"It's already so late. Why aren't you home yet, Ash?" Mom asked anxiously. "I thought something happened to you. It's all our fault for being so useless. You even have to work on New Year's Eve. We're the ones who failed you…"My throat tightened painfully, but I swallowed down the bitter feeling. I wanted to ask them why they were lying to me, but I could only make choked noises.I heard Dad coughing on the other end of the line. "You're a good kid, Ash. It's all my fault. Olly, your mom, and I dragged you down."In the past, I would definitely refute his words and tell them that I was doing everything of my own volition. However, I didn't want to waste my energy on them any longer.Dad assumed that I was tired when I remained silent. "It's New Year's Eve today, Ash. Don't push yourself too hard. Come home early and get some rest.""He's right," Mom hastily chimed in. "Let's go out tomorrow night and have a nice meal. We've also bought a lot of food for you. Also, it's your b
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