Chapter 6
Whew Mem saw me, the rushed forward. Linstinctively stepped back, widing her embrace
She locked hurt 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 ||
“Tuna, were so sorry.” Mom began. When you were born, you came out first–healthy and perfect.“)
But your grandmother had been studying some divination practices with Dr. Simpson. He told her you were your brother’s disaster in We didn’t know what to do. “[
The said if you sixyed close to Jasen, everything in his life wel deteriorate. And you w ur Emily business has always been passed to sons. So you had to he separated ally, we considered giving you up for adoptim, but I couldn’t bear it. Eventually, we decided in raise you differently.
red your identity later, ymi wouldnt compete with Jason. What we didn’t
-We thought if you weren’t as privileged, you wouldn’t be a succesul Even if you covered |ankipate vas- 0
I cut her of “You didn’t anticipate that Td be the reccess–w
l–working on groundbreaking research with Professor Morris. Now you feel guilty and want in apologize.”
“If I’m right, Thompson Enterprises stands to gain from this research project. So what do you really want? The patents behind my work?e to use me in some other way?
straight with me
My drectness exposed their true intentions.
Mem opened and closed her mouth, speechless. Finally, she managed, “Tra not what you think
I shrugged doesn’t matter anymore.
Dad jumped in: “Emma, you ran 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 slippery road
“Really? You could have called a cast, but instead you ran through the rail, getting me even more soaked. A simple fever turned into pneumonia thanks to you, Dad.
Ha face darkened at my words Gandma and Grandpa chimed i try to understand. They didn’t want to treat you that way!“]}
I laughed binerly. “Right. You all believed this Dr. Simpson and non me. What’s the point of saying all this now? Why Invite me hock? Aren’t you afraid Ti negatively influence precious Jason?”
Taking a deep breath. I turned to leave. Mos grabbed my hand. “No, dont go!”
Im sorry, but
schedule is full. I have more interviews lined up. I should get going “[]
As I headed for the door, Dada voce hardened: “Emma, cant we just get along?”
“Yes, we raised you frugally, but it made you independent and self–reliant. Look how you saved three years on your own! That proves our parenting worked!”
1coded “Oh, worked great. You at a fancy restaurants while late your leftover scraps 1 never had a single new poece of clothing growing up–always band–me–downe.”
1
“At my elementary school graduation, I went on stage in clothes full of patches and lose threads. My classes called me a trash picker“]
“Do you have any idea what its leg mocked throughout your entire chahood? Did you ever once consider my feelings?
“All I wanted was lar
If you’d been genuinely loving, I wouldn’t still be hurt today. The only thing regret is being your daughter in the first place.”
