A Missing Key 218 Missed Calls One Family Secret novel Chapter 42

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The final explosion happened on my birthday.

Which was also Mom’s “death anniversary.”

In previous years, Dad would take me to the cemetery to leave a bouquet of white chrysanthemums-Mom’s favorite flowers.

But this year, Rebecca said the house needed more joy to chase away the sadness, which would be good for my “condition.”

So she organized a birthday party for me, inviting tons of Jake’s classmates.

The whole house was noisy and chaotic, filled with strangers’ voices.

Dad drank way too much, his face flushed red as he entertained guests, telling everyone, “My Nora’s all grown up now, such a good kid.”

That fake smile looked absolutely disgusting to me.

He seemed to have completely moved on from the past, embracing his new life.

I hid alone in my room, holding the music box Mom had given me.

She’d made it herself, carved from a single piece of sandalwood, with our only photo together inside-me sitting on Mom’s shoulders.

When the music played, the little ballerina spun around, just like when Mom would hold me and dance.

Suddenly, my door burst open, and Jake charged in with a bunch of kids.

“Look, this is my psycho sister!”

He pointed at me, showing off to his friends.

A chubby boy asked, “Why doesn’t she talk?”

Jake shrugged. “Her mom died and she went crazy. She keeps saying her mom’s playing some game with her.”

The kids burst out laughing.

Jake immediately spotted the music box in my hands, his eyes lighting up as he rushed over to grab it.

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A Missing Key, 218 Missed Calls, One Family Secret

30.8%

Chapter 3

“What’s this? Let me play with it!”

“No!”

When he couldn’t get it, he got embarrassed and said viciously, “Selfish brat! If you won’t let me play with it, I’ll

smash it!”

He slapped the music box right out of my hands.

Crash.

The wooden box shattered into pieces. The little ballerina’s head broke off and rolled into a corner.

The photo of Mom and me split right down the middle, torn in two.

Time seemed to freeze.

My head buzzed, and all sound disappeared.

I stared at the broken pieces on the floor, completely losing control. Like an enraged little animal, I lunged at Jake, clawing and biting.

“I’ll kill you!”

My screaming finally brought the adults running.

Dad burst in and yanked me off Jake.

Jake’s face had several bloody scratches from my nails, and he was covering his face, wailing.

Rebecca rushed over to hug her son, shrieking, “Oh my God! What if this scars? Honey, look at her! She looks like she

wants to murder our son!”

Dad looked at Jake’s bloody face, then at me with pure hatred in my eyes, and completely lost his mind.

He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

SMACK.

The sharp sound made the entire room go silent.

My face burned with pain, my ears ringing.

I stared at Dad in disbelief.

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