My Family Will Regret Leaving Me Behind

"You’re a girl, how important can your studies really be? Even if you get into Kingsbridge University, you’ll still have to get married. In the end, you're not even a Vance. Only Kael is the true Vance heir!"

My blood boiled as those words echoed in my mind, a single thought repeating over and over:

"Why?"

I stood up, pointing at Kael. "Kael may share the Vance name, but the blood in his veins isn’t that of the Vance family!"

"Slap!"

A loud, resounding slap hit my face.

The world spun, and stars danced in front of my eyes. I collapsed to the ground, unable to recover for what felt like an eternity.

My father stood over me, his expression dark, his eyes burning with fury.

"Starting tomorrow, you’re not going to school anymore. If I catch you trying to go, I’ll break your legs!"

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears streamed from my eyes, soaking my clothes.

I didn’t understand. Why were they doing this to me?

Like Kael, I was human. I needed love and care too.

But why... why was this happening?

The sky remained pitch black, yet I was already up, preparing breakfast.

Kael finished his meal and hurried off to school, while I followed my father and Yara to the fields.

Half of our family’s land was planted with cabbage, and now it was harvest time.

I swung the sickle, cutting through the stems, and the first cabbage fell to the ground, intact.

Despite it being winter, the sweat soaked my hair after working for just a few hours.

I carried a heavy basket full of cabbages through the uneven land, the immense weight bearing down on me.

As I walked, I suddenly screamed and fell to the ground along with the basket of cabbages.

I tried to stand, but a sharp pain shot up from my ankle.

I knew it was sprained.

"What happened?"

Yara came over, frowning as she saw me on the ground.

I clutched my ankle, my face twisted in pain.

"My foot... I can’t walk."

"Get up! It’s barely been an hour, and you’re already trying to slack off. Did your teachers only teach you how to be lazy?!" Yara scolded, shoving me.

Cold sweat trickled down my face, and I gasped in pain.

"I’m serious. My ankle is sprained."

At that moment, my father put down his sickle and walked over.

He lifted my pant leg, and his face hardened as he saw my swollen ankle.

Yara spat on the ground, muttering under her breath.

"Useless... can’t even handle something so small."

"Fine, take her to the clinic. I’ll stay here and work."

Father’s expression remained unreadable as he stood and returned to his work, swinging the sickle once more.

Yara reluctantly helped me up, grumbling as she guided me toward the clinic.

I hung my head low, limping painfully behind her.

The doctor quickly bandaged my ankle and advised me to rest for a while, to avoid walking.

I gave a wry smile and nodded.

Rest?

That was impossible in this house.

Outside, Yara shoved the bill in front of my face.

"See this? Five hundred! The cabbages you collected don’t even come close to covering this!"

"Such bad luck!"

I returned home, my mind full of frustration. Although I couldn’t do any more farm work, I didn’t want to give Yara the chance to complain, so I went straight to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Three days passed.

My ankle had healed a little, and I was able to walk again, but I was soon called out to help with the autumn harvest.

The winter wind cut sharply against my face, but it was nothing compared to the pain this family had brought me.

Not even a fraction.

I was more determined than ever to escape this place.

Time flew by.

The long, dreary winter break was over, and the start of school was fast approaching.

One morning, Kael packed his bag, ready to head off to school.

I had also prepared my books, intending to go with him, but my father stopped me.

"What do you think you’re doing?"