Chapter 3
After he comforted me for almost half an hour, I finally calmed down and went home with him.
Before we stepped inside, I could hear laughter and cheerful voices coming.
“Our sweet Elaine is always so thoughtful!”
Elaine said sweetly and playfully, “Then do you love me?”
“Of course! I love Elaine the most,” my mother answered without hesitation.
“Don’t forget me,” my father chimed in. “I also love Elaine.”
Lucian cleared his throat to get their attention. The three of them turned and looked toward us.
When they saw me standing behind Lucian, my parents‘ smiles faded, and their expressions turned awkward.
“Raina, you’re finally back,” my father said.
My mother noticed my hairstyle and frowned disapprovingly. “You’re a girl. Why would you cut your hair like that?”
I kept my head down, nervously picking at my fingers. “It wasn’t my choice. The school made me do it.”
Her frown deepened. “Stop making up stories.”
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My father added sternly, “We chose that school ourselves. We know their rules.”
I stayed quiet and didn’t try to argue anymore.
Whether my birth or adoptive parents, they acted the same.
Lucian shielded me from their stares. “Let her be.”
Elaine gently held onto my parents‘ arms and smiled. “Dad, Mom, if Raina likes her hairstyle, just let her have it. She just got home–don’t upset her.”
My mother looked at me, clearly disappointed. “Come eat.”
I walked over to the table and was about to sit down when she
snapped.
“Wait! Your clothes are filthy! Don’t dirty my chair!”
The room went completely silent.
I stood back up, my face burning with embarrassment.
Realizing she’d gone too far, my mother quickly tried to cover it up. “I didn’t mean that.”
Elaine turned to me with a smile. “Raina, you can borrow my clothes.”
Lucian stood and gently took my hand. “Let’s go get you changed.”
He brought me into Elaine’s walk–in closet and casually picked a dress. “Put this on. I’ll wait outside.”
I tugged on the yellowed edge of my clothes. “I don’t want to wear it.”
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Chapter 3
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Lucian shoved the dress into my arms. “Elaine offered it nicely. She’s never treated you badly. Why do you always have a problem with her?”
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