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The Charm

The Charm

An Chen



“Make sure you marry a rich man when you grow up.”

Their mother had been repeating this line ever since they could remember.She’d say it with a bitter edge—no one knew whether she was mocking their father’s unremarkable job, or her eldest daughter’s newest pair of designer heels.

This mantra became something close to a family rule: women didn’t need talent or ambition—just a good husband to guarantee a smooth and secure life. Their mother cared deeply about money. “For girls,” she often said, “money is the most important charm. You two must remember that.”

One daughter followed the rulebook. She became a flight attendant, married a wealthy man, and now lives a picture-perfect life.

The other rejected the rules—at least outwardly. But that voice still echoes in her head. Every relationship that didn’t “measure up” felt haunted by it. She still can’t shake it.