I stared her down. "Since you keep calling me scheming, let's settle the accounts clearly."
The color drained from Jade's face. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.
"Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you," I continued, my voice steady. "Rent is $1,500 a month. Food is $1,000. That's $30,000 a year. Over seven years, that's $210,000."
"I also paid $5,000 toward your mortgage every month. Rounding down, that's $60,000 a year. Seven years makes $420,000. You just pay me back the $210,000 for living expenses. Very fair, right?"
"As for being your live-in nanny all these years—cooking, cleaning, raising the kid—I won't charge wages for that. Consider it a gift from your biological mother. Does that work for you?"
Jade looked like she might faint. Her voice rose to a shrill pitch.
"Mom! Do you have to do this here? I'm your only daughter—talking about money hurts our relationship! Besides, you and Dad will rely on me to support you in your old age. What's the point of calculating everything so clearly now?"
I opened my mouth to retort, but Patrick hurried over, urging us toward the car.