They Sang for Her and Saved Me Leftovers I Couldn’t Eat Chapter 05
The next day, the largest private banquet room at the Central Hotel was packed with guests.
Relatives crowded around Wallis, gifts piled high beside her. Mom and Dad beamed, moving table to table offering toasts.
I was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Sabrina?” Dad frowned. “I told her to get here early. What drama is she pulling now?”
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Mom grew embarrassed and texted me, but received no reply.
Furious, she messaged me directly in the family group chat.
[Why are you still upset over that three thousand dollars?]
[Are you really so small-minded as to throw away family ties over money?]
[Get to the hotel this instant for your sister’s college send-off party!]
Relatives heard the story and flooded the chat with accusations, calling me ungrateful, greedy, a traitor to my family.
I read the messages, but never replied.
I exited the group chat, blocked and deleted every single one of them.
I stood before the airport’s panoramic windows, my pale blue polka-dot suitcase at my side.
From this day forward, I had no connection to that family.
—
Amid the noisy celebration, the banquet room door swung open. A mild-mannered middle-aged man stepped inside.
He scanned the room and smiled. “Excuse me—are Sabrina Hill’s parents present?”
Dad stood up irritably. “That’s me. What trouble has that girl gotten herself into now?”
Mr. Jonson waved his hand dismissively, unable to hide his delight and admiration. “Trouble? Not at all. I’m Sabrina’s high school counselor. I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks about her merit scholarship.”
“Since my calls went unanswered, I stopped by in person to deliver the official award letter—and to congratulate you!”
He cleared his throat and announced clearly. “Sabrina scored in the 99th percentile nationally on her SATs and graduated top of her class. She’s been accepted to UC Berkeley with a full merit scholarship!”
“…Why are you all so shocked? She told you the news the very day results were released.”