Lahat ng Kabanata ng I Cut Ties With a Broken Home: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

At 6:00 pm, the restaurant manager came into the kitchen looking for me, saying there was an issue with the decorations in one of the private dining rooms and that the guests were demanding that the person responsible apologize.I took off my dishwashing gloves and apron, then scrubbed at the grease splattered across the front of my shirt. But instead of it coming off, it only smeared further.Pressing my lips together, I followed the manager to the private room Mom had booked. Through the closed door, I could hear her comforting my stepsister, Alesha Callen."Don't be upset, Ali. The staff here are useless. They can't even blow up a balloon properly. Didn't you want the newest releases from that big tech brand? As soon as we're done here, we'll buy them. Laptop, phone, tablet—we'll get the highest specs for all of them."I lowered my eyes to my faded canvas sneakers, bleached white from too many washes. My living expenses for the next month were still an issue, and if I lost this

The hallway fell into an awkward silence.Suddenly, Alesha started chuckling. "Mom, let her come in and sit. It's just one more chair. Let's not block the hallway and become a laughingstock in front of outsiders."The tension immediately melted from Mom's face."You've always been very thoughtful, Ali," she said before shooting me a quick glance. "Come in then."One of Mom's friends nudged me back into the private room, and I was steered to a seat in the corner.Alesha's father smiled politely."Kathleen, is there anything you'd like to eat? We can have the server add a couple more dishes."Without even looking up, Mom answered, "She's not picky. She'll eat whatever. But Alesha's favorite shrimp is almost all gone. Let's order another serving."I gulped down a mouthful of cold water, swallowing the bitterness in my throat.Just then, one of Mom's friends patted me on the shoulder."Why aren't you greeting your mother?"I instinctively looked at Mom, suddenly finding myself t

"One of the top scorers?" Mom's voice shot up, sharp enough to make anyone's ears hurt. "What do you mean the previous occupant was a top scorer in this year's College Entrance Exam? This is my daughter's apartment!"Frowning and looking impatient, Marcus, who was holding the tape measure, stopped what he was doing."Ma'am, are you guys mistaken? This apartment was sold to me just yesterday. I have the title deed right here. The previous owner's name was Kathleen Holloway. She told us she doesn't have any family left. Are you really her mother?""Kathleen Holloway is our daughter!" Mom yelped.Dad, finally snapping out of it, grabbed Marcus by the collar. "She's my daughter! Did you trick her into signing a contract? My mother left this apartment to us. Kathleen's just a young girl. How can she possibly sell this apartment without our permission?"Marcus' face flushed red from how tightly Dad was grabbing him. He shoved Dad away with all his strength before brushing off his shirt

Late summer in Granton brought a salty sea breeze that drifted across the college campus.I stood outside the front gates with my suitcase, looking up at the college's name gleaming in gold—Granton University. The heavy stone that had weighed on my heart for years finally lifted.My full scholarship was enough to cover tuition, and the work-study program I had applied for would cover my living expenses. As for the money from selling the apartment, I'd put it into a fixed-term deposit.I still remembered that when Grandma found out she had cancer, the only person she was worried about was me.She would often sigh and say, "Kathleen, both of your parents can't be counted on. You're still so young. When I'm gone, who's going to take care of you?"I'd only just started high school back then and was living in the dorms, only coming home once every two weeks.Grandma had gotten so thin that she was practically skin and bones, yet she'd still insist on standing in the kitchen to cook me

Time flew by.Before I knew it, winter break had arrived. Since it coincided with the anniversary of Grandma's passing, I made a trip back to Jethroville.The dry, cold wind stung my face.I knelt before Grandma's headstone and carefully set down a bouquet of fresh white lilies. My fingertips brushed across the ice-cold stone surface as I said, "Grandma, I earned a full first-class scholarship this semester. You don't have to worry about me. I'm doing really well."The sound of a dry branch snapping echoed behind me.I turned around to find Dad standing a few steps away. He looked like he'd ballooned a bit since the last time I saw him, and there was more gray hair at his temples.Rubbing his hands together, he spoke in a cautious, placating tone."When did you come back, Kathleen? Why didn't you say anything?"I didn't stand up, choosing instead to just look at him silently.He shifted uncomfortably and avoided my eyes. After a long pause, he finally squeezed out, "If you'd t