C07
Dad’s eyes burned with fury as he continued, “Since Little Feather was forced out because of you, you don’t
deserve to stay in the Kells Family either.”
His voice was cold and resolute, sending shivers down Celline’s spine.
“From today onwards, you are no longer an adopted daughter of the Kells Family!”
Celline burst into tears, clutching Mom’s legs in desperation. “Please don’t drive me away! I beg you…
Mom’s expression remained icy, her silence as sharp as a blade.
“Guards!” Dad barked. “Take her away!”
Without hesitation, the bodyguards grabbed Celline, lifting her as if she were nothing more than a fragile canary.
She struggled, kicking and screaming.
“You can’t do this to me!” she shrieked. “I’m better than Naomi! I have the grace, the temperament! I am the face
of the Kells Family!”
But her pleas fell on deaf ears. The bodyguards dragged her out of the house and threw her onto the cold pavement. She landed in an ungraceful heap, her screams echoing through the empty street.
Mom and Dad couldn’t find me, so they turned to the one person who might have answers–the dean of my
academy.
“Naomi is your daughter?” The dean’s voice was thick with disbelief as his reading glasses nearly slipped off his
nose.
“Yes,” Dad admitted, his face reddening with shame.
The dean’s brows furrowed. “Then why does Naomi barely have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear? You two
have been far too cruel to her!”
Mom and Dad fell silent under the weight of his words. Guilt darkened their expressions.
“It’s all our fault,” Dad murmured. He let out a heavy sigh. “Dean, do you know where Naomi went?”
Mom’s anxious eyes pleaded. “I can’t sleep at night without seeing her.”
The dean hesitated before finally exhaling. “I’ll ask Naomi.”
He pulled out his phone and sent me a message.
When I read it, my response was immediate and firm–I didn’t want to see them. I begged the dean not to tell
them where I was.
The dean sighed, shaking his head. “You two have broken Naomi’s heart. She doesn’t want to see you. Go home
and give it time.”
“No!” Mom grabbed the dean’s arm desperately. “Please, just tell us secretly! We’ll pay you however much you
want.”
Dad quickly scribbled down a check, thrusting it toward the dean. But the dean tore it in half without a second thought. “Don’t insult me with money! No wonder your daughter wants nothing to do with you.”
He shook off Mom’s grip and walked away, leaving them standing there, defeated and ashamed.
10:29 AM.
A Fake Poverty that My Parent Build for Me
I adapted quickly to my new life, thanks to the dean’s recommendation. In less than a week, I had settled in and earned the respect of my peers.
Aside from my classes, I took on part–time jobs to support myself. When the college learned about my situation, they offered me a position as an assistant in the research lab. It was a dream come true–an opportunity to learn, grow and earn a steady income.
My days fell into a comfortable rhythm. Mornings were spent in class, afternoons in the lab and evenings sipping coffee under the golden sun. Life was simple but fulfilling.
As for Mom and Dad…
Sometimes, they crossed my mind, but I would simply shake my head and chuckle bitterly. We had never shared
much of a bond.
I knew they would eventually get used to my absence. They would pour all their energy into grooming Celline,
turning her into the perfect heir to the Kells Family’s empire. Or so I thought.
Two months later, they came looking for me.
At first, I refused to meet them. I had no desire to reopen old wounds. But the dean urged me otherwise. “Your parents went through a great deal to find your address,” he said. “They’ve been waiting outside the school, day and night, in shifts. No matter the weather, they refuse to leave.”
I scoffed, unconvinced. “And?”
“Your mother collapsed in the rain last week,” he added. “If the security guard hadn’t found her in time, the consequences could have been dire.”
That gave me pause. I wasn’t moved by sentimentality. My heart wasn’t suddenly softening toward them.
I was simply… confused. Why?
Why would the same people who had starved me, belittled me and lavished all their love on Celline suddenly
care? Why now?
