Before Tina could finish speaking, Liam interrupted, saying, “You ought to know that 60 thousand dollars isn’t pocket change, Kiara. What exactly is your game? If you dare tarnish the family’s reputation, then don’t bother showing your face here again. You’re nothing but a worthless, shameless wench!” Tina feigned innocence, cowering behind Liam. Her eyes, … Read more
Chapter 6 I held my posture, aiming to interact with them as an equal, not as someone in their debt. It seemed like my declaration had caused my parents to fall silent. They simply stared at me, leaving me rather perplexed. Why weren’t they yelling or striking me? Why couldn’t they accept me severing ties … Read more
I offered no defense in the face of their accusations but simply said, slowly and deliberately, “I am cutting all ties with the Johnson family as of today. I want nothing more to do with any of you!” I stopped for a second, then added, “In regard to those so–called living expenses. I’ve kept track … Read more
Chapter 5 Everyone around me instantly fell into complete silence. Henry’s face displayed sheer astonishment, along with other expressions I couldn’t interpret. Karen, still holding Tina, seemed both somewhat gratified and a little bewildered, while Liam was utterly dumbfounded. He was perplexed as to why I, whom he thought was striving to usurp Tina’s belongings, … Read more
Upon regaining consciousness, I found Tina lying weakly in my mother’s embrace, saying things that made no sense to me. “You shouldn’t blame Kiara. I only tried to pull her to safety, but she kept pushing me away…” I wanted to tell them what really happened, but I was too weak even to utter … Read more
Chapter 4 Author: Perfect Timing I merely stood still, feeling my body grow colder, inch by agonizing inch, unsure if it was from the blood loss or the pain in my heart. I had relied on my own efforts to leave that mountain village in the countryside and make it to the city. Before I came … Read more
Still, I knew that no matter what I said, my family wouldn’t believe me, as Tina was the only one they cared about. Tina, nestling in Karen’s embrace, looked at me tauntingly. She said, “I know this is all my doing, and you dislike me, Kiara, but I hold no grudge against you. I … Read more
Chapter 3 Author: Perfect Timing Karen, who typically carried herself like a refined lady, had now completely lost all semblance of control. That resounding slap definitively extinguished any reverence I had once felt for Karen. I stayed silent, struggling to hold back my tears as I fixed my gaze on Karen, who was standing before me. … Read more
I then declared defiantly, “You’re absolutely right about that. I’m indeed putting on an act! I’m obviously the biological daughter of the Johnson family, so I’m just taking back what’s rightfully mine! What does it matter that Tina stole my guaranteed spot at the university? I’m smarter than her, so I’ll always be better than … Read more
Chapter 2 Author: Perfect Timing It turned out that Liam thought all my suffering was merely a charade—that I was faking it just to contend with Tina for things that were, in fact, rightfully mine. I stared at the blood on my hands and let out a bitter laugh. I remembered how, when Tina had simply … Read more