The Daughter Allowed Only 10 Seconds of Voice Chapter 04

The Daughter Allowed Only 10 Seconds of Voice Chapter 04

At dinner, Mom and Dad were still excitedly discussing the interview.

Mom said the reporter had called her again, hoping to do a series following Mira’s recovery from speech anxiety.

“This is a great opportunity.”

“Every step Mira takes from now on can be preserved.”

Dad smiled and nodded.

“The pack council also thinks it’ll be good for Silverpine Pack’s image. Mira is practically a gift from the Moon Goddess.”

Mira ducked her head, embarrassed.

Corin was already planning the next Vale Family Archive update.

In the middle of all that joy, I set down my fork.

I’d decided to tell them before I left.

“I’ve been accepted to Northreach Academy. I’m leaving for Whitehorse soon.”

Mom blinked, then frowned.

“Really? Are you making up stories to get our attention again?”

“Northreach Academy is the top werewolf academy founded by the biggest packs in the North. With your grades, community college would be a stretch. How dare you claim they accepted you?”

Dad’s face went dark too.

“Tessa, that’s enough.”

“We’ve been busy with Mira’s interview all week, and you choose now to make yourself the center of attention?”

“If you really had an offer, why would this be the first we’ve heard of it?”

I looked at him and almost laughed.

I did tell you.

Right on the day we recorded the Voice Archive.

“Actually, next month I’m going to—”

Then Mom pressed pause.

To this day, they’ve never let me finish it.

I was about to speak when Mira’s eyes went red.

“Tessa, are you still upset about today’s interview?”

“I really didn’t mean to say those things…”

Corin hurried to comfort her.

“No, this isn’t about you. Tessa just loves talking nonsense to make us listen to her.”

They clustered around Mira again.

Not one of them heard me out.

There was nothing left to say.

I stood up and went to my room to pack.

…

That night, I dragged my suitcase out of my room.

Passing my parents’ room, I heard them still talking.

“Tessa can’t actually be going to Northreach, can she? She has been suspiciously quiet lately.”

That was Dad.

“Whatever. As long as Mira can talk.” Mom’s voice was cold.

I carried my suitcase carefully, walked slowly to the front door, and eased it open.

I looked back one last time at the home I’d lived in for eighteen years.

“Goodbye.”

I whispered it to the empty living room.

The lock clicked softly, and the door shut.

The house fell silent again.

…

The next morning, the family gathered to watch the newly aired interview on TV.

Dad called me for breakfast. There was no answer.

Mom went upstairs, annoyed, and pushed open my door.

The room was tidy. Empty.

“Tessa?”

She stood in the doorway and called out.

This time, her voice was noticeably different.

At the same time, the interview on TV downstairs was reaching its end.

Hadley’s voice came on.

“Before we sign off, we received one more special recording.”

“From Mira Vale’s sister, Tessa Vale.”

Everyone in the living room stopped moving at once.

On TV, the ten seconds they’d heard countless times played first.

“Actually, next month I’m going to…”

It was supposed to end right there.

But this time, the pause button never came down.

My voice kept going.

“Actually, next month I’m going to Northreach Academy.”

“At least three years. I’m not coming back.”