"Your parents are so rich—even if they just give us a tiny bit, it’d be enough for us to live on for the rest of our lives."
Even though I’d braced myself, their words still chilled me.
So all that affection and warmth earlier had come with conditions.
There was no guilt, no love—only calculation.
If I hadn’t been adopted by William and Elizabeth, I’d be living Sarah’s and Rachel’s lives right now.
I took a deep breath, my voice hardening.
"Dad, Mom… I can’t help you. I don’t have a single cent."
Just as I finished speaking, Jacob, who had been holed up in his room the whole time, piped up.
"Dad, Mom, how come there’s no gold or cash in Emily’s suitcase—just clothes?"
Robert and Margaret’s faces changed instantly, their eyes darting to me in disbelief.
"What did you say? You don’t have money?"
I nodded, avoiding their gaze.
"My adoptive parents didn’t want me reconnecting with you, but I insisted. They got so angry they cut ties with me."
With every word I spoke, their expressions grew darker.
"They kicked me out, took back all my bank cards, and told me never to come back."
"Cut ties?!"
Robert shot to his feet, pointing a finger at me.