Chapter 6

Chelsea's POV

Mom reached out to snatch the tag back, but I handed it to Natara.

I said, "Please keep this in safekeeping for me. I'll have it engraved again once I'm an adult."

Dad's face darkened with rage. "Do you think crossing out our numbers means you can sever all ties with this family?"

"And one more thing," I said.

Then I had Ms. Garcia take the collection slip, the medical records soaked in melted snow, and the two call logs Natara had compiled from the document folder.

The first call had lasted 47 seconds. The second call had lasted 1 minute and 12 seconds. During both calls, my parents had been explicitly told that I was at risk of severe bleeding. Yet, they chose to delay coming to the hospital.

The hospital had already reported the case to child protection services in accordance with protocol.

Dad stared at the papers, remaining silent for a long time.

Mom was the first to react. "You're going to report us?"

"I've only written down what happened," I said dismissively.

"We're your parents. How could we possibly hurt you?" She finally raised her voice. "Last night was Yara's birthday. There were over 100 guests. Your father had to entertain them, and I had to take care of Yara. We thought you were throwing another tantrum. Are you saying that was wrong?"

Natara interrupted her, "Whether she was lying or not wasn't something you could decide over the phone. The emergency doctor had explicitly told you her life was in danger, but you still refused to come. This is not some ordinary family disagreement."

The anger in Mom's eyes slowly turned to panic. She turned to me and reached for my hand. "Chelly, I'm sorry. Please withdraw the report. Let's go home and talk about this properly."

But I tucked my hand beneath the blanket. "No way."

Mom asked, "You're still a minor. Where do you think you can go?"

Ms. Garcia placed the temporary care arrangement on the table.

During my hospital stay, Natara would help me. After I was discharged, I would move into the school's medical dormitory and stay there until my 18th birthday.

My parents would still be responsible for the expenses required by the law, but they couldn't forcibly take me away without my consent and the school's approval.

Dad picked up the plan and flipped to the final page. The moment he saw the official seals of the education department and child protection services, the composure he had been clinging to finally crumbled. "You planned all this in advance?"

"You were the ones who handed me the ammunition," I retorted.

Mom was the one who had handed me that collection slip. Dad was the one who had left behind the call records. They were also the ones who had taken the silver tag from around my neck.

Mom stood at the foot of my bed, her tears falling onto Yara's commemorative album. "You're willing to abandon your parents just because of this one incident?"

I didn't answer her.

The nurse brought over a wheelchair to take me for some tests.

As we passed the cabinet, I pointed to the key in Dad's pocket. "Give me back my phone and schoolbag."

He kept his hand over the key, refusing to move. He seemed to be convinced that as long as he kept my belongings from me, I wouldn't be able to leave.

Natara held out her hand to him. The ward was silent for more than 10 seconds. At last, Dad put the key in her palm. She opened the cabinet.

Then I took my schoolbag, school uniform, and medication box. But I didn't touch the down jacket Mom had brought me two days ago. It was the first piece of clothing she had ever bought in my size. I had loved it once, but now, I folded it neatly and left it beside Yara's commemorative album.

As I was wheeled out of the ward, Mom hurried after me to the doorway, still saying, "Chelly, calm down. In a few days, you'll want to come home."

The door behind me slowly swung shut. Just as it was about to close completely, I heard Natara tell her, "Chelsea has requested a change of temporary care address and has applied for restrictions on visits without prior appointments."

Mom finally understood then that I didn't want them anymore.