“It’s my fault… Since your sister has already hardened her heart, there’s nothing I can do. I’ve written my will. I’ll sell blood—today, I’ll sell blood.”
I gritted my teeth, my throat filling with the taste of iron.
“I can pay for myself. I don’t need money from this house. If you’re selling blood, who exactly are you selling it for?”
At my words, Margaret’s eyes widened in shock, her whole body trembling.
“Emily, what are you saying? Everything I do is for you—of course it’s for you…”
I let out a cold laugh.
“I told you. I don’t need your money. Why torture yourself selling blood?”
Margaret stared at me, eyes filled with unfamiliar helplessness.
“You may not need money, but your brother does, your dad does, the house does. I have no choice, Emily, no choice at all.”
I fixed my gaze on her.
“Then why pretend it’s for me? When in truth, it’s because…”
Before I could say a word, a heavy kick landed on my stomach.
“You dare talk back? We raised you all these years just so you could argue with your parents? We’ve worked ourselves half to death, and you don’t show any understanding—you just keep adding to our burden. And you still dare talk back?”
Cold sweat broke out instantly. Daniel Carter hobbled out of the bedroom.
“We raised you for eighteen years. Finally thought we could breathe a little easier, but no—you’re already thinking of bleeding us dry. Emily Carter, how could you be so black-hearted?”
I struggled to breathe, tears blurring my vision.
Margaret Carter’s voice cut sharply through the air.
“Don’t scold her, don’t scold her. It’s my fault. If she wants to study, let her go.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. Stumbling, I ran outside.
But soon, the phone calls began, relentless harassment from all sides.
Finally, they even called the police, asking them to persuade me to come home.
When I returned, Margaret’s eyes were swollen from crying, Daniel slumped powerless on the couch, and Ryan Carter glared at me with righteous fury.
I almost laughed.
All this, just because I wanted to go to college.
Margaret wiped away her tears, her gaze suddenly firm, no longer meek and pleading. Her voice was cold.
“I know. You’ve grown up, you have your own mind now. You don’t need this family anymore. My begging is useless.”
“So let’s settle this. You’re an adult now. You should contribute. And even if you won’t, at least pay back what you’ve already taken.”
Ryan nodded darkly.