NovelEnglish
Chapter 1642
Skyler’s phone buzzed with a new message from the councelor in their group chat.
[Skyler, this is the one who will be joining you in the speech. He’s a senior.]
[Work on your own speech, and he’ll handle his. Tomorrow at 2 PM, meet in the B Wing auditorium to practice
working together – the opening ceremony is a big deal, no room for mistakes.]
Skyler shot back a quick, “Got it,” and didn’t give it another thought.
Then she scrolled to her sister’s chat. [Hey Iris, how’s the new term treating you?]
Iris replied, [Skyler, I miss you like crazy. How much longer until I can come to the Capital to see you?]
[Just focus on your studies, and in a few years, you can come to the Capital for college. Then we’ll be back
together.] Skyler typed, trying to sound more upbeat than she felt.e2
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIris answered with a sad, [Skyler…]
[What’s up, Iris?] Skyler asked, sensing her sister’s distress.
After a pause, Iris confided, [Mom says we’re jinxes because we replaced our brother that she never had.]
Those cruel words were all too familiar to Skyler; she’d heard them so often they practically echoed in her ears. At
first, such comments made her cry and question why her mother wished she was a boy instead. But over time,
Skyler grew numb to the hurt.
In this day and age, it was maddening that some families still preferred sons, especially families like theirs. Hearing
these things herself was bad enough, but for her parents to say it to Iris too was outrageous.
Before leaving for the Capital, they had promised to treat Iris better.
Holding back her pain and anger, Skyler messaged Iris. [Ignore what they say. Remember what I’ve told you, we
haven’t taken anyone’s place.]
Iris, not fully understanding but trusting her sister, simply replied, [Okay.]
After making sure Iris was settled for the night, Skyler sent a message to their mother, Barbara. [You promised me.
Please, spare Iris from those hurtful words.]
Barbara replied swiftly, [Kalene told me you need to have Zavier’s child within six months.]
Skyler didn’t respond. She and Zavier, her supposed fiancé, couldn’t stand each other. She had already moved out
of the Rivera household and hadn’t seen Zavier in ages. There was no way she’d be having his child in six months.
But Barbara persisted, [If you don’t produce an heir for the Rivera family within half a year, they will have no choice
but to ‘return’ you. And if that happens, your sister will have to take your place and do what you couldn’t.]
The words were like daggers to Skyler’s eyes. She understood every word, but strung together, they formed a
message so vile it was almost unreadable.
How could parents be so cruel?
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmYet, she knew not all parents were like that. Above her bunk, Emma was on a video call with her parents, her voice
lively and full of affection. “Mom, Dad, don’t worry. My roommates are great, and they’re really kind to me.”
Through the speaker, Skyler heard Emma’s parents. “Honey, we know you’re doing well, but we still miss you.” Her
mother’s voice was warm with love. “And I miss you too, pumpkin. We’ve decided to visit you in the Capital at the
end of the month,” her father added.
“Mom, Dad, I’m not a little kid anymore. You’ve got to let go…”
Their words, so full of care, suddenly seemed hazy to Skyler. She wished just for a moment that she could have
been born into a simple, loving family like Emma’s. But life didn’t deal with ‘what ifs.
Curling up in her bed, Skyler pulled the covers tight around her, wiping away tears she wouldn’t allow anyone to
see.
She reminded herself that she had no luxury to cry. For a child with no one to show affection toward her, even tears
were a privilege denied.
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