Chapter 4Reborn: I Won't Give Up My Future Again

The morning sunlight streamed onto the cramped balcony.

Wade's furious voice came from the living room. "Sadie, get out here!"

I slung my bag over my shoulder and opened the door.

Everyone was sitting on the living room couch. Henry was there too, sitting beside Winnie with a cup of coffee in his hand.

Wade pointed at a computer brochure on the coffee table, his face livid.

"We went over the spending limit while we were shopping yesterday. Winnie still needs a high-end computer and a DSLR camera for school. We're short 10,000 dollars.

"You've been tutoring and handing out flyers for the past two years. You must have at least 10,000 dollars saved up by now, right?

"Transfer it to me. I'll get Winnie the rest of her equipment."

He said it like an order, as if my money had always belonged to the whole family.

I stood there and looked at them.

"That money is for my tuition and living expenses," I said calmly.

"What tuition?" Dad slammed his hand on the table, making the cups rattle. "You couldn't even get into university! What do you need tuition money for when all you do is teach at a tutoring center?

"You eat our food and live under our roof, and now you're making a fuss over helping Winnie buy a few things?"

He jabbed a finger at my face, spittle flying as he spoke. "We've raised you all these years, and you don't have an ounce of gratitude! You're nothing but selfish!"

Winnie let out a soft, aggrieved sob. "Forget it, Wade. If Sadie doesn't want to help, it's fine. I can use my old computer. It can't run the design software, but I can always stay up late at the library."

The more she said things like that, the angrier my family became.

Henry put down his coffee cup, his brows furrowing as he looked at me with disappointment. "Sadie, you've really let me down.

"It's only 10,000 dollars. If you really can't afford it, I'll cover it. But the way you shut out your own family, acting so selfish and cold… I honestly can't believe it."

He stood up and walked over to me, lecturing me in his usual condescending tone. "Winnie is your sister. She's the hope of your family right now.

"You're already a failure. If you won't help her, fine. But do you really have to hold her back now?"

A failure, huh?

I looked at Henry's handsome face and pushed up my glasses, still held together with tape.

I met his eyes and spoke each word clearly, "I'm not giving her a cent."

Henry's expression darkened. He'd thought that I'd obey once he stepped in, just like I always had.

Wade stormed over and raised his hand to hit me. "What did you say?"

Henry reached out to stop him, but he still looked at me in disbelief. "Sadie, stop making a fuss. Just apologize and hand over the money. Then, we can put this behind us. Otherwise, there's nothing I can do for you."

Dad stood up and pointed at the front door, his voice thundering through the living room. "If you don't hand over the money, then don't ever call me your father again!

"Take your junk and get the hell out of my house! And don't ever come back!"

The living room fell silent. Everyone stared at me, waiting for me to apologize like I always did.

Henry lifted his chin slightly, certain I wouldn't dare walk out that door.

I looked at them. Every one of their faces was filled with the same sense of entitlement.

"Okay." I nodded. "I'll leave."

Without a moment's hesitation, I turned and walked toward the door.

Henry froze, then stepped forward. "Sadie, have you lost your mind? Once you walk out that door, you'll have nothing!"

I wrapped my hand around the doorknob without looking back. "Henry, we're done."

The lock clicked, and I strode out. The door slammed shut behind me, cutting me off from the stunned silence inside.

The second I stepped into the elevator, Dad's phone suddenly rang. He frowned and answered it.

On the other end, my high school teacher, Jane Lowe, was practically shouting with excitement.

"Mr. Larson! I've got incredible news! Sadie has been accepted into Orivelle Institute of Technology! She got a perfect score on the SAT! Your family has raised a true genius!"

Dad's phone slipped from his hand and slammed onto the coffee table.

Everyone's expressions froze.