Chapter 6
All I needed was legal recognition as part of your family and a peaceful environment to study in.
That was all it was—a transaction, nothing more.
Felix, long accustomed to power, exuded a quiet authority that filled the room.
"Anastasia, is there some misunderstanding between us?" he asked. "We're your real parents. All we want is to make it up to you."
"Make it up to me?" I looked him straight in the eye. "If you really want to make it up to me, then you should respect my wishes.
"Don't impose what you think is best on me. You missed the first eighteen years of my life. From now on, I want to walk my own path."
My words were clear and calm, delivered without a trace of emotion.
But my words sliced through all their sentimental facade like a blade.
Emmie finally broke down in tears. "Anastasia, why are you always so stubborn? We're family, Anastasia. Families belong together."
Beatrix hurried to her side, murmuring gentle words of comfort.
"Mom, don't get upset. Anastasia just got back, she's still getting used to everything. Let's take it slow," she said.
Then she turned to me, her eyes pleading, with a touch of hurt.
"Anastasia, Mom and Dad really love you. They've been searching for you for eighteen years. Don't say that, you'll just break their hearts," she said softly.
She really knew how to play her cards.
In just a couple of sentences, she'd painted me as the ungrateful, cold-hearted daughter who only knew how to hurt her parents.
And her? She played the role of the kind, sensible daughter—the one who kept the family picture-perfect.
I had no interest in playing along with her little act.
"I've made my position clear," I said.
I stood up.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," I said. "I've got two SATs practice tests to finish tonight."
With that, I turned and walked out without a second glance.
The whole Harrison family was totally stunned by how I just broke all their rules.
Behind me, Felix's voice came out tight with anger. "Stop right there."
I stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"Do you think you can just come and go from our home whenever you feel like it?" Felix said.
His voice was full of menace.
I finally turned around, calm and unbothered, and looked at him.
"I only came here today because Maddox invited me," I said. "When I return, I'm just going back to the apartment Maddox arranged for me.
"From the start, I never intended to actually step into the Harrison family. So, it's not even about coming and going as I please."
My logic was airtight.
Felix was left speechless.
In the end, Maddox stepped in to smooth things over.
"Dad, Mom, I'll drive Anastasia back. She's got a lot on her plate with the SATs. Let's give her some space," he said.
He hurried over to me and said quietly, "Let's go."
I nodded and walked out with him, leaving behind this suffocating "home."
Once we were in the car, Maddox drove in silence.
After a long while, he finally spoke up. "Anastasia, you really stood your ground today."
"I know," I replied.
"Dad doesn't handle confrontation well. He only gives in when you go easy on him. You really embarrassed him back there," Maddox said.
"Is his dignity really more important than my future?" I shot back.
Maddox went quiet again.
He couldn't answer that.
In his world, his father's dignity and the Harrison family's reputation were like the sky—untouchable, above everything else.
But in my world, I was my own sky.
"Beatrix isn't as simple as she looks," Maddox suddenly said.
"Mm," I replied.
"She's been in our family for eighteen years, and she's really good at getting on Mom and Dad's good side. Just be careful around her," he warned.
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said.
I didn't give Beatrix much thought.
She was nothing but a manipulative little crybaby. If I ignored her, she couldn't do a thing to me.
Right now, my biggest enemy was the hundreds of topics I had to master for the SATs.
The car pulled up in front of my apartment building.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to get out.
"Anastasia," Maddox called out. "I'll help you talk to Dad about moving your household registration to the Harrison family."
"Thanks," I replied.
For the first time, I genuinely meant it when I said thanks.
He was helping me not out of guilt, but out of a budding sense of siblinghood.
I stepped into my apartment and closed the door.
The outside world's chaos faded away.
I walked into the study, taking in the wall of bookshelves and the spacious desk, and a wave of calm washed over me.
This was where the real battle began.
I brewed myself a cup of coffee and cracked open a fresh practice test.
Time slipped away, minute by minute.
By the time I finished the last analysis problem, it was already past midnight.
I stretched, getting ready to freshen up for the night.
Just as I stepped out of the study, the doorbell rang.
Who was knocking this late?
I walked over and peeked through the peephole.