08
Why come back to me now? I met my mom and dad at a coffee shop.
They looked worn out–haggard expressions, bloodshot eyes and strands of gray hair streaking their temples. Even their usually impeccable attire was absent, replaced by something plain. Eighty percent of it had to be an act.
After all, they had spent twenty years pretending. I thought to myself as they rushed over, practically stumbling in their eagerness to reach me. Their eyes roamed over me, scrutinizing every detail as if to reassure themselves I was
still intact.
“It’s good that you haven’t lost any weight,” Dad mumbled hurriedly,
“Little Feather, we’ve been worried sick about you,” Mom added, her eyes reddening. “Afraid that you’d be bullied
out there.”
There was a time when such words would have pierced my heart, making me ache for them. But now, ther nothing–no sorrow, no warmth, just a hollow amusement. It all felt so scripted.
“Little Feather, I brought you a gift.”
Dad pulled out a diamond necklace, the stones glinting under the café’s dim lighting. “I had an international
master custom–make it just for you. Your name is engraved on it–priceless.”
“You couldn’t buy this anywhere, no matter how much money you spent,” Mom chimed in. “Also, it must be
inconvenient living in a dormitory, right? We’ll buy you a villa nearby, hire dozens of bodyguards.”
“Oh, and a sports car too! Any model you want, just say the word.”
They were overflowing with enthusiasm. Yet I remained as indifferent as ever, I gave the necklace a brief glance
10:29 AM.
A Fake Poverty that My Parent Build for Me
before pushing my coffee cup aside.
“I don’t need anything.” My voice was calm, but firm.
“Give them all to Celline. She’s your favorite daughter, isn’t she?”
At my words, Mom and Dad visibly froze, disappointment spreading across their faces like a storm cloud.
“Ah…”
Dad let out a heavy sigh. “Little Feather, we were wrong in the past. We shouldn’t have lied to you… shouldn’t have raised you so poorly.”
–
I leaned back in my chair, stirring my coffee lazily. “Then tell me why? Why did you do it?”
Dad opened his mouth but hesitated. “Because… because…”
“It’s come to this point, just be honest,” Mom interjected with a sigh.
She hesitated before finally admitting, “When you were born, all the nannies and drivers in the house said you
were unattractive.”
My grip tightened around my coffee cup.
“One of the older nannies suggested that we keep you hidden and try for another baby instead.”
She bit her lip. “But even after two years, nothing worked, no matter what methods we tried. So that same nanny suggested we adopt a child.”
“Originally, she wanted us to send you to an orphanage… but we couldn’t bring ourselves to do it.”
Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
Dad took over, his voice quieter now. “As you grew up, we saw how hardworking and intelligent you were. You
started to prove yourself, but we didn’t know how to tell you the truth.”
“We planned to lie–say that we were trying to cultivate your hardworking spirit while sending Celline abroad…”
“But we never expected you to find out on your own.”
A sharp, bitter laugh escaped my lips.
“A tiger never eats its own cubs, but you abandoned me just because some outsiders said I was ugly? And then you brought in a stranger to replace me?”
I stared at them, my voice laced with ice. “What kind of parents do that?”
Faced with my accusation, they could only bow their heads in shame.
“Little Naomi,” Mom murmured. “It was all our fault. From now on, it will never be like this again. We’ve already
driven Celline away.”
Dad reached out, as if to hold my hand, but I didn’t move. “The family heir will be you. Whatever you want, we’ll
give it to you.”
“We’re your parents, your backbone,” Mom added, clenching her fists. “Whoever dares to bully you, we’ll make
sure they regret it.”
“Right, right!” Dad nodded like a pecking chicken. “With us around, no one will ever dare to hurt you again!”
“No need, I can take care of myself.”
