Chapter 3

"Harper Reed—no, I should call you Daisy Thompson. What do you need the money for? Who are you planning to transfer it to?"

"Transfer it to…" She quickly caught herself, not finishing the sentence.

"Is it your birth parents, right?"

"How did you know?" She was surprised, but still wore a spoiled expression.

"Since you already know, I won't hide it anymore. Yes, I found my birth parents. I've dreamed of seeing them all these years, and heaven finally granted my wish today."

"So, they ask for money, and you just give it to them? Completely forgetting that *they* were the ones who abandoned you?"

She put on a self-righteous front. "They explained everything to me. They said I was kidnapped by human traffickers back then, and they've been searching for me all this time."

The truth was, they had abandoned her after giving birth to a boy. When the orphanage found her, she was barely clinging to life.

"They are my birth parents. They gave me life. Now they're struggling, and I want to help them. Isn't that what I should do?"

Oh, what a dutiful, devoted daughter she was!

At this point, if I were to stop someone from performing their "filial duty," wouldn't that be an affront to human decency?

My dad finally couldn't bear it anymore. "We'll ask you one last time, Harper. Are you really set on acknowledging them?"

This time, she hesitated, and her gaze at my dad held a hint of guilt. "I just want to reconnect with them. I didn't say I was leaving you. I'm still your daughter."

Ha. She wanted to have her cake and eat it too? No way! I wouldn't give her the chance to double-dip.

"No need! You have two choices now. First, stay away from them, leave immediately for America, and continue your studies. Second, go and be with them, and the money in your account will be yours to freely dispose of…"

"I choose two!" Before I could finish, she cut me off.

"Excellent. That makes things much simpler. Mr. Davies, please begin!"

Mr. Davies placed an "Agreement to Terminate Adoption" in front of her.

"Now all you need to do is sign this document, and you'll be free."

Under family law, adults who were adopted can have their adoption annulled if the relationship with their adoptive parents has deteriorated beyond repair, or if they choose to reconnect with birth parents after coming of age.

She had just turned eighteen a few days ago, making her eligible.

I had told my parents the truth days before she met them. They were sensible and rational people, so they naturally understood the principle of cutting losses in time.

That account held five hundred thousand, originally her tuition fees for America. Now it would serve as her "severance fee."

Harper looked at the agreement, fear creeping into her eyes. "Does it really have to be this way?"

"Yes, you must sign it today!"

Seeing our resolute attitude, she, too, looked determined and spat, "You really are cold-blooded and heartless. If you're going to be unjust, then don't blame me for being disloyal. Fine, I'll sign. Give me the pen!"

"Don't sign!" Just as she was about to put pen to paper, a sharp, grating shout came through.

The voice came from Harper's phone.

"Sweetheart, you can't sign that! If you sign, you'll have nothing!" It was the Thompsons' voice.

I didn't know how they’d conspired, but they had been listening in on everything.

"Why? Mom, Dad, you heard them. They're forcing me to choose, and we just finally reunited as a family. Of course, I'm choosing you."

She then scanned the three of us, coldly adding, "Because only your birth parents can truly be relied upon."

I nearly burst out laughing.

See? They were clearly much smarter than she was.

"Sweetheart, listen to me. We're family, that will never change, and reuniting can wait. Besides, we don't have extra money to support you right now. You need to stay with the Reed family…"

They might as well have said they wanted to use us as an ATM and a bottomless pit of cash.

"Mom, Dad, don't worry about that. I'm grown up now. I can earn my own money."

"I play the violin well. Many people invite me to perform; I can earn hundreds for just one show."

"My studies are going well, too. I'm about to go to America for college. After I graduate, I'll earn even more money, and then our whole family can live a good life."

Watching Harper's confident expression, I could barely resist applauding her.

She probably had no idea what signing that paper truly meant for her…

They still wanted to persuade her, but as soon as they heard Harper mention she still had five hundred thousand in her account, they immediately backed down.

"Alright, enough talk, sign it quickly!" My patience ran out. I firmly guided her hand and made her sign her name.

Daisy Thompson, good luck with your future.