Chapter 4

Before I could even process his words, William began to tell me the story of what happened years ago.

"When you were a year old, your mother said she was taking you to a local market."

"But she never came back. I called the police, but no matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find a trace of either of you."

"The investigators told me she had most likely run away with you. It happened a lot back then."

"I really thought she had fallen in love with someone else and took you with her. So, I filed for divorce. Later, I met Valerie, and she helped me rebuild my life."

"It wasn't until I found your DNA match recently that I realized you had been living in a group home all these years. Your mother... she must have dumped you on the side of the road back then."

"Thank God a kind stranger found you and took you to the shelter, otherwise you would have died out there..."

His words felt like sharp needles stabbing directly into my heart.

Was it true?

Did my mother really abandon me?

I stood there, paralyzed, as tears poured down my cheeks.

Seeing my state, William gently patted my head.

"I know it's hard to accept, Chloe. But I need you to move on so you can start your new life."

"Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be in the other room."

With that, he walked out with Valerie.

I clutched the cartoon band-aid in my hand, a suffocating darkness swallowing me whole.

My mother didn't want me. My father had a new family.

My existence felt entirely pointless.

Hearing the faint sound of laughter from the other room where William, Valerie, and Evie were, the last string in my mind snapped.

I don't know how long I stood there, but by the time I snapped out of it, it was late at night.

I quietly crept up to the roof of the mansion, clutching the band-aid.

Staring at the little bear pattern, I laughed through my tears.

"Mom, you're a liar."

With that, I took a step forward and jumped.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying safely in my bed, completely unharmed.

On the nightstand beside me, there was a brand-new cartoon bear band-aid.

In that moment, I knew. My mom had saved me.

She had never abandoned me. She loved me more than life itself.

I resolved to stay alive. I would live until the day I could finally hold her in my arms.

From that day on, I was no longer quiet or sullen. I became active, vibrant, and threw myself into my studies.

William and Valerie were shocked by my sudden transformation, but they were genuinely happy to see me thriving.

Even though William had destroyed all photos of my mother in his anger years ago, leaving me with no idea what she looked like, it didn't matter.

I studied as hard as I could. If I climbed high enough, I would eventually find her.

And when that day came, I would stand proudly by her side.

Years later, when the SAT scores were released, I received a call from the admissions office.

"Chloe Sterling, you scored a perfect 1600. You are the state valedictorian."

"Harvard's prestigious finance program has extended an invitation. Would you like to accept?"

William was ecstatic when he heard the news.

"That's my girl! You'll study finance and take over the Sterling Group one day!"

But my face remained completely blank. I said softly,

"I'm not going to Harvard. I made a promise to my mom. I'm going to find her."

William's face instantly twisted in rage.

He pointed a finger at my face and yelled,

"I thought you had grown out of this nonsense! You're still as naive as you were years ago!"

"I told you, she abandoned you! You don't even know who she is or what she looks like!"

"I'm warning you, Chloe. If you run off to chase this imaginary mother of yours, you are cut off from the Sterling family! I will disown you!"

I didn't argue. I went straight to my room and packed my bags.

That very night, I moved out of the Sterling mansion. No matter how much William pleaded afterward, I never looked back.

Because I finally knew who my mother was.