They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 17

They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 17

Summer blazed hot the day I left the base to transfer back to the main research campus in Washington, D.C.

Stepping onto familiar D.C. pavement sent a faint wave of disorientation washing over me.

I rarely dwelled on my old life anymore; my days were filled with satisfying, peaceful joy. But old memories surfaced without invitation: the sting of small cruelties, the shaky hope on score-release day, every grueling mile I biked through sweltering heat to tutor kids and save tuition money.

Julian noticed my distant expression, resting his long, warm palm gently on my shoulder and patting it in

quiet comfort.

“I’m alright,” I shook my head. “Just thinking about old memories.”

Julian smiled softly. “Let me tell you something to cheer you up.”

He told me how he’d gone door-to-door in the institute housing complex years back, pitching my tutoring

services until his voice gave out.

He’d told every parent I was a top-tier SAT scholar with limited free hours, urging them to book sessions quickly before my schedule filled up.

I finally understood why every family had treated me with such gentle, unprompted kindness back then.

It wasn’t blind luck-Julian had quietly paved every path for me behind the scenes.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

Julian instantly slipped back into his playful, cheeky mood. “Make it a kiss to pay me back.”

“Quit it,” I huffed, cheeks flushing bright red.

Armed security officers assigned to protect our two lead institute researchers stood all around us; his bold teasing in front of the team left me utterly flustered.

After returning to D.C., I never reached out to my birth family, even as they bombarded my unreachable phone

with endless calls and texts. I ignored every attempt to contact me.

Somehow, they’d tracked down my campus schedule and blocked the rear exit of a research conference I

attended.

Mom and Dad looked drastically aged. Owen’s reckless, stubborn business choices had drained most of the family’s wealth, their company teetering on bankruptcy after several risky failed investments.

Linda remained reckless and ungrateful. She’d skipped all college prep to party and chase wealthy older men,

hoping to recapture the sheltered princess lifestyle she’d known as a child.

Mom, Dad, and Owen caught her sneaking out to meet a businessman old enough to be her father, dragged

her home, locked her in her bedroom, and punished her harshly.

Marcus had given up on retaking the SAT entirely, resigning himself to a mediocre university and a major he

hated. Severe academic burnout left him on the verge of dropping out multiple semesters running.

He scraped by for years to finally graduate, yet never landed a job matching his ambitions, stuck living at

home relying on his parents’ income.

Julian filled me in on all of this early on, but when he saw I felt no trace of spite or satisfaction at their misfortunes-truly fully healed from their abuse-he stopped bringing them up entirely.

Standing face-to-face with them now, they all felt like total strangers: Mom, Dad, Owen, Linda, and a worn,

defeated Marcus standing at the back of the group.

Mom rushed forward and clamped both hands tight around mine, fat tears spilling down her cheeks. “Bella, I’m finally holding you again. We’ve come to find you dozens of times, but institute security refused to let us

see you…”

I spoke flatly, no warmth in my tone. “I ordered all staff to withhold my location from your family.”

Mom went still, her expression faltering. She’d scripted a tearful reconciliation in her head-not this quiet,

impenetrable distance.

Dad pushed past her to cut into the conversation. “Owen’s never had a head for business. We’d trust your

completely to run the family company.”

“You’ve built powerful connections within federal research circles now-you have to pull some strings to save our failing business. We’re on the brink of collapse without government project funding you could

secure for us.”

He grabbed Linda roughly by the wrist and shoved her forward in front of me. “We know you resent Linda,

hate how we overlooked you all these years. We brought her here to formally apologize to you. If you come

home, you’ll be the most cherished child in this household from now on…”

Linda’s eyes burned with unmasked hatred, jaw tight as she glared up at me, as if she wished she could erase

me entirely.

Once, I’d ached desperately to hear those promises of love and priority. But I was an adult now. Empty

apologies and last-minute remorse were cheap, only meant to manipulate vulnerable children.

“There’s no need for any of this. I haven’t considered you my family for years, just as you never treated me

like your daughter growing up. I never want to cross paths with any of you again.”

Julian sprinted over with a squad of security guards, breathless from rushing across the campus.

His voice sharp and authoritative. “Escort all of them off institute grounds immediately-ensure no harm

comes to Academician Miller.”

He stepped firmly in front of me, shielding my body with his tall frame. Through the gap of his shoulders, I caught a glimpse of Marcus’s face, drained and gray with despair.

As security officers pulled the group away, Marcus twisted free long enough to call out stubbornly. “Bella-

who is he to you?”

I didn’t spare him a single glance, lacing my fingers tight through Julian’s and turning to walk away. “My

fiancé.”

All fight left Marcus’s frame in an instant, and he let the guards lead him away without resistance.

When we arrived home, crimson light from the setting sun warmed the glass. The apartment was quiet, ours,

and enough.

This apartment was our newly renovated home, the first space I’d ever truly consider mine-a real family home, shared only with Julian.

He wrapped his arms around me, and we stood side-by-side watching the sun sink slow below the skyline.

From this moment forward, every day would be gentle, bright, and entirely mine.