They Rejected an SSS Bloodline, Big Mistake Chapter 04

They Rejected an SSS Bloodline, Big Mistake Chapter 04

By sunset, I heard the front door unlock.

My parents, my brother, and Delilah all walked in carrying armfuls of bags.

Delilah had a brand-new white dress on, and she was spinning around holding Gideon’s hand.

“Does it look good, Gideon? Dad just bought it for me for my coming-of-age!”

Gideon nodded and smiled, his eyes full of love. “It looks amazing, it fits you perfectly.”

Mom walked over to me, dug a pink burlap bag out of the very bottom of a shopping bag, and handed it to me.

“Sera, I thought this would be perfect for you to carry your books, I made sure to grab one for you.”

I took the free promotional bag with the territory market logo printed on it.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said flatly.

“See? Sera’s always so easy.” Dad patted my shoulder, looking proud. “Not like Lila—she loves dressing up and costs so much. You never care about this stuff, you save money and you’re such a good girl.”

I stood there, my fingers rubbing the rough burlap fabric, and said nothing.

They never once asked me. “Sera, do you want this?”

They just automatically assumed Delilah deserved the best, and I only deserved the leftover free stuff, and I should get a pat on the back for being “sensible” about it.

Delilah watched me silently, then suddenly tugged on Mom’s sleeve.

“Mom, did I spend too much? Sera looks upset.”

She turned to look at me, guilt all over her face, and stuffed the shopping bags into my hands.

“Sera, how about I give you all these clothes and bags?

“Our parents already secretly sent me an 80,000 coming-of-age reward, and Dorian gave me 20,000 more… I have more than enough. I don’t need any of these. You can have them all!”

The air in the living room went dead silent instantly.

Dad’s hand froze mid-air, halfway through pouring soda. Dorian’s face also shifted slightly.

I had never heard a single word about this 100,000 reward.

“Don’t overthink this, Sera.” Dorian broke the silence first. “I just started my internship with the Guards, so I’m tight on cash right now. Once I get my stipend next month, I’ll definitely get you a big bonus too.”

“Right, right!” Mom chimed in quickly. “The family CD won’t mature until next month. When it does, I’ll get you a gift too, I promise I don’t play favorites.”

They explained frantically, like they were covering up some dirty secret.

I looked at their panicked faces and thought it was hilarious.

“No need,” I said.

“Don’t be mad at Mom and Dad, Sera.” Delilah bit her lower lip. Her gaze suddenly landed on the chipped wooden music box on my desk.

“Sera, if you’re really angry… I’ll trade you all these new clothes for that wooden bear music box on your desk, okay? I’ve always wanted it so bad.”

It was the only thing Grandma left me before she died.

When I was ten, Mom and Dad took Delilah to the Central Territory and left me alone with Grandma in the countryside.

On a pouring rainy day, Grandma held my little hand and bought me this music box at the town fair with the loose change she’d saved from selling animal furs.

She patted my head and said, “Whatever Lila has, my Sera gets too.”

Every time I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore, I’d open it, and I’d feel like Grandma was still right there with me.

I could feel her soul staying with me always.

When I went through my hardest transformation, I felt her holding me—that was why I turned into a rare white wolf, a secret no one else knew.

And now, Delilah wanted to steal it from me.