- 10.
In the police station, my parents shouted at me.
Dad: “I wasted years on you, you’re ungrateful. I don’t want you as a daughter!”
Mom: “How could you do this? How will they
show their faces again?”
Charles ordered, “Drop the charges. I’ll deal
with you later!”
I shook my head, looking him in the eye. “Who embarrassed the family?”
Elizabeth cried, blaming me. “They’re your
sister and brother. You sent them to jail. You did something disgusting.”
“So it’s okay for them to have cov and steal my
<
8:43
“So, it’s okay for them to have sex and steal my
essay, but it’s my fault for exposing it? Is that what you mean?”
“They made a mistake, we could’ve solved it.
You told everyone and made us all look like
shit!”
I stood up. “Did you treat me like family?”
“I showed you the essay. You saw it. But you
lied.”
I had planned everything.
I let Elizabeth see the title of the essay. I told
her it would win an award, and to keep it a
secret.
I wanted to test her.
If she loved me, she would keep my secret and
share my success.
But I wasn’t her choice.
She chose Harlow, not me.
This battle destroyed us all.
I refused to settle and sued them.
Harlow and Jake were sentenced for theft and
copyright infringement. Harlow got three years,
and Jake got five.
At the sentencing, the family cried, catching
people’s attention.
But people scorned them.
I left the court.
I got my early acceptance back.
Before school, I packed my bags.
8:43
I
69+
They looked tired. Their hair was gray. They had
aged.
My family was in prison. My daughter had
broken with me.
Charles couldn’t save his company.
Elizabeth cried, “Olivia, we’re sorry. Forgive us.”
“Your sister and brother know they were wrong. Family is family. Don’t blame us anymore.”
I hugged her.
She hugged me tight, but I whispered in her ear.
“You’re not my family. You’re the Sterling
family. I’m a Walker, and I’ve got nothing to do
with you.”
I patted her back, grabbed my bag, and headed.
for the gate.
Olivia Walker would start her new life.
-The End–
