My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 14

It was my foster parents crying into the camera:

"Coco, why don’t you come home? We’ve raised you all these years, and you just left without a word!"

"You're an ingrate! Back then, we always gave you the best things in the house. Who would’ve thought that as soon as we had difficulties, you’d just disappear!"

"We hope the internet users can help us find this ungrateful child!"

"Anyone who sees her, tell her to come home. Tell her we’re not angry anymore, we just want her to come home and live well."

My foster parents didn’t have much education; they did hard labor to earn a living.

Because of their work, they looked older than their actual age, appearing like they were in their sixties, though they were only in their forties.

Crying for the camera, the way they acted was pitiful.

As a result, netizens began to criticize me and even started to dox me.

It seemed like Xena's real parents were in the most urgent situation. They wanted to quickly bring me back to donate a kidney to her, even going so far as to track me down online.

I didn’t want to explain. I just wanted to leave, but unexpectedly, a young girl caught up with me just as I was about to enter the restroom.

She grabbed my arm and shouted, "You need to go home! Stop running away!"

More and more people gathered around, pointing fingers. It didn’t take long before I was recognized.

They all began to accuse me of being unfilial, and the noise from the crowd filled my ears.

My emotions completely unraveled. I pushed the girl away. "Why should I go back?"

"Where is there a place for me there?" I pulled off my coat, lifting my shirt to reveal the dense scars covering my back and abdomen.

The Smith scars crisscrossed, some even raised and inflamed.

The crowd gasped. The grotesque wounds were enough to show that I had not lived a good life these years, especially with my foster parents treating me so poorly.

I rolled up my sleeves to reveal more of the same brutal scars, including ones on my ankles and calves.

"See this? See why I don’t want to go back! If I go back, I’ll be lucky to stay alive!"

"I’ve slept by the chicken coop since I was little, just because they said they were afraid someone would steal the chickens. I ate scraps—only rotten food was given to me!"

"I’ve never had a full meal! Do you know how I got the name 'Coco'?"

"It’s because the neighbor’s dog was named ‘Coco!’"

Tears blurred my vision as I recalled these years of hardship. I had to fight harder than anyone else just to survive.

Why do I have to sacrifice? Is my life and health worth so little?

Why should I give up everything for Xena? My wealth, my happy family, and my health?

No!

I’ve survived until now, and now I will live for myself!

With the pitying gazes of the crowd on me, I straightened my clothes.

The train had already left, and I had missed my departure.

I pushed my way through the crowd, planning to buy a new ticket, but my foster parents found me at the train station through online information.

And my biological parents had also arrived.

My mother, with tears in her eyes, looked at me with a heart full of pain. "I didn’t know you’ve suffered so much!"

"Child, come home with me. I will treat you well!"