldn't help asking curiously, "Yasmin, did you win the lottery? You've been so generous lately."

Yasmin smiled with pursed lips. "It's nothing. Just my boyfriend's gifts. He's worried I won't eat well at school, so he gave me some spending money."

"Your boyfriend must be rich! He's so generous."

When asked about her boyfriend's identity, Yasmin became evasive.

"I'll introduce you to him when there's a chance."

I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but when Yasmin said this, her eyes seemed to deliberately glance at me.

I had no interest in other people's private lives, especially Yasmin's.

Where her money came from, who she was dating---none of it concerned me.

My phone suddenly vibrated. It was the hundred thousand dollars in living expenses my dad had transferred.

I had just opened my phone to look when Yasmin immediately leaned over. "Did your dad transfer your living expenses? He's really generous."

I turned my phone face-down on the desk and gave a noncommittal hum.

"Sophia, don't you think it's unsafe for a girl to keep so much money on hand?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Yasmin smiled very sincerely. "Look, this hundred thousand dollars---you'll spend it all in no time. Why don't you let me hold onto it for you? I'll save it."

"If you want to buy something, just tell me. I'll check it for you, so you don't waste money."

This was absolutely absurd.

I couldn't help but snap. "Yasmin, who do you think you are? My money is none of your business!"

The smile on her face froze, and a flash of resentment appeared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. "Sophia, how can you say that? I'm doing this for your own good."

"Do I need you to teach me?" I cut her off. "My dad is happy to give me money to spend. I'll spend it however I want. You have no right to tell me what to do!"

Yasmin's face turned red and white.

Just when I thought she'd explode with anger, she suddenly showed a strange smile.

"Sophia, you're so arrogant now just because you're the only child of the Sterling family. But have you ever thought about what happens if your dad has a son?"

I frowned, completely unable to follow her logic. "What nonsense are you talking about? My dad only has one daughter---me. Where would a son come from!"

"Why not?"

Yasmin raised an eyebrow. "Men, you know, they always have that old-fashioned thinking. No matter how big the family business, there has to be a son to inherit it. Your dad treats you well now because he has no other choice."

She paused, then continued, "Once your dad has a son, do you think you'll still get a hundred thousand dollars a month in allowance?"

This made me furious.

Forget that my dad couldn't have more children.

Even if he could, why shouldn't I inherit my family's business?

"Yasmin, have you been watching too many TV dramas? My dad's company will definitely be left to me in the future. Stop worrying about things that don't concern you!"

I'd said as much, and I thought Yasmin would finally know to back off and stop bothering me.

But that evening, I was studying in the dorm when Yasmin suddenly ran up to me and opened with: "Sophia, where's your living expenses?"

I looked up at her. "How is my living expenses any of your business?"

Yasmin raised her voice. "Of course it's my business. Didn't I tell you last time? From now on, hand all your living expenses to me. When you need to spend money, submit an application. Once it's approved, I'll transfer it to you."

"Of course, if you behave well, I'll give you an extra five hundred dollars each month as a reward."

Watching her get more and more excited, I almost thought there was something wrong with my ears.

My fingers tightened slightly around my phone. I looked up at her, my eyes cold enough to freeze: "Yasmin, what did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

"I said, hand over the hundred thousand your dad gave you. I'll manage it. If you behave well, I'll reward you with an extra five hundred each month."

I laughed coldly. "Yasmin, who do you think you are to demand my money over and over again!"

Yasmin's voice suddenly rose. "Of course I'm qualified."

She gently caressed her abdomen. "Because I'm pregnant with your dad's child. Once I marry into the Sterling family on the strength of my child, by family standing, you'll have to obey me."

At those words, the dorm fell instantly silent.

The roommates' gazes bounced between me and Yasmin, too shocked to speak.

Yasmin looked at me triumphantly, as if certain I would break down over this.

But I just looked at her calmly.

Yasmin pregnant with my dad's child?

That had to be the most ridiculous joke I'd ever heard.

Two years ago, Dad was diagnosed with a testicular tumor. For complete treatment, he'd already had testicular removal surgery.

The doctor had explicitly stated that he had zero chance of having children after the procedure.

This was kept strictly confidential within the family. Almost no one besides Dad and me knew about it.

If Yasmin had really investigated my family, she would never have fabricated such a flawed lie.

I could guess what Yasmin was thinking. After finding out I was the daughter of the richest man, she'd gotten greedy ideas, even trying to use pregnancy to latch onto a wealthy family, and wanted to manipulate me in the process.

How stupid and greedy!

"Sophia, be smart and hand over the money."

Yasmin threatened in a low voice. "Otherwise, once I marry into the family, you'll regret it. By then, forget a hundred thousand in living expenses---whether you can even stay in the Sterling family will be questionable!"

Watching her spittle fly everywhere, I suddenly had a new idea.

Since she wanted to put on a show, I'd play along!