Startseite / My Parents Saved My Sister's Goldfish and Left Me in the Wildfire / Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 9

Alle Kapitel von My Parents Saved My Sister's Goldfish and Left Me in the Wildfire: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 9

9 Kapitel

Chapter 1

"Livia, get out of the house—the fire's coming!"By the time Mom called, the last light of sunset was fading.I looked out the window. Flames were raging not far away, thick black smoke filled the sky, and ash drifted past on the wind.My textbook still lay open on the desk, its pages so covered in soot I couldn't make out the words.I gripped the receiver and fought back tears. "Mom, where are you? There's black smoke everywhere outside..."Mom was silent for a moment.I heard people shouting and car horns blaring on her end of the line.As I looked around the silent house, panic suddenly gripped me.Every door here had always been shut to me.I was only allowed in three places: the hallway, the bathroom, and the storage room where I slept.If I ever opened another door without permission, Mom wouldn't let me eat for a whole day.Even on Christmas, with the temperature below freezing, all I could do was lean against the cold door and listen to them laughing and celebrating on the othe

Chapter 2

When I woke again, the acrid smoke was gone. In its place was the unfamiliar but comforting smell of disinfectant.I opened my eyes to see a doctor writing intently on my chart.When she saw I was awake, she smiled in relief and handed me a glass of water and a pill from the bedside table. Her voice was soft. "You're awake? Don't be scared, sweetie. You're safe now."You made it out of that wildfire all by yourself. That's amazing!"Your only job now is to take your medicine and get better."My head was still foggy, but her gentle voice made me feel safe. I took the pill without thinking.It was so bitter.But I swallowed it anyway.Afterward, she gave me a piece of chocolate and looked at me with pity. "Here, have something sweet. Can you tell me why you were alone in the wildfire, sweetie? Where's your family?"I shook my head silently.When the fire reached the door, all I could do was lock myself in the bathroom.I turned on every faucet, then curled up shaking in the bathtub, grip

Chapter 3

Two years later, we were at the back-to-school assembly.Zara had finished elementary school and started middle school. I was entering fourth grade.Zara held my hand and said seriously, "Fiora, remember, if anyone bullies you while I'm not around, find Ms. Vera. She likes you. She'll definitely help you..."Mom and Dad walked behind us, smiling, carrying our backpacks.I'd been so happy these past two years.Genevieve loved taking pictures. I had three albums of my own now, plus more family photos than I could count.Sebastian had enrolled me in this private school so Zara and I could go to and from school together.When a group of kids ganged up on me, Zara beat their ringleader so badly his head was bleeding.My adoptive parents and Zara gave me back the love my birth parents had denied me, a thousand times over.Like today. I'd told them over and over that I knew how registration worked and could sign up by myself, but they'd still taken the day off so the whole family could see me

Chapter 4

We were all taken to an interview room at the police station.Someone took Zara to get her knee bandaged, while my adoptive parents stayed with me to face my distraught birth parents."Oh God! My God! I finally found my daughter, but she doesn't recognize me."It was you! You stole my daughter and changed her name! You're going to hell!"My adoptive parents' faces were grim, but they draped a coat over my shoulders and kept reassuring me softly.I held on tight to their hands and stared at my birth parents, my face blank.Officer Smith straightened in his chair and said sternly, "Quiet! This is a police station!"Only then did my birth parents sit back down, fuming.Officer Smith turned to me and asked gently, "Don't be scared, sweetheart. Tell me, who are your mom and dad?"I hid in Genevieve's arms and avoided the hopeful eyes across from me."I don't know them."Her eyes full of grief, Elara choked out, "Livia, try to remember. I'm Mommy!"I used to buy you those pink hair ties you

Chapter 5

My adoptive parents gave me an uneasy look and started to say something, but I cut them off."No! We don't have to go along with this! They're the ones who insist they're my birth parents, so let them prove it!"Officer Smith nodded, clearly agreeing with me.He turned to my birth parents."Do you have any proof? A birth certificate would be best."My birth parents exchanged uneasy looks."The birth certificate was in the old house..."What a ridiculous excuse.Elara saw my mocking look and hastily dropped her gaze. She pulled up the photos on her phone, searching for a picture of us together as proof.But her camera roll was full of pictures of Vesper, random scenery, and the three goldfish.She scrolled through her entire phone, but there wasn't a single picture of me.Even the one family photo had disappeared in that wildfire.Seeing that, Sebastian and Genevieve understood everything.They ruffled my hair reassuringly, then frowned at my birth parents."Don't tell us every trace of

Chapter 6

The interview room fell silent. Everyone turned to me in surprise.Panic flashed in my birth parents' eyes. Elara looked at me pleadingly, her voice trembling."Livia, you remember everything? Then why won't you come home with us? We're your mom and dad!"I answered coldly. "Why? Then can you swear to God and tell everyone what really happened that day?"For me, that day had been nothing less than hell.Even two years later, nightmares about that day sometimes jolted me awake."If you don't remember, I can help you. I'll remind you how you left me behind in the wildfire."I raised my head and looked her straight in the eye."Before the wildfire reached us, you took everything in the house, your adopted daughter, and the three goldfish. I was the only one you forgot."You only remembered to call me an hour before the fire got there."I remember crying into the phone, begging you to save me. You didn't just refuse. You yelled at me for not knowing how to save myself and for causing you t

Chapter 7

Elara stopped crying and snapped, her face uneasy. "Stop talking nonsense! You're my only daughter. I would never hurt you on purpose!"Theodore pointed at my adoptive parents and shouted, "Look what you've turned my daughter into! Suspicious, sensitive, and a liar!"As he talked, he slammed his hand down on the table.Bang! I jumped.The next second, Genevieve and Sebastian pulled me behind them.Officer Smith frowned. "Quiet! Keep this up, and I'll lock you both up!"Mr. and Mrs. Blair adopted this child legally. They've given her endless love and patience, and a real home. Instead of being grateful, you keep insulting them. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"My birth parents shot us a furious glare but reluctantly shut their mouths.Genevieve crouched in front of me. Her eyes were red, but her voice was gentle. "Fiora, sweetheart, can you tell Mom why you think they left you on purpose?"The earnest look in her eyes made my nose sting again.I'd overheard the secret by accident,

Chapter 8

I shook my head, confused."I don't know. I only remember things from after I turned five, and Vesper was already there by then."And I only knew Vesper was adopted because Elara had told me.Whenever Vesper and I fought, Elara always took Vesper's side and warned me, "You owe Vesper all of this. You're the reason she lost the parents who loved her!"Vesper only has your dad and me now," she always said.Back then, I didn't understand the complicated look in her eyes. All I knew was how hurt and wronged I felt.Only after I overheard my parents' secret did I learn that, to them, I was to blame for Vesper's parents' deaths.Sebastian frowned."Then how do you know you were the one who knocked over the candle?"I searched my memory. "I heard it when Elara and Theodore were talking. Vesper's mom told them."She told Elara I was curious about candles and flames, and that was how the fire had started.They kept their voices low, but through the door I could hear how devastated Elara was."H

Chapter 9

Another school year started.Mom, Dad, and Zara still came together to drop me off on the first day.Zara and I walked ahead, whispering about girl stuff.Mom and Dad followed, sneaking pictures of us and smiling warmly.The whole mess from a year earlier hadn't changed my life much.That day, after Mom gave Elara some quick first aid, Theodore went with her to the hospital.They forgot Vesper at the police station.I'd said they'd tried to kill me, but it was only my word against theirs. With no proof, the police couldn't open a case.But Officer Smith told me that because I'd been adopted as an orphan, they couldn't get custody of me unless I wanted to go back.Over that year, though, Elara and Theodore's lives had turned upside down.After Theodore got back from the police station, he went to see their old neighbors.Only then did he learn that when Vesper's parents were taken to the hospital, they'd asked the neighbors for a favor: not to expose their lie.The neighbors felt sorry

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