Anna’s dad always sent her flowers, too, but this morning they had been waiting for her on the kitchen counter when she came downstairs. His card read: “For my lovely daughter, from the only man who will never disappoint you. Happy Valentine’s Day, Anna! Love, Daddy.” Her mother had given her a Day of Beauty gift certificate at the Four Seasons spa.

Anna walked up the stairs to the stage covered with dozens and dozens of vases filled with roses, at least forty giant teddy bears, and over a hundred boxes of chocolates. As she sifted through the deliveries, Anna wondered whether perhaps Steven had sent her flowers this year. It wasn’t normal for them to exchange gifts, but given Anna’s help this past weekend, she wouldn’t put it past him. Her brother was an incredibly generous guy, spending money like a madman. Anna never asked her brother about the allowance he received from their parents, but she knew it was larger than hers. That said, she knew her wardrobe budget for the year was double her brother’s, so it evened out. Steven explained away his excessive consumerism as being genetic; Koreans had a reputation for loving all designer goods and high-end electronics. Anna knew of this stereotype but never used it as an excuse when her credit card bills came in too high, which was rare for her and a monthly occurrence for her brother.

Her mother had been raised in typical old-money style, never in want of anything, but never ostentatious, though when she met Anna’s father at Yale, she admitted he turned her head. Every year of school he showed up with a new fancy car, and by the time they were seniors and he was sporting an orange Lamborghini, she found herself dawdling after class out front, knowing he’d drive by and offer her a ride. She had been resisting his wily charm and refusing rides from him for two years straight. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested in him earlier, but she was wise enough to the ways of rich boys to know he needed a few years to play the field.

Anna’s mother was raised to care very much about her name and reputation so there was no way she was going to be just another crossed-out name on some rich boy’s “fuck-it” list. When he pulled up that fall day of their senior year at Yale and asked her if she wanted to go leaf-peeping with him, she surprised herself (and him) by saying, “Only if you’ll let me drive.” Anna’s mother was the first and only girl who had ever been allowed to drive his Lamborghini, which to this day remained her father’s favorite car.