The Family Game

After finding my biological parents in the rural Appalachian Mountains, my longing for family ties made me cut off all relations with my wealthy adoptive parents.

When they kicked me out of the house, I had no money and had to ask my friend Jessica Carter to drive her sports car and take me to the mountains to meet my real parents.

All the way there, she kept trying to talk me out of it.

"You must be crazy—throwing away an inheritance worth hundreds of millions just to run off to the mountains and find your birth parents."

But I was unwavering.

"You don’t understand—money can’t buy the bond of blood."

The car stopped in front of a small brick-and-clay house, where seven people were gathered at the doorway.

It turned out I had two older sisters, two younger sisters, and a ten-year-old younger brother.

Looking at faces that resembled mine, I felt a warmth in my heart.

It made me even more certain—I hadn’t made the wrong choice.

…

Without saying another word, Jessica dropped me off, hit the gas, and sped away.

My parents and Jacob stared at the car until it disappeared before turning to face me.

Robert Parker walked over with a smile to help carry my luggage, while Margaret Parker took my hand and began to tear up.

"It’s all because of that damn human trafficker that we were torn apart."

My nose stung at her words.

She pulled me inside, and my sisters followed. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jacob trying to open my suitcase, but Robert stopped him.

Margaret tugged me to the dinner table. I withdrew my gaze and looked at the food.

It wasn’t abundant, but it was clearly prepared with care.

"Don’t just stare—come, try some of your mother’s cooking. It may not be as good as what you ate in the city, but…"

Her voice began to choke with emotion.

I quickly put a piece of meat in my mouth and started praising the meal.

The atmosphere was warm, and I responded casually to Robert and Margaret’s questions.

But when they learned my adoptive parents were very wealthy, I saw their eyes light up.

I didn’t think much of it—because I noticed Sophie quietly eating plain white rice beside me.

The sleeve of her school uniform hung empty, and her wrist was so thin it hurt to look at.

"Sophie, you’re at the age when you need to grow. Eat more vegetables."

I placed a piece of pork belly in her bowl, but she nervously glanced at our parents.

Just as she was about to put the meat in her mouth, Margaret’s chopsticks struck her face.

"Starved-to-death ghost—never seen meat before?!"

Her sharp voice pierced the room, and I was startled by the sudden outburst.

"You hardly do any work, but you eat like a pig. The moment you see meat your eyes go green! What’s the point of me raising you? Eat it—choke on it for all I care!"

Sophie shrank into herself, not daring to make a sound.

When Margaret made to hit her again, I quickly grabbed her arm.

"Mom, it’s just a piece of meat. Why get so worked up?"

Margaret shot me a glare, though her tone softened slightly.

"You’ve lived the good life so long you don’t get it—if she eats an extra piece of meat, your brother loses one. She doesn’t know how to care for her brother, but I do!"

"Do you know what he means to us? He’s the only male heir of the Parker family—he’s the one to carry on the family name!"

Her words shocked me. I wanted to argue, but she picked up the piece of meat and put it back into my bowl.

"At least you’re sensible—eat more."

My appetite vanished. My eyes drifted to Sarah, who was eating silently with her head down.

Through her hair, I noticed a large bruise on her forehead.

"Sarah, what happened to your forehead?"

Her chopsticks froze, and she lowered her head further. Her voice was barely audible.

"N-nothing… I just bumped it."