Chapter 6
When Mom saw me, she rushed forward. I instinctively stepped back, avoiding her embrace.]]
She looked bart but said nothing. Dad hurried in, along with Grandma and Grandpa. I sat across from the family assembly, frowning at their united front
“Let’s get to the point.” I said.]
“Emma, we’re so sorry.” Mom began. “When you were born, you came out first–healthy and perfect.”
Π
But your grandmother had been studying some… divination practices with Dr. Simpson. He told her you were your brother’s ‘disaster twin. We didn’t know what to do.“]
“He said if you stayed close to Jason, everything in his life would deteriorate. And you know our family business has always been passed to sons. So you had to be separated. Initially, we considered giving you up for adoption, but I couldn’t bear it. Eventually, we decided to raise you.. differently.”
“We thought if you weren’t as privileged, you wouldn’t be as successful. Even if you discovered your identity later, you wouldn’t compete with Jason. What we didn’t anticipate was-”
I cut her off. “You didn’t anticipate that I’d be this successful–working on groundbreaking research with Professor Morris. Now you feel guilty and want to apologize.
“Tm right. Thompson Enterprises stands to gain from this research project. So what do you really want? The patents behind my work? Or to use me in some other way? Just be straight with me.“]]
My directness exposed their true intentions.
Mom opened and closed her mouth, speechless. Finally, she managed, “It’s not what you think“]
Ishrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore.“]
Dad jumped in: “Emma, you can’t think of us that way. We did care about you Remember when you had a fever at age six? We didn’t have a car, so I carried you all the way to the hospital. It was raining, and I even fell on the stappery road!”
“Really? You could have called a taxi, but instead you ran through the rain, getting me even more soaked. A simple fever turned into pneumonia thanks to you, Dad,~||
His face darkened at my words. Grandma and Grandpa chimed in: “Emma, try to understand. They didn’t want to treat you that way“]
I laughed binerly. “Right. You all believed this Dr. Simpson and abandoned me. What’s the point of saying all this now? Why invite me back? Aren’t you afraid I’ll negatively influence precious Jason?”
Taking a deep breath, I turned to leave. Mom grabbed my hand, “No, don’t gor
“I’m sorry, but my schedule is full. I have more interviews lined up. I should get going.”
A headed for the door, Dad’s voice hardened: “Imma, can’t we just get along?”
“Yes, we raised you frugally, but it made you independent and self-reliant. Look how you survived three years on your own! That proves our parenting worked
I scoffed. “Oh, it worked great. You ate at fancy restaurants while I ate your leftover scraps. I never had a single new piece of clothing growing up–always hand me downs.”
“At my elementary school graduation, I went on stage in clothes full of patches and loose threads. My classmates called me a trash
me a trash–picker.“[]
“Do you have any idea what it’s like being mocked throughout your entire childhood? Did you ever unce
consider my
feelings?
“All I wanted was fair treatment. If you’d been genuinely loving. I wouldn’t still be hurt today. The only thing I regret is being your daughter in the first
place
