Adopted to Biological? Keep Your Golden Child Scapegoat Out novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The first segment of the wedding wrapped up, and I ducked into a corner of the lounge area to grab some water.

The lukewarm liquid in the plastic cup was tasteless-just like the “concern” Mom and Dad were offering me right now.

Mom held a glass of orange juice. Condensation clung to the sides. When she handed it to me, a droplet fell onto my pants, spreading into a small damp stain.

“Scarlett, don’t take what Sienna said earlier to heart. She’s just nervous.”

I didn’t take the juice. Instead, I pulled out my phone and opened my Venmo.

The number on the screen was one I’d calculated over and over-tuition from elementary through high school, monthly living expenses, and the cost of the meals the housekeeper occasionally made during those six years.

Every single expense, itemized. It added up to exactly $500,000.

I knew this money couldn’t buy back my youth. Couldn’t undo the college application they’d changed.

But at least it would settle the debt between us once and for all.

Click.

The transfer confirmation chimed loud and clear in the quiet lounge.

Mom and Dad stared at the screen. Their faces shifted, color draining slowly.

Mom’s hand trembled. Orange juice sloshed over the rim and splattered onto her dress. She didn’t even notice, just stared at

“Scarlett, what the hell is this supposed to mean? You think a little money erases eighteen years of us raising you?”

“What else?” I shoved my phone back into my pocket. My voice was flat, but the cold edge underneath was impossible to hide.

“You raised me for eighteen years. I’m paying you back five hundred thousand. The extra’s interest. From now on, we’re even. No one owes anyone.”

“Even?”

Mom’s eyes welled up. Her voice cracked. She reached out to touch my arm.

I took a step back.

Her hand froze mid-air. Tears spilled down her cheeks and hit the floor.

“Do you hate us that much? So much you won’t even leave a shred of feeling between us? Have you forgotten when you were five and had a fever, your dad carried you three miles to the hospital? Have you forgotten when you got your first award

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Adopted to Biological? Keep Your Golden Child-Scapegoat Out

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Chapter 6

certificate, your mom took you to buy a new dress?”,

Those images flickered through my mind like an old film reel.

Dad’s back, warm and steady, as he ran through the rain carrying me.

The pink dress Mom bought me, with little flowers scattered across the hem.

But all that warmth had been ground down to nothing after Sienna came back.

“Yeah. I hate you!” I looked her straight in the eye, enunciating every word.

“I hate that you kicked me out to the old house when I was 12. I hate that you changed my college application when I was 18. I hate that when I called you with a 102-degree fever, all you said was ‘don’t make a fuss.””

Mom’s sobbing stopped. Her face went ghostly pale.

Dad steadied her, his eyes filled with disappointment.

“Scarlett, we know we made mistakes back then, but you can’t be this heartless.”

Sienna suddenly stormed over, jabbing her finger in my face.

“Mom and Dad raised you for eighteen years! You just walked away! Cut them off like it was nothing! You were ADPOTED anyway-you should be grateful you even had food on the table! And now you’re making demands? You’re an ungrateful

bitch!”

“Adopted?” I turned to Mom and Dad. My heart was pounding.

Finally. This was the moment I’d been waiting for!

“So you both think I’m just an adopted daughter, right?”

Mom’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

Dad let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

“Scarlett, we were wrong back then. But you were adopted. Stop holding onto this.”

I laughed. The sound was sharp, mocking,

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