“What nonsense are you spouting, girl? How can you curse your own mother like that?”
“We only returned to our hometown because it felt more comfortable. And your grandpa and I have never been the kind to prefer boys over girls.”
Grandpa waved his hand, his tone light, too light, like it could wipe away everything I’d just said.
“Elisa’s just been under a lot of stress lately. She’ll be fine once she’s settled in college.”
His words dismissed everything like it was nothing more than a passing storm.
Just then, Lila stepped out of the kitchen, her eyes red and swollen.
She had been crying.
“I’ve already made an appointment. I won’t be keeping this child.”
“Nonsense!” Grandpa’s palm slammed against the table with a crack that made me flinch.
“Our Scott family has only had one male heir per generation for four generations! Now that we finally have a grandson, and you want to throw him away?”
“That’s right. This child didn’t come easily. The doctor said he’s healthy and strong. How can you just give him up like that?”
Lila shrank away from Dad’s comforting touch, her voice barely a whisper, trembling with uncertainty.
“I always said Elisa was my one and only daughter. This pregnancy… it was a mistake.”
“Elisa’s about to leave for university. How often will she come home after that? Once she starts working, it’ll be even rarer. And after she gets married? Forget it. This family still needs a boy.”
Just moments ago, Grandpa and Grandma insisted they weren’t biased toward boys. Now, they were eager to push me out.
Fine. I’d go.
That woman wasn’t even my real mother, after all.
If they were so sure Lila was my mom, then let them live together without me.
I packed a small suitcase, grabbed my university acceptance letter, and stormed out of the home I had called mine for eighteen years.
Behind me, Lila’s sobs fell like a relentless waterfall.
She tried to reach out, to stop me, but Dad held her firmly back.
“We’ve spoiled her too much before. Let her go. I want to see just how strong she really is.”
“Exactly. Just a girl stirring up drama, all to stop her little brother from being born. She’s so cunning, it’s frightening.”
Grandma’s voice echoed Dad’s cold words behind me.
I kept walking, putting more distance between us, their voices slowly fading into silence.
Only one goal burned in my mind now: to expose this fake mother.
Besides family, the people who knew Mom best were her old colleagues.
Dragging my suitcase, I made my way to Mom’s former workplace.
There, I spotted Aunt Gina, someone who’d once been close to Mom.
“Elisa? What are you doing here? Isn’t tonight your college banquet? And that suitcase…”
Her eyes flicked to my luggage.
“Aunt Gina! You have to remember Mom died three years ago, right? You even came to her funeral.”
Aunt Gina stared at me, disbelief flashing across her face. She reached out, gently touching my forehead.
“Elisa, are you alright? How can you say such things about your mom? I know she pushed you hard during your senior year, and maybe you resented her, but you shouldn’t curse her like that. And if she hadn’t been so strict, would you have gotten into such a good university?”
I released her wrist, shaking my head as I took a cautious step back.
“Impossible… impossible…”
“Are you fighting with your mom again? Planning to run off like this? Don’t mess around, she won’t be able to bear it if she finds out.”
“She’s not my mom. She’s not… she’s not…”
“Gina, why are you still here? There’s a meeting starting soon. You—”
Mom’s former supervisor glared at Aunt Gina from across the room. But when his eyes landed on me, his expression shifted, quickly turning away as if he’d seen a ghost.
