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Chapter 6
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Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 9
Mom developed a new habit.Every evening at sunset, she sat on the steps outside their apartment and copied all ninety-nine entries from my journal into a brand-new notebook, carefully writing out every hurt I'd endured, one by one.She imagined that if she ever had the chance to see me again, she would give me the notebook herself and tell me she remembered every single thing she'd done.That she regretted it every day.But deep down, she knew she was only comforting herself.I wasn't coming back.One day, while Dad was away for work, he passed a bookstore and spotted a set of SAT prep books in the window. He immediately remembered all those nights I'd stayed up late studying and bought the entire set.He brought the books back to the apartment and carefully put them away.There was no one in that home who needed them anymore. Still, he stubbornly kept them, as though buying those books now could somehow make up for never giving me a stable place to study when I'd actually nee
Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 8
Dad closed his eyes wearily. He didn't even have the energy to scold Gemma anymore.Eighteen years of unconditional indulgence had turned her into someone who knew only how to take and never how to be grateful. No amount of reprimanding could undo selfishness that had been reinforced for so long.A few days later, Keaton, who had abandoned Gemma, showed up again.He demanded $20,000 in compensation for the time he'd wasted on her. If they refused to pay, he threatened to go to Gemma's college and spread her private business around campus until she could no longer stay there.Terrified, Gemma locked herself in her room and left her parents to deal with everything.Mom and Dad had no choice but to hand over every cent they'd managed to save from working their early-morning food cart. They barely scraped together enough to make Keaton leave.Afterward, they hardly had enough money left for basic groceries.That night, they lay awake on their hard bed. Neither of them could sleep.
Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 7
Dad arrived at Brighton University with a debit card holding everything he and Mom had managed to save. He waited outside the campus gates from early morning until sunset, watching students come and go.Then he spotted Livia. She was thinner than he remembered, but there was a quiet confidence about her now.He hurried toward her, his voice choking with emotion."Livia, I know I was wrong. We put you through so much all these years. Everything we've managed to save is on this card. It's not enough to make up for what we did, but please take it. Come home with us, okay?"Livia simply stepped aside. Her expression was calm. There was no hatred in her eyes, but there was no warmth either.When she spoke, her voice was as cool and restrained as it had been over the phone, "I already considered those ninety-nine favor coupons repayment for the eighteen years you raised me. I've let go of the past, but I can't forgive you. Please stop wasting your time trying to find me."With that, sh
Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 6
After the call ended, Mom sank to the floor and sat there in a daze. She had no idea when I had discovered the truth. Panic overwhelmed her.It wasn't until she opened Livia's journal that she realized just how much they'd taken from their oldest daughter over the years.The small notebook contained a record of all ninety-nine favor coupons.The handwriting changed from the uneven scrawl of a child to the neat lettering of a young woman. Some of the words had blurred beneath old water stains. They must have been tears.Mom's chest suddenly ached.The truth was, they had always known Gemma's hearing loss had nothing to do with Livia. They had simply pushed the blame onto their older daughter.Eventually, they'd even convinced themselves of their own lie.Now, with eighteen years of deception laid bare before her, Mom finally saw how absurdly cruel she'd been.All these years, she'd poured her sympathy into her younger daughter because Gemma had been born with hearing loss, and s
Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 5
Mom and Dad asked everyone they could think of where I'd gone, but no one had any answers.Gemma enrolled at a private college, but she didn't change her ways. She constantly skipped class, blew through money, and found herself in one mess after another.After starting at Brighton University, I managed to support myself with a generous freshman scholarship and part-time jobs. For the first time, I didn't have to swallow my pride and beg my family for money.The supportive atmosphere on campus and the kindness of my roommates also showed me what it felt like to be treated well. My life became peaceful and stable, and I almost forgot the years I'd spent being pushed aside.But one of my friends from high school kept me updated on Gemma.Apparently, Gemma barely attended class and spent most of her time hanging around with people who weren't even students. Less than a year after starting college, she got knocked up.The father of the child wanted nothing to do with it and disappeare
Ninety-Nine Favor Coupons—Then I Was Gone Chapter 4
The day our SAT scores came out, Mom and Dad sat with Gemma in the living room, waiting for her results to load.I was alone in my bedroom, checking mine on an old phone they'd thrown away. The phone was so slow that the page just kept loading.Outside my door, I heard Mom comforting Gemma gently, "Gemma, you did great. You got a 1040. I'm so proud of you!"It wasn't until noon that I finally managed to pull up my own score.1580.I gripped the phone and let out a long breath. Finally, I had what I needed to get out of here.That evening, Mom casually asked what I'd scored.Before I could answer, Gemma spoke up, "She got a 1580. Highest score in our whole school."Then her eyes suddenly reddened. "If my hearing were normal, maybe I wouldn't be so stupid. I wouldn't have gotten such a terrible score. Mom, maybe I shouldn't have survived back then."Mom shot me a disgusted look before immediately turning to comfort Gemma. "We don't care how high she scored. You'll always be the
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