I laughed, sharp and humorless.“Why?Did I hit a nerve?The perfect family image cracked for all of five minutes and you panic, call the cops, and send them to her house.You didn’t even think about what that would look like for Cadence.”
Mom’s expression hardened, eyes narrowing.“That girl has been nothing but a bad influence—”
“Stop,” I said before she could go further.“You don’t get to talk about her like that.”
“Watch your tone,” Dad warned, but I didn’t lower my voice.
“No.You called the cops on me because you couldn’t stand the idea that I might not be doing exactly what you planned.You want obedience from me.”
Mom’s expression hardened, her voice sharpening.“That girl—Cadence—she’s changed you.You used to be focused, respectful, proud of who you were.Now you’re running away in the middle of the night and shouting in our home.”
My blood ran hot.“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“She’s not like us, Bryan.She’s trouble.A charity case.Her kind of drama—”
“—saved my life.”The words came out before I could stop them, louder than I meant.“She’s been through hell and she still gets up every day and fights for something better.You think that’s weakness?That’s strength.That’s more than you’ll ever understand.”
Dad stepped closer, voice rising.“You will not talk to your mother like that.”
“Then maybe start acting like parents instead of politicians,” I shot back.
Mom’s hands shook slightly.“You’re throwing everything away.Your future.Your name.We already secured early admission at—”
“Not we!College isn’t about we.It’s me.About what I want.I don’t want to go to any of those places.You did all that behind my back.You applied to every Ivy you could think of just so you could brag about it later.I got accepted into them, congratulations.But that’s not my life.”
Dad frowned.“You’re seventeen.You don’t know what your life is yet.”
“I do,” I said quietly, with a calm I didn’t know I had.“Cybersecurity.That’s what I want.It’s what I’m good at.I got accepted into a program that’ll get me there, and you can either stand beside me or get out of my way.”
The silence that followed was the longest of my life.Everyone was trying hard to hold themselves together before this turned into another screaming fight like last night.
Mom’s eyes burned into mine.“And if we refuse to fund this little rebellion?”
“Then I’ll pay for it myself.I’ll find scholarships.I’ll work.I’ll make it happen without you.”
Dad took off his glasses, cleaning them with deliberate calm.I got that very habit from him.“You’d really cut us off?Just like that?”
“You already started cutting me off when you called the police on me,” I said.“I’m just finishing the job.”
Mom’s voice cracked slightly when she said, “You’d walk away from your family?”
I met her gaze, steady and clear.A lot of conflicting emotions hit me, but I refused to give in.I needed to stand my ground here.If not now, then when?When it was already too late?When I was sent off across the country, away from everyone I love?
“No.If anything I’m walking toward my family.It’s just a question of whether you’re still part of that or not.I’m done with these games.The cruelty of threatening Cadence like that....That was too far, even for you.”
Her mouth opened and then closed, no words left.I turned to the door.“I’ll be at Seth’s if you decide you want to treat me like a son instead of a project.”I narrowed my eyes.“Or if you want to call the damn police on me again.”
When I stepped outside, Seth was leaning against the truck, hands in his pockets, eyes calm.
“Well?”he asked.
I exhaled, my breath shaky.“I think I just ended my family’s prodigal son campaign.”
Seth grinned.“Good.About time you did.”
We got back in his truck, and he drove us back to his place.
