Chapter 5

"What do you mean your feelings don't matter? You're the daughter I raised for 20 years. You're the apple of my eye!" Clara said.

The janitor who'd watched the whole thing looked at me with open pity.

I smiled at him.

Then, I unzipped my backpack and took out the documents I'd prepared ahead of time.

Without sparing them another glance, I turned and walked toward the doors of the hall.

Hugo took a few strides up the steps and grabbed my arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

I looked at him calmly. "To get the papers done," I replied simply.

He thought I was making a scene.

"How can you do it if we don't go in? The papers need our signatures. It's too late either way. Why insist on going in?"

I didn't struggle. Instead, I just pulled my arm free and walked through the door.

Clara tugged him back. There was a trace of disdain in her voice. "Forget it. Leave her. She can't get it done without us anyway. She's just throwing a tantrum. Don't indulge that.

"She grew up in the countryside, so she never learned anything good. All she picked up was how to throw tantrums to get attention. She needs to learn how our family does things."

Hugo listened to her and stopped blocking me.

He just stood there, ready to watch me fail.

I stopped and turned to face them.

"Indulge me? When was I ever indulged?" I asked. "Did you indulge me all those years I suffered in Ivana's place?"

I looked at them. My voice wasn't loud, but every single word I spoke was clear.

I continued, "Is wanting to go home to my birth parents just a tantrum to you? Ivana can't bear to leave you, so she can keep stalling, and you just go along with it.

"But what about me? Do I not want my birth parents at all?"

Hugo and Clara froze.

They opened their mouths.

It seemed to be the first time they realized that all I wanted was to join their family properly.

Not sparing them another glance, I walked up to the counter and passed them the documents.

"Hi. I'm here to finalize my legal placement," I said.

The clerk took the file and flipped through it. Then, she asked the usual question, "Is the legal guardian here to sign? Both parties have to confirm in person."

I didn't answer her right away.

I looked back one last time at Hugo and Clara standing outside.

The clock in the hall ticked forward.

"It's 4:58 pm. They're about to close," I said calmly, looking at them. "I'll ask one last time. Are you still going to do the papers?"

With everyone watching, they hesitated.

That was when Ivana turned her head. Her shoulders trembled.

She sniffled and wiped her tears.

Clara froze in place.

She looked at Ivana, then at me.

The little doubt that'd just risen in her vanished at once.

"Vana's already crying like this…"

Clara sighed and looked away from me. She then changed her answer.

"Be good. We'll wait until next time."

I turned back without any surprise.

There was nothing left to say.

It was 4:59 pm.

Hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Victoria and Eugene rushed through the door and came straight to my side. They passed their IDs through the window.

"Sweetheart, we're here," Victoria said.

Turning to the clerk, she said, "List her under our legal guardianship."