Chapter 4 

That evening, Mom, Dad, Noah, and Emma brought me leftovers. 

“Riley, we brought you something tasty!” Emma bounced over, nearly bumping into my IV line. 

I raised my arm high to avoid her movement. 

Everyone froze. 

I gave a bitter smile. There I went being difficult again. 

To make up for it, I quickly took the food and said: “Great, I’m starving.” Then I forced a smile. 

They nodded, but their expressions still showed displeasure. 

I had been hungry for too long, so even though it was just leftovers, the food still tasted delicious. 

Minutes later, having wolfed down the food, I hid under the covers and cautiously said: “Thank you for bringing me to the hospital.” 

I tried to mimic Emma’s cheerful tone, desperately trying to make myself more likable. 

But they exchanged glances and left without a word. 

“Acting like we’re mistreating you or something,” Noah muttered, slamming the door behind him. 

I flinched, pulling the covers over my head. The darkness made me feel even more suffocated. 

Because of my appearance and age, I couldn’t find any legitimate part–time work. 

After leaving the hospital, I started collecting bottles in my spare time. 

One day, I was sweating profusely as I dug through a pile of garbage. Beneath the stench of fish bones and rotten vegetables, I finally found a plastic bottle. 

Suddenly, I heard Emma’s voice nearby. My heart skipped a beat, I pulled my cap down further. 

“Mom, I really want that doll. It’s only fifty dollars. Please buy it for me?” Emma cuddled against Mom. Noah stood beside them, watching indulgently. 

Hmph… 

Wasn’t Emma also whining for things? Yet she was never called immature. 

I quickly grabbed the bottle, wanting to leave. 

24.0% 

1 My Time to Shine 

Chapter 4 

Suddenly, they spotted me. Under their gaze, 1 anxionely maged it may be fed 

“Look–if you don’t study hard, you’ll end op like that person someday) Mom and young te 

I breathed a sigh of relief–they hadn’t recognizen me 

To keep warm, I’d found several coats and hats from the garbage comeng met umglady 

Emma nodded and hugged Mom’s neck. “Til make money when I powap and boy snögbond bem sum be like that homeless person 

They walked away laughing only Noah didn’t laugh. He turned bark and awon o ne mantly 

The next day, when I was collecting Bottles again, He appeared in front of me and seiney couches & Juge bottle under his foot 

“What are you doing?” I asked, staring at the crushed Bonte 

He smiled. “Looking like this every day, you’re embarrassing our family. I won’t allise 

Then he matched my bag fall of plastic bones and cats and it to a did come wis was d 

nearby. The old woman’s eyes darted back and forth as the accapred the Bay “Tank for the sand then as might take it back, she scurried away. 

I angrily grabbed at Noat’s sleeve, but he shook me off in disgust 

That was my meal money for the day–the few dollars I made from collbeing santas sarà day busy bangir me some bread, pickles, and water. At least it filled my stomach 

With this gone, I would go hungry again. Unable even to drink water, I’d have to lay my dirty wars doom the sound 

again. 

Tm earning money through my own labor. What right do you have to look does coed 

“Our family raised an ungrateful brat who only cares about money and has a sense of family How many days as it been, and you haven’t come home to see w? Is it so hard to come back and aplomber that was angry to frowning as he spoke. 

“It was never my fault. I never did anything wrong” I screamed, howling like a mama shouting mill my entire chest felt like it was being torn apart. Then I collapsed on the ground, exhaused, the anger making my head throb violently. 

“It wasn’t my fault 1 chatched my head, repeating the words. 

“Is it really that serious? Are you that desperate for money? Fighting over a few lousy bottles,” o stared at me in distellet 

But those “lousy” pennies he despised were keeping me alive. 

After a long silence, he dropped a final comment “Anyway, I won’t let you keep embarrassing our family like thist 

1 Subte Bathing from Rag byty Twe 

Chapter 4 

No way!” 

From then on, Noah kept watching me, preventing me from collecting bottles. 

I was so starving that I could barely walk two steps without feeling like I might pass out. 

But suddenly, things took a turn.