And me? I hadn't dared replace clothes I'd worn for ten years. Hair dry and brittle, nothing but skin and bones. A walking corpse.
While I cleaned up vomit and filth for a few hundred dollars, their precious son blew money in luxury stores like it was nothing.
I stared at them coldly.
"You know the last step of the civil service exam is a background check, right?"
Mom and Dad's faces changed instantly. Ryan's eyes flickered.
"What do you mean?"
I sneered, picking up the fruit knife from the table and lowering my voice.
"First, give me back my wages. Second, I want a written guarantee stating clearly that the debt is yours—it has nothing to do with me. Third, I'm moving out tomorrow. Whatever happens after, I won't come looking for you. Just pretend I don't exist."
"Otherwise, I'll go out and do something stupid, and Ryan won't pass his background check. Ever."
"If you won't let me live in peace, none of us will."
They clearly didn't expect me—the girl who only ever cried and caved—to suddenly snap. Ryan shot to his feet, then looked at Dad in panic.
Dad was shocked and furious. He reached out to hit me. "You're rebelling!"