"Uncle John, Kristen just said I’m the one who caused my parents' death. Maybe she's right. I'm scared that I might bring harm to you too," I said, biting my lip, my face contorting into the most pitiful expression I could manage.
Uncle John, terrified that I might actually want to end our adoption, quickly shot Kristen a glare. His voice was filled with anger as he shouted, "Kristen, apologize to Susan right now! If I ever hear you say something like that again, I swear I’ll teach you a lesson!"
Kristen was Uncle John and Aunt Annie’s only child, their precious darling since childhood. She had never heard Uncle John speak to her so harshly before. Her eyes immediately filled with tears, and she cried, though her voice was still defiant. "I won’t apologize! She’s the jinx, the messenger of death! She’s the one who’ll bring ruin to our family!"
Hearing this, I pouted, my face falling further into sadness. "Uncle John, it’s all my fault. Maybe you shouldn’t have adopted me. I’ll just fend for myself, let me die alone."
Now truly angry, Uncle John raised his hand and slapped Kristen hard across the face. "Kristen, apologize right now!"
Kristen's cheek instantly turned red and swollen from the slap. She was stunned, completely at a loss. After all, Uncle John and Aunt Annie had always pampered her, never once laying a hand on her.
She threw a tantrum, throwing herself on the floor, crying and shouting, "Mom, help me! Dad actually hit me for Susan! Waaaah… help me, Mom…"
In the master bedroom, Aunt Annie had just finished her shower. She walked out in her clothes and, seeing her precious daughter crying on the floor, rushed over, pushing me and Uncle John aside as she hurried to help Kristen up.
Turning to face me, Aunt Annie shot me a cold look and warned, "Susan, you really want to tear this family apart, don’t you? If you want to end the adoption, are you planning on going to an orphanage? You can’t stay here, and if you go to an orphanage, you’ll get what’s coming to you."
I lowered my head, knowing this wasn’t the time to make things worse. I spoke quietly, "Uncle John, Kristen is still young, and she doesn’t understand. I shouldn’t hold it against her. But since she accused me of causing my parents' deaths, she should at least apologize."
Uncle John quickly gestured to Aunt Annie, who understood. When it came to choosing between money and her daughter’s apology, she chose the former without hesitation.
Aunt Annie gently patted Kristen’s head and coaxed, "Kristen, remember what Mommy taught you: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Be a good girl, okay? I promise I’ll buy you lots and lots of princess dresses and Barbie dolls, alright?"
When she said "I promise," I couldn’t help but feel that it was more of a promise to herself — the moment when she and Uncle John would take everything I had: my house, my bank cards, everything.
It was only day one, and already their true colors were starting to show.
The anger in my heart grew, but I kept my face neutral, showing no sign of the storm brewing inside.
After a long silence, I finally heard Kristen, with obvious reluctance, mutter an apology. "I’m sorry, Susan. I was wrong. Please forgive me."
Although she apologized, I could see the barely concealed fury and venom in her eyes. I knew this wouldn’t end here.
But I would make sure to show her that I wasn’t someone she could push around either.
