- 5.
It wasn’t even 2 PM when the commotion
<
started downstairs. I was biting into an apple,
looking down from the railing, when I saw my
mom and Jack usher Sarah through the front
door. She was pale.
“Sarah, honey, go rest.”
“Mrs. Zhao, make Sarah a bowl of red date porridge. And for dinner, add a plate of fried liver, she needs to build up her blood.” Mom
was in her element.
Jack also seemed to have brightened, like a
brother who was capable of being caring.
It was a picture of family. But all of that came
crashing down the moment Dad walked in. No.
one knew why he left work early today. As soon
as he saw Sarah, his face darkened, and the
loving father was nowhere to be seen.
Sarah tried to charm him with a bit of a pout,
hoping to wiggle her way back into his good
graces, but Dad’s cold eyes stopped her in her
tracks. “What are you doing bringing Sarah
<
back, Emily?” Dad demanded, his voice sharp.
Mom blinked, sounding hurt, “I got Lily’s permission to bring Sarah home. Are you mad?
You’re not happy to see her?”
“There’s no way Lily would have agreed,” Dad scoffed, suddenly noticing me at the top of the stairs. He looked up at me, his eyes complex.
I smiled and waved. Mom looked guilty, avoiding my eyes. I walked down the stairs, stopping on the fourth step. Dad glanced down, noticing I
was holding an apple core.
“You’re back?” I asked, smiling. Sarah hid
behind my mom, but I could see a flash of
anger in her eyes.
Mom said quickly, “Lily, tell your dad.”
“Okay,” I agreed, looking at my dad. “I did
agree that Mrs. Sutton could bring her daughter
back.”
<
Dad’s eyebrows furrowed. He could picture it, Mom crying, and how I must have felt forced to agree. His guilt was growing. The more guilty
he felt for me, the more the scales would tip in
my favor.
I sighed. “Since Mrs. Sutton has made her choice, I will respect that. I’ll move out before dinner so I don’t disturb your family reunion.”
I threw the stone in the water and turned to
leave.
“Lily!”
“You’re not the one who should go,” two voices.
rang out at the same time.
I looked at my dad, acting surprised. His eyes
were full of pain, but his voice was like ice. “It’s
Sarah who needs to leave.”
“Dad, are you serious?” Jack’s fists were
clenched, his eyes red. “Why are we letting this
random girl turn our world upside down?”
Dad isnared him anina diraatlu to Darah
<
“Sarah, I have a responsibility to look after you
until you’re an adult.”
Sarah’s face crumbled as tears welled up in her eyes. “Daddy, are you sending me away? You’ve always loved me. You were always the first one to protect me. Why is everything different? You said that the relationships you’ve built are more important than blood ties.”
She was getting louder and more desperate.
She was truly scared. She knew she was losing
her status. If she didn’t have it, she’d lose
everything. Dad was still cold. Her tears didn’t
affect him.
“Jack, take Sarah where she belongs and tell
her not to come back,” Dad said.
“Daddy!” Sarah cried, shaking her brother’s
sleeve. If she kept pushing, it would be worse.
Jack had no other option. He led Sarah out of
the house, both of them crying.
Dad came up the stairs, lightly patting my
shoulder. “Lily, you’re my daughter, and no one
can replace you in my heart.” Then he walked
to his study, leaving me alone.
I leaned against the railing, still. Mom hadn’t
moved either. Her eyes were full of
disappointment. “I thought you’d be kind,
generous. I thought you were a good person.
But I guess I was wrong, Lily. Even after
everything you’ve been through, you didn’t have
to punish Sarah.”
“She’s such a sweet, gentle girl,” Mom cried. 1
snorted, just like my dad did. Like it was the
funniest joke ever.
