Chapter 5

Chapter 5

They yanked and shoved, dragging me toward the exit.

I gripped the doorframe with all my might. The wad of paper I’d used to stop the bleeding fell away, and blood began to well up again, snaking down the wood like a crimson serpent.

I was outnumbered and outmatched. My heart felt as if it were plummeting into a frozen abyss.

Perhaps this was it.

This was the moment the magic vanished.

The pumpkin carriage, the glass slippers, the gorgeous dresses, and the warm home-it was all just a dream I was finally waking up from.

Just as I was about to be hauled away, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs behind us.

Carrying a first-aid kit, my Adoptive Mother stood under the warm yellow glow of the hallway’s incandescent light, her gaze cold and sharp.

In that moment, my overwhelming terror transformed into endless grievance. A flood of emotions surged in my throat, and I called out almost instinctively, “Mom…”

My Adoptive Mother’s eyes narrowed. She stepped forward quickly and snapped, “Are you blind? Can’t you see her hand is bleeding?”

My Biological Father didn’t seem to care. “It’s just a scratch. What’s the big deal?”

My Biological Mother picked up the dirty wad of paper from the floor and pressed it back onto my finger. “Let’s go. We’re going home.”

They continued to pull me toward the door.

However, my Adoptive Mother’s hand-slender yet strong-clamped firmly onto my wrist.

She spoke coldly, “You think you can just throw her away when you don’t want her and take her back whenever you please? She’s a human being, not some stray cat or dog on the street. Besides, you took money back then.”

I froze, staring blankly at my Biological Mother.

She guiltily avoided my eyes.

My Biological Father’s face darkened. “It was only two thousand yuan. Once we get the twenty-thousand-yuan population subsidy, we’ll pay you back that two thousand.”

Chu Qi rushed out as well, wrapping his arms tightly around me from behind. “Xiao Jue is already my sister! None of you are taking her away!”

I looked back at him, tears finally spilling over.

He barked at me, “What are you crying for? Use some strength, you dummy!”

The struggle and the shouting grew louder. In the scuffle, my Adoptive Mother’s hair became disheveled, and a button was ripped off her coat.

The neighbors were alerted by the commotion and hurried over to help my Adoptive Mother protect me.

Finding a moment of reprieve, my Adoptive Mother smoothed back her messy hair. The look she gave me was complicated. “Do you want to go with them?”

My Biological Mother caught her breath and managed a small smile. “I went through hell to give birth to her. Of course she’ll come with me.”

My Biological Father also looked certain of his victory.

I carefully took hold of my Adoptive Mother’s hand. “I want to stay. I want to be with you and Big Brother.”

Chu Qi jumped up in excitement, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Did you hear that? Did you hear her? She wants to be with us! Now get the hell out of our house!”

Enraged, my Biological Father raised his hand to slap me. “I gave you life and raised you for six or seven years, and you forget it all in just a few months?”

“I’ll kill you, you ungrateful brat!”

He had always been like this. At the slightest displeasure, he would resort to fists and kicks.

Fear was etched into my very bones. I froze in place, instinctively raising my arms to shield my head.

At the critical moment, my Adoptive Mother yanked me behind her.

The slap landed squarely on her face.

Her cheek swelled instantly, and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.

Chu Qi launched himself like a cannonball, slamming hard into my Biological Father’s stomach.

“How dare you bully my mom! I’ll kill you!”

A fiery rage ignited within me. I lunged forward and bit down hard on my Biological Father’s arm.

The neighbors, unable to stand by after seeing him hit a woman, rushed in together to pin him down.

My Biological Father roared, “She’s my flesh and blood! I’ll hit her if I want, and I’ll curse her if I want! It’s only natural for me to take her back! Who are you to stop me?”

…

Clutching her face, my Adoptive Mother let out a cold, fearless laugh.

“You took two thousand yuan and sold your own daughter! Trafficking children is illegal. You can be arrested and sentenced to at least three to five years!”

Aunt Liu’s eyes darted around as she quickly chimed in, “That’s right! That’s right! Chu Qi, don’t just stand there-call the police!”