My stepmother, Linda Bodwin, stood by my father’s side, one hand resting gently on his arm as if in concern, the other holding a tissue, dabbing away nonexistent tears.
“You’ve graduated from college. You’re an adult now. Do you really plan to keep freeloading here forever?”
My father’s voice was cold as ice, every word pierced my heart.
“I didn’t raise you all these years so you could waste your life doing nothing and become a useless parasite!”
Linda quickly chimed in with fake concern.
“Oh, Wayne, don’t be so harsh on your child. Leo’s still young, just stepping into society—he doesn’t know much yet. You pushed him out too soon. What if he can’t take care of himself? As his mother, it breaks my heart to see this…”
Her words sounded gentle, but in reality, they only added fuel into the fire.
Sure enough, my father grew even angrier.
“Young? He’s twenty-two! You call that young?” He shook off her hand and pointed at my nose.
“Kids from poor families start working right after high school to support their parents! I fed you, clothed you and paid for your college education—that’s already more than enough!
From now on, you need to stand on your own two feet!”