Chapter 2

As time went on, they constantly told me to yield to Hannah.

Whenever she showed even a hint of dissatisfaction, they would accuse me of being petty and jealous.

I could give way on jewelry, dresses, invitations to family gatherings, and eventually even on family members themselves, because I did not care about those things.

However, the acceptance letter from Pranceton University, an Ivy League school, was something I had earned through relentless effort.

“I already told you. I won’t do it!” I said as I stood my ground.

“No? Then, I’ll cut off access to all your bank cards,” Jerry said with a disdainful expression.

“You do realize who’s been paying for everything you have, don’t you?

“Are you really going to throw away this life and go back to the middle of nowhere and plant trees?”

He seemed to have forgotten that, ever since I returned home, he had never actually given me any so-called bank cards.

“Whatever.”

With that, I began packing my things.

Hannah followed closely behind me, offering words that sounded like advice but were really just meant to provoke me.

“Kaitlyn, just apologize to Mom and Dad. You’re their biological daughter. No matter what you do, they’ll forgive you.

“If you’re mad, just take it out on me. I really can’t stand seeing you all fight because of me.

“If you’re upset, hit me or yell at me. Do whatever you want. Just don’t leave. Mom and Dad would be devastated.”

Baron stood at the doorway, rattling off sarcastic remarks.

“Hannah, don’t waste your breath on her. Let’s see how tough she really is.

“Where’s she going to find a life this good when she leaves? She won’t last a week. No, not even that. Three days, and she’ll come crawling back.

“Kaitlyn, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Once you walk out that door, don’t expect to just waltz back in.”

When he saw me take Pranceton University acceptance letter out of the drawer, his expression shifted, and he lunged forward, trying to grab it.

“You can leave if you want, but you’re not taking that with you.”

Unable to stop in time, he stumbled and crashed into the dresser.

Enraged and frustrated, he grabbed the glass bottle on the counter and hurled it at me.

It hit the corner of my eye, missing my eyeball by only a fraction.

Laurel let out a sharp cry and stepped forward, as if about to check my wound. But the first thing she did when she got close to me was to take the acceptance letter from my hand.

I was not about to back down, either.

I picked up the nearby vase and threw it at Baron.

Hannah managed to block it.

Laurel instinctively slapped me across the face!

She froze for a moment. Then, she gritted her teeth and yelled at me, “I can’t believe you’d hurt your own siblings. You’ve clearly lost your mind!”

Baron, overwhelmed by rage, was ready to charge at me.

Jerry roared in anger, “That’s enough!

“Kaitlyn, you’ve caused nothing but chaos in this family. Are you happy now?

“If you’re set on leaving, that’s fine! But the admission letter stays. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about the money you’ve spent over the past two years.

“I’ll have someone total it up and send you the bill. You’d better pay me back.”

I looked around at the angry, cold, and smug faces in that room. Then, I walked out without hesitation.

Behind me, Hannah was still putting on a hypocritical act.

“Mom, should we really just let her walk out? Maybe it should be me leaving instead.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, sweetie! She’s always been too full of herself. Honestly, this might be the wake-up call she needs.”

“That’s right! Let her struggle a little out there. That’s the only way she’ll appreciate what she had. She’s been so petty about everything. She needs to learn the hard way this time.”