14
NO
I received a call from my mother, I knew they were back. And I decided it was time to settle things.
went to the Rhodes house with my things.
“Rory!”
Everyone except Celine jumped to their feet, their eyes fixed on me. Caleb and the boys were there too.
“Rory, I’m so sorry. Mom missed your birthday. I’ll make it up to you,” my mother said, rushing forward to hug me.
I stepped away. This was all so ridiculous.
“I came today to return something to you,” I said, my voice cold as I stood in the middle of the living room.
“What?” my mother asked, confused.
I placed a check on the coffee table. Over the past year, I had given the four million to my uncle. Perhaps fate had taken pity on me,
allowing me to use the memories of my past life to identify several profitable ventures. My uncle had invested the money for me,
earning enough to fund the rest of my life.
I looked at my parents. This is twenty million dollars. Consider it repayment for raising me.
your care. Other than that, I am cutting all ties with the Rhodes family.”
When you
are old, I will also pay
for
h
My parents and Alex stared at me in shock.
“Rory… what are you saying? Are you… are you disowning
my mother asked, her voice trembling.”
“Rory!” my father and Alex cried out in panic.
I nodded. “This is the best and most dignified outcome for all of us.”
Celine’s eyes flashed. She seemed to think she had finally won, that she was now the only daughter of the Rhodes family.
My mother shook her head, trembling, and stepped forward again. “Rory, I am your biological mother. We are your family. How can
you do this?”
I stepped back again. “My family? My family, who, upon learning I had woken up from a three–year coma, could calmly finish their adopted daughter’s birthday party before visiting me. My family, who unconditionally side with their adopted daughter the
would
moment she shed a single tear. My family, who, when their adopted daughter was upset, chose to attend her parent–teacher confe- rence first, only showing up to mine after my class had already ended. My family, who knew my birthday was coming up, but took their adopted daughter to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, then had the audacity to claim it was because I didn’t want to go.”
I listed their transgressions, my voice like ice. Their faces went from panicked to pale. Caleb and the boys looked just as distraug-
- ht.
05.52
Chapter 2
05.52
My mother trembled. “Rory, Mom knows she was wrong…”
I held up a hand to stop her. “I’m not saying this to accuse you. I’m saying it to tell you that you have already made your choice. And
I am an adult now, so I have made mine. You have no right to interfere. Even if you say you regret it, it means nothing to me now. Let’s all go our separate ways and live our own lives.”
I finished speaking and turned to leave. My mother swayed, and my father had to catch her.
“Rory!” Alex grabbed my arm.
I shook him off. “As for you, I owe you even less of an explanation. No matter how good you were to me in the past, the three years
I was in a coma settled that debt.”
“Rory, I’m sorry…” Caleb stepped forward and grabbed my other arm. Julian and Leo looked just as regretful, just as panicked.
I looked at them coldly. “My debt to you three was also cleared during those three years. You have no right to stop me. And don’t bother with this act. It’s pathetic. Any affection that comes this late is cheaper than dirt. I hope you all live your own lives well. And Stay out of mine.”
“RORY!!!!”
I walked away without a backward glance, their calls of regret fading behind me.
