Parents Didn't Know I Was Released Today

His life has always been perfect, while mine has been utterly destroyed. And now, he suddenly remembers to care about my studies. How ironic. From elementary school to high school, I studied like my life depended on it, just to change my fate. Back then, I believed that as long as I worked hard enough, I could have a bright future. But I was wrong. In the face of power, all effort becomes meaningless. With just one word, the Lockes could pin me to the pillar of shame, dragging me from heaven straight into hell. I once wanted to be a teacher — someone who could change other people’s destinies. College entrance exams, graduate school, a Ph.D.… all those plans I’d carefully written down in my notebooks have now become a joke. I didn’t become the person I wanted to be. Instead, I became a “convict.” The stain on me will never be erased — it’ll even be written into my record, haunting my children, and their children after them. My fingers clenched tight, nails digging into my palms until the pain turned numb. “Bayou Pointe Academy.” My voice was soft, almost gentle. But those four words hit the ground like stones breaking the surface of a lake — even the air froze. Nathaniel’s face flushed red, Marielle’s lashes trembled, and Julian’s breath caught. Of course they knew what that school was — the most selective public high school in all of Bayou Pointe. A place that cared nothing for money, only for scores. I spent three years there, ranking first every single year. Julian’s expression twisted, first in shock, then in uncertainty. His voice tightened. “That’s impossible. You’re lying. Bayou Pointe Academy is in the suburbs — more than thirty kilometers from home. You used to ride that old bike every day—” He suddenly stopped. His lips trembled. The rest of his words died in his throat. I looked at him, the corners of my mouth curling upward. The cold laugh came instinctively. “I’d rather ride that old bike than go to school with Evangeline. Because we never even went to the same school.” I stepped closer, forcing him into a corner of his own world, leaving him nowhere to retreat. “I never had breakfast with you, because I had to wake up at four a.m. to ride two hours just to make it to morning class.” “At noon, I didn’t come home either — there wasn’t enough time for the trip. When I couldn’t afford lunch, I just drank water to get through the day. By the time I got home, you’d all eaten already. I had to make do with leftovers — and you laughed, saying I was born low, that I loved eating scraps, and that I looked like a starving ghost.” Marielle suddenly burst into tears, sobs shaking her whole body as tears streamed down her face. “Aria, I’m sorry… I didn’t know you went through so much. It’s all my fault.” I looked at her, my heart utterly still. “You don’t need to apologize to me,” I said evenly. “You didn’t raise me. You don’t have any real feelings for me — I understand. I’ve been used to it for a long time. Isn’t that right, Marielle?” Her crying stopped abruptly. For a moment, I could almost hear the air shatter around us. Then, a memory from three years ago flashed through my mind — her face that day, soft and gentle, as if she were comforting me. “Aria, please. I’m begging you. You’re stronger than Evangeline. You survived in an orphanage, so I know you’ll manage in prison, too. Just take the blame for her, won’t you?” Those words cut through my memory like a knife. Now, watching her trembling figure, I felt nothing but cold detachment. She pressed a hand to her chest, her face turning pale, as if she might collapse at any moment. How ironic. The security footage of Evangeline pushing Juliette down the stairs — she was the one who deleted it. She knew that was my only proof of innocence. And yet, she said nothing. I stared at her faltering silhouette, feeling no pity — only a chilling calm. At last, I understood: So-called “family” was never my safe haven. “Enough!” Julian’s voice was sharp as a blade, cutting straight into me without mercy. “Stop playing the victim. Sure, we neglected you before — that was our mistake. But don’t you bear any responsibility? You were jealous that Evangeline had a better life, so you bullied her, using all this to get back at us. You’re bitter, unpleasant, and blame everyone else for your own darkness.” I looked at him quietly, without arguing. Inside, whatever faint warmth remained in me froze solid, inch by inch. “Julian, don’t talk to your sister like that,” Marielle’s voice trembled with tears, her eyes red and wet. “Mom, you’re still defending her?” Julian snapped, turning sharply. Fury burned so hot in his eyes it almost spilled over. “She’s been taking advantage of our guilt all this time, that’s why she’s become so reckless! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have pushed Juliette down the stairs and framed Evangeline for it! We let her sit in prison for three years — now she’s holding a grudge, so she came here today just to make a scene in front of all the guests!” Marielle’s fingers clenched tightly around her handkerchief, her face turning alternately pale and ashen. She avoided my gaze — and in that fleeting glance, I saw guilt flicker across her eyes. That single act of avoidance spoke louder than any words ever could. “Enough. Both of you, stop talking.” Nathaniel finally spoke, his tone as condescending as ever. “Aria, why didn’t you tell us you were coming home? If we’d known, your mother and I could’ve prepared a proper gown for you.” I froze. “You… didn’t know I was released today?” “Of course not,” Nathaniel replied, frowning slightly but keeping his gentlemanly composure. “If we had known, your father would’ve sent a driver to pick you up. Aria, how did you get home?” I turned my head toward Julian. My voice was calm — almost mockingly so. “I came back in Julian’s car. He said you’d prepared a welcome-home banquet for me.” “A welcome banquet?” someone nearby murmured. “Wasn’t today supposed to be the Locke family’s eldest daughter Evangeline’s birthday party?” “Yeah, the invitation literally said it was her birthday. Since when did it become a welcome banquet for her sister?” “A welcome party for a convict? Now that’s something new.” Whispers rippled through the crowd — soft, fragmented sounds that pricked against my skin like needles. Julian’s face went rigid. His lips parted, but no words came out. I laughed. A bitter, self-mocking laugh. So, the fool was me all along. Nathaniel and Marielle only remembered that today was Evangeline’s birthday — how could they possibly remember it was the day I was released from prison? As for the “welcome banquet” Julian spoke of… it turned out to be nothing more than a delusion of my own making. A dull ache welled up in my chest. I had actually expected something. I didn’t want to stay another second. I turned around, ready to leave. And just then — a blur of white lunged at me from the front. Before I could even react, pain exploded through my body. “Bang!”