The Daughter She Never Chose Chapter 15

The Daughter She Never Chose Chapter 15

The scam ring demanded an astronomical ransom for his release.

My parents begged and borrowed from everyone they knew. They scraped together every last dime they could find. The people on the other end of the line said it would be enough. They’d let him go once the money cleared.

The money cleared. And after that… dead silence.

Julian was never coming back.

But he wasn’t my problem anymore.

As for my parents…

Debt collectors hounded them day and night. The life they’d gotten used to—the life I’d paid for—was gone. In just a few short years, they had aged decades.

After a while, they started losing their grip on reality. They’d sit in that rundown shack muttering to themselves, saying my name over and over.

“It was my fault… I shouldn’t have lied to you…”

“I shouldn’t have said those things… Elena, please come home…”

“I know now… you were always the good daughter… Julian was the one who ruined us…”

The relative paused, then added one last detail.

“One time, they saw a girl on the street and thought it was you. They

ran up to her, grabbed her, sobbing hysterically, begging her to forgive
them and come home.”

“It was pitiful.”

I listened. And I felt absolutely nothing.

There was a time when hearing that would’ve broken my heart.

That time was long gone.

The relative’s voice went soft. “They really do miss you. I think they
want to make things right. If you can find it in your heart, just go see
them.”

“At this rate… they might not have much time left.”

I didn’t say yes. I didn’t say no. I just hung up.

I wasn’t completely heartless. Every month, I sent them just enough
to keep a roof over their heads. They wouldn’t starve.

But seeing them again?

There was simply no reason to.

I had my own life now. And for the first time, that was enough.