Chapter 7

Chloe chuckled from my back, a note of triumph in her voice. "See? Nobody in this family loves you!"

Words like that used to pierce my heart easily.

But now, perhaps after accumulating too much pain, I was numb, beyond feeling.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe fell silent.

But just as we neared the hospital, a safety pin she'd hidden in her pocket dug deep into my back.

I gasped, stumbled, and collapsed to the ground, Chloe still sprawled on top of me.

Richard and Eleanor immediately pulled over, dashed out of the car, and scooped Chloe up, rushing towards the hospital.

Eleanor, who was trailing behind, glanced back at my ashen face.

She shouted impatiently, "You're already at the hospital! Go find a doctor yourself. We don't have time for your drama."

In the end, I never made it into the hospital.

Because I had no funds.

Too weak to move, I sat on the hospital steps until dusk before making my way back to the mansion.

They were already back. Standing in the living room was a cowering, shabbily dressed middle-aged couple.

"Perfect timing," Richard said, gesturing to the couple. "These are your birth parents. You can go with them now."