Her fifth daughter died, so she deleted his bloodline. novel Chapter 76

Chapter 7

I stared at her, confused, unable to process why she was here. Emily Parker lived in our

building and went to my school-different class, but close enough that we’d found each

other. One of the only friends I had.

Most kids didn’t want anything to do with me I was too quiet, too strange.

We’d been paired up in gym class once because no one else wanted either of us, and

somehow, we just stuck.

Then her parents found out about Mom’s depression, about the bruises. They told Emily

to stay away from me.

After that, we’d sneak hellos in the hallway and pass notes when the teachers weren’t looking. She knew more about my life than anyone.

Mrs. Parker stood in the doorway with Emily, and the second she saw Mom, she yanked Emily behind her like Mom might lunge at them.

“We’re not coming in. Emily, say what you came to say, and then we’re leaving.”

I knew what was coming. I lunged at Emily, trying to cover her mouth.

My hands went right through her-she was a ghost to me. All I could do was watch her say the things I’d begged her never to tell anyone.

“Tommy Miller did it. Him and his friends from St. Mary’s.”

The moment the words left Emily’s mouth, Mrs. Parker yanked on her arm. Emily resisted, planting her feet. Something shifted in her, and she turned back.

“And Mr. Fletcher downstairs! He made Lily”

“Enough!” Mrs. Parker’s hand clamped over Emily’s mouth.

She turned to my parents, her voice cold with warning, “We’ve said our plece. Our conscience is clear. But if anyone finds out Enly was here, if her name gets mentioned,

we don’t want any trouble. Do you understand?”

Chapter 7

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Emily hadn’t finished, but Mom and Dad had heard enough.

Mom’s face crumpled. She fell against Dad, and the sound that came out of her was something I’d never heard before-raw, broken, and animal.

“It’s my fault. This is all my fault. I didn’t protect her. I didn’t even see-”

Dad’s shoulders shook. He made a sound like something had been torn out of him.

He was carrying it too-all that guilt, all that blame. Everyone in the building knew about us by then-the depressed mother who beat her kid.

They all knew I was the kid nobody wanted. Tommy’s parents had money, connections. He knew he could get away with anything, especially when it came to kids like me.

They’d pin me down, pressing lit cigarettes to my arms, laughing so hard they could barely breathe. Made me eat things they’d thrown on the ground and stomped on.

Stabbed me with needles they found in the trash. The pain was one thing; the

humiliation was another.

But I never told Mom or Dad.

If Mom saw me crying, she’d lose it. “Stop that right now! You come home looking like someone died every single day-it’s pathetic!

Dad didn’t want to face it either. “Go to your room if you’re gonna cry. Don’t bring

everyone else down with you.”

I learned to keep my mouth shut about what Tommy and his friends did to me.

The nights Mom locked me out, I’d run into Mr. Fletcher. He’d give me candy, wipe my

tears.

He was kinder than Dad had ever been to me. He said it was too cold to wait outside and

brought me to his apartment to warm up.

I called Dad on my smartwatch once, scared, begging him to come get me.

Dad’s voice came through tinny and distant. Just wait it out, Lily. Your mom needs.

Chapter 7

「漫剧vibeshort

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