Chapter 3

"Don't leave me! Dad! Mom!" I screamed.

I ran desperately, falling and scrambling back up again, not even feeling the pain when my knees scraped against the ground.

Finally, I spotted the familiar car, just starting to move.

"Mom, Dad, please don't leave me!" I caught up to the car and pounded on the window, tears streaming down my face. I blurted out promises, "I'll be good, I promise! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push Rita... Please, don't go! Don't go!"

The car stopped for a moment, then suddenly sped off.

The side of my body scraped against the car, and the momentum sent me sprawling to the ground like a torn sheet of paper.

As I watched the car grow smaller and smaller in the distance, the truth finally sank in. They didn't want me anymore...

All those promises about taking me out for food, about waiting for me. They were all lies...

From now on, I never want to love Mom and Dad again.

Some kind strangers took me to the police station.

The police officer asked me my name and my parents' names, and I told him their names.

But when they called home, the people there said there was no child named Keira in the Lambert family.

I stayed at the police station for a long time, and in the end, a strange woman came to pick me up.

"Keira, I'm your mom," she said, moving to embrace me.

I backed away, scared, shaking my head hard. "No, you're not my mom. My mom is Erika Walter."

When she heard that, she suddenly started crying and grabbed me, hugging me so tight I could barely breathe.

"Your mom is Judy Massey! That's me! Not that bitch Erika! You're my daughter!" she sobbed.

I fought to get out of her arms. She called my mom a bitch. I couldn't stand her.

She stared at my face, as if she was looking right through me, searching for someone else. "Your eyes... they're exactly like your dad's. How about I take you to see your dad?"

I lowered my head, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. After a long pause, I nodded.

If Mom and Dad just apologized, I'd forgive them. Mom always said good kids have big hearts.

I gave a gentle nod.

When we stood outside the Lambert family's gate again, she took my hand.

Through the glass, I saw Dad braiding Rita's hair while Mom picked out a dress for her.

I lowered my head, not wanting to see.

Judy gripped my hand firmly and marched us inside.

When Mom and Dad saw us, their expressions turned ugly.

Dad snapped at the butler, "Who let these two in here?"

The butler stammered nervously, "I saw her holding Miss Lambert's hand, so I just..."

Mom shot him a glare. "Who said she's Miss Lambert? There's only one Miss Lambert in this family, and that's Rita!"

The old butler realized he'd messed up and hurried to say he'd throw us out.

I was lost, on the verge of tears, when Judy suddenly whipped out a knife and held it to my throat.

Judy let out a cold laugh. "Cyrus, you're fucking ruthless!"

Dad's face darkened. "Judy, what the hell are you doing? It's over between us!"

"Over?" Judy laughed and cried at the same time, screaming at Dad. "Who gave you the right to say it's over? You were the one who wanted me first! What makes you think you can just end it?"

My neck burned with pain, the blade digging in so deep it felt like it was slicing right through my skin...

I tried desperately to jerk away, but Judy pinned my shoulders down, holding me so tight I couldn't budge.

She was completely losing control, screaming, "Cyrus, I gave up my shot at going abroad for you! I had our child for you, got thrown out of my family because of you... You'll never make it up to me!"

Dad just stared, his face cold and emotionless. "That was all your choice. And you know better than anyone how this kid came about."

Judy let out a crazed laugh. "Enough with the crap! I'm asking you one last time. Are you going to marry me or not?"

Mom let out a cold laugh. "What kind of joke is this? As his ex-girlfriend, you should stay out of sight. Stop humiliating yourself. And don't think I've forgotten about you switching the child!"

Judy snapped, "Did I ask you to speak? You shameless side chick! Slut! That brat you gave birth to doesn't even deserve to live!"

Judy was getting more and more hysterical, dragging the knife hard back and forth across my neck.

It hurt so much... My neck stung, wet and sticky. It had to be blood.

My voice was shaking. "It hurts... It hurts so much... Judy..."

Dad took a step forward, his frown deepening as he looked at me. "Judy, this is between adults. Don't drag Keira into this. Let her go."

Judy sneered. "Let her go? Do you even care about her anymore? Fine! If you don't divorce that bitch today, I'll kill her right here!"

Terrified, I started struggling instinctively, my eyes pleading with Dad for help.

But Dad just went quiet for a moment, then said, "Whatever."

I couldn't believe it. My body felt pinned in place, like I was paralyzed, and my will to fight slowly faded away.