Chapter 4
I silently clenched my fists, hung up the dress, and picked a simple long–sleeved outfit.
After changing, I came out to find Lucian looking at me with concern. “Why have you gotten so much thinner? You’re even skinnier than when we first met. Is the food at school bad?”
I didn’t reply and went straight to the table.
When I first left my small village, I was underfed and weak.
Lucian had helped me gain some weight. But now, I had lost it all again.
At the table, Lucian kept serving me more food. “Eat more.”
Elaine looked at me sadly, gripping her utensils tightly.
“It’s all my fault. I took Raina’s place, and that’s why she’s been hungry and cold.”
She set down her utensils, covered her face, and started crying.
My mother quickly went to comfort her. “This isn’t your fault. You’re just a child.”
My father added, “Yeah, it’s just bad luck for your sister.”
I froze for a moment.
Elaine pushed my mother aside and cried out, “If only I hadn’t been
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born, Raina wouldn’t have to suffer so much.”
Lucian stood up and hugged Elaine, gently soothing her. “Elaine, you’re too kind. Stop blaming yourself, okay?”
She clung to him, crying harder. “I owe Raina so much. I won’t buy any more clothes. I’ll give all my clothes to her.”
The three of them huddled together, comforting her.
I watched them, feeling detached.
What a loving family.
I had once wished for that kind of parental love.
Back then, I didn’t know my adoptive parents weren’t my real parents. I was too young to understand why they seemed to care so little about
- me.
To keep them happy, I went out begging and collecting scraps.every day after work, handing over all the money I earned.
But every time they took the money, they would beat me.
They’d call me a burden, saying I earned too little.
One day, I saw another child who was sick, and his parents were crying as they took him to the hospital.
I wanted to feel loved and make them feel guilty.
So, I spent the whole day in the river. As expected, I came down with a high fever that night.
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But I misjudged the situation. If they didn’t love me, they wouldn’t
even care about me.
They kicked me out into the rain.
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In the end, I gave up and crawled into the cowshed to escape the rain. Maybe my will to survive was too strong. I managed to get through the
fever.
I wiped the tears from my eyes.
This time, I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
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