"What’s too much about it?" Dad shot back, frustrated. "Do you want Scott to get criticized as useless when he starts at the company?"
I didn’t even know how I got back to my room. I crawled under my blanket, but no amount of warmth could stop the chill running through me.
It wasn’t just the cold air, it was the betrayal. How could they do this to their own daughter, just for the sake of an adopted son?
It hit me like a ton of bricks. For them, I had always just been a stepping stone. Profit over people, that was what they believed.
Any sliver of love or loyalty I had left for them was completely gone in that moment.
The next morning, Dad handed me a phone, just like he said he would. But it wasn’t exactly shiny and new.
The box was dusty and he awkwardly wiped it with his sleeve before giving it to me.
"Savannah, graduation’s coming up soon. I got you a second-hand phone, almost like new, 90% at least. You should use this one. People might laugh if you’re still using that old thing when you start working," he said, pretending to be thoughtful.
I looked at him, then at Mom, who was practically beaming, waiting for me to thank them. But I just shook my head.