- 6.
Like grabbing onto a life raft, I grabbed my
mom’s ankle, screaming, “Mom, it’s me, Brooke! Tell them, tell them I’m your real
daughter!”
The people who’d been so aggressive a
second ago hesitated, seeing me grab her
leg.
I looked at my parents, full of hope, thinking
they cared about me after all.
Dad crouched down near me.
Guilt and expectation welled in my eyes, I
lifted my hand.
But he just leaned in and whispered, “You
hurt Tiffany, you think this sob story will get
you off the hook?”
The bubble of hope burst, my hand froze.
Shaking, I turned to Mom, begging her to
save me.
She just looked away and stepped back.
Dad stood up and coldly announced to
everyone, “The Gu family only has one
daughter, and that’s Tiffany. Not this one on
the ground!”
The people around us seemed to understand
<
immediately.
“So, she really is a fake, bet she never
thought she would be exposed.”
“She almost fooled us!”
They swarmed again, kicking and punching
- me.
The pain was so bad I couldn’t fight back.
I curled up, trying to protect myself.
I kicked me in the chest.
Blood filled my mouth.
I spat it out, the pain was unbearable.
Г
I saw a flicker of panic, a hint of worry, in my
parents‘ eyes, but they still didn’t come.
closer.
“I hate you! You don’t deserve to be parents!”
I strained to lift my head, screaming, “You
killed Ashley and now you want to kill me for
your precious adopted daughter!”
More blood came out.
My vision blurred, and the world went dark.
Dad looked at me lying still, annoyed, he
frowned.
“Stop faking it! You think you’re winning an
Oscar, eh?”
く
But I couldn’t answer anymore.
Impatient, he went to drag me up.
Then, Ashley and my boss from the airline
hurried over, yelling at everyone to stop.
“Brooke just escaped the riot, Ashley is gone,
and you’re all ganging up on her? Have you
got any conscience at all!”
“I’m reporting this, you’ll all be disciplined!”
Mom and Dad realized I wasn’t faking it.
They panicked, scooped me up, and followed
our boss to the hospital.
