Chapter 3

Before long, a crowd had gathered around.

When my mother saw that things had gotten out of hand, she stood up off the ground and spread out the disownment agreement for everyone to see.

She pointed to each clause of the disownment agreement, airing her grievances about me.

My dad, my brother, and Ronnie stood off to the side, saying nothing.

It was as if the whole thing had nothing to do with them, as if they were just part of the crowd of onlookers.

I watched a few eager bystanders filming with their phones.

Then I looked at my mom, still going on and on in righteous indignation.

Suddenly I felt so tired.

Seeing that I stayed silent, my mother assumed I couldn't hear the crowd's condemnation, and she deliberately raised her voice.

"You all see this? No matter what I say, she doesn't feel a thing."

"What a sin! Her sister is waiting in the operating room for her to save her life, and she's got a heart of stone."

Those two simple lines successfully stirred up public outrage.

"If my daughter did that, I'd break her legs!"

"Even tigers don't eat their own cubs. Her own sister needs surgery, and not only won't she help, she's making a scene about cutting ties."

"You said it. Back in the old days, someone like that would've been drowned in a pig cage."

"You've got to feel for parents. What family wouldn't be heartbroken going through something like this?"

Wave after wave of condemnation reached my ears.

I looked at the crowd, their faces full of curses and disgust, and I chose to ignore them.

I knew all too well that they were all fence-sitters. The moment the wind blew, they'd sway whichever way.

Not one of them would bother to learn how it all really came about. They were just griping about the thing itself.

I let a moment pass, then faced the crowd, my voice cold.

"I understand that this lady doesn't know the truth, and the cruel things she just said to me, I can let go!"

"But if any of you go on to spread slander online, I will absolutely take legal action."

The noise that had just filled the air went quiet at once.

I ignored their bewildered faces and turned my attention to my mother.

"If you think Sandy has time to waste, then go ahead and keep making a spectacle here."

"Either way, unless the three of you sign, I will never go get tested for a match."

I made my way through the crowd and sat down on the bench in the corridor.

The moment I sat down, Ronnie came over, grabbed my wrist, and stared hard at me.

"Meg, I've known you for years, and I never realized you were this vicious!"

"Sandy's hanging between life and death, and not only will you not save her, you're forcing your parents to cut ties with you."

"I must have been blind back then to ever fall for a piece of garbage like you."

I sneered at him and jabbed my finger into his chest, over and over.

"You think you're such a great catch?"

"Giving me a birthday present to my face while behind my back you were carrying on with my adopted sister, and even got a marriage license."

"Ronnie!"

I stared into his eyes, my voice icy.

"You make me sick."

Just then a familiar voice came from beside me.

"This is a hospital, not a place for you to fight."

Then he called down the corridor.

"Who's family for Sandra Henson?"

Before the words were even out, Ronnie shoved me aside and grabbed the doctor's hand like a madman.

"I'm her husband. How is my wife?"

The doctor frowned, looked up at my parents, and asked.

"The patient is in critical condition and needs surgery urgently. Have you found a match?"

"We found one! We found one!"

My mom tugged at my sleeve and then handed me the signed disownment agreement.

"Now, will you go get tested for the match?"

I looked at Ronnie's reddened eyes, that anxious look on his face, something I'd never seen before.

I clutched the agreement tightly and walked into the testing room.

"Mom, Dad, brother, Ronnie!"

"Our family ties are finally coming to an end!"