Adopted to Biological? Keep Your Golden Child Scapegoat Out novel Chapter 66

Chapter 5

I said I’d come. We talked for another minute, then hung up

Turned to Denny and smiled:

“You know the worst part about ECT? It doesn’t just kill your ability to draw. It also destroys your memory.”

My voice stayed flat. Like I was commenting on traffic.

Denny’s eyes went red.

“Wren, I’ve seen your old work… God, what a waste.”

I was good. Really good. Loved it more than anything.

Landed at one of the best design firms in the country straight out of school.

Never even got to prove myself before it all collapsed.

They were going to keep me on–different department–until Quinn sent her complaint.

After that, I was blacklisted. Couldn’t get hired anywhere.

Ended up in some forgotten town in the middle of nowhere, starting from zero.

Denny rubbed his face:

“You don’t have to see him. Let me go.”

“It’s okay.” I closed my eyes. “There’s something else I need to get back anyway. Might as well do it all at once.”

My college portfolio.

Zachary had begged me for it years ago. Said he wanted to frame every page, keep it forever.

What a joke.

He chose the location.

The pedestrian street near campus.

End of the block used to be a bakery–made all our anniversary cakes.

61.9%

Child–Scapegoat Out

Chapter 5

Now it was a coffee shop. Different decor, same address.

Zachary sat in the back corner, spine straight, shoulders tight

I walked over. Nodded once. Sat down.

There was a flat white waiting for me. I took a sip.

Ice cold.

He’d been here a while.

He looked nervous. Kept tapping his fingers against the table.

I’d seen that tell exactly three times before.

When he told me he loved me.

When he proposed.

So what was he nervous about now?

The shop had changed owners, but the old guy was still around.

He kept glancing over before finally walking up:

“Wait–is that really you two? Haven’t seen you in forever! I remember you guys brought wedding favors by a few

years ago.”

I smiled.

“He’s got fresh ones if you want some. Just got remarried.”

Zachary’s neck turned red. The owner backed off fast.

I pocketed my ID.

No point dragging this out.

“The drawings I asked about on the phone–you still have then?”

He let out a slow breath. Pulled out a worn portfolio.

“Most of them… Quinn got angry and destroyed them.”

62.1

Out

Chapter 5

“These are the only ones I could save.”

I opened it carefully. Expected it to be falling apart.

It wasn’t.

Every piece was sealed in archival plastic. Fixed with spray, preserved perfectly.

At least my favorites survived.

I stood. Kept my voice even:

“Thanks. I’m leaving.”

“Wait–please. I need to say something.”

He stood too fast. The table shook. Coffee spilled everywhere!

He started: “I–I’m sorr-”

“Zachary.”

I said his name.

I’d said it thousands of times over ten years.

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