Chapter 2

I ran back to our apartment, my eyes red, and packed my things.

It took me less than two minutes. I barely owned anything—just a few worn-out clothes.

As I looked at the tiny, folding cot shoved into the corner of the laundry room, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

The apartment had three bedrooms. Robert and Helen had one, and Austin and Brooke each had their own spacious rooms.

Meanwhile, I had lived in the corner of the laundry room for eighteen years.

No bedroom. No car seat.

All these years, my existence had been squeezed into the dark, neglected corners of this house. I had endured it year after year.

But today, I was done.

"Chloe! You get scolded once and you throw a tantrum? It's just a car seat! Why do you have to be so incredibly petty?!"

Robert kicked the laundry room door open, grabbing my wrist with a iron grip.

"Do you have any idea how much you scared Brooke? She's crying upstairs! Come with me right now and apologize to her!"

He began dragging me toward the door.

"Get your hands off me!" I screamed, shoving him away with all my strength.

It was the first time in my life I had ever fought back.

Robert stared at me in shock, which instantly morphed into violent rage.

"Chloe! Over a stupid car seat, you’re going to disown your own parents? How can you be so vicious?!"

"Yes! I am vicious!" I screamed back, grabbing my backpack and heading for the door.

Brooke blocked my path, looking tearful. "Chloe, Robert only wants what's best for you. Just apologize, and we can go back to normal..."

"Don't waste your breath on her, Brooke! Let her rot!" Robert roared, his face twisted in rage. "She ruins every single family event anyway. If she wants to leave, let her! I’ll pretend I never had a second daughter!"

Austin leaned against the wall, shrugging. "Good riddance. She’s always been a curse. Just like four years ago, she brings nothing but trouble."

My feet froze. The painful memory rushed back.

Four years ago, for Austin’s birthday, the family decided to go to a theme park. Amazingly, Robert and Helen decided to bring me along.

The cargo trunk in the summer heat was like an oven. It was so hot I could barely breathe. But my heart had been full of joy because it was the first time they had ever agreed to take me out.

I genuinely believed they loved me.

But when we arrived, they got out, locked the car, and walked away. They forgot to open the trunk.

Sweat soaked my hair. Every breath felt like inhaling fire.

I banged on the metal door, my voice raw. "Robert! Helen! I'm still inside! Chloe is still in here!"

But the only response was the fading sound of their laughter.

As the oxygen ran out, my vision began to blur.

In a desperate bid to survive, I grabbed a heavy metal tire iron from the tool compartment and smashed the back latch until it broke open.

When I finally crawled out, my hands bleeding and raw, I ran toward them, crying and desperate for comfort.

But the moment I reached Robert, he slapped me across the face.

"Chloe! Could you not have waited a few minutes? Do you have any idea how much it costs to repair a broken trunk hatch? Why are you such a useless expense?!"

The scars on my palms still throbbed.

I pushed past everyone and walked out of that house without looking back.