Shattered Chains: The Quest for Freedom

ings behind my back, and afterward, he wouldn't tolerate even a hint of dissatisfaction from me. And his sister, Judy Dance, inexplicably threatened me with a knife just because I revea

.

are you

ping the floor. I hurried to the door and found Emily White from next door

she'd remained the only person I could call a friend. She walked straight into the kitchen, complaining

gh the yard. It was my father-in-law Tom. I dr

alyzed from the waist down sinc

ft him and their four children lon

sters-Judy, a high school senior, and Jane, a freshman-a

st our first child to a miscarriage, the fin

st, I hurried to the ya

kye, isn't today the weekend? Wh

I explained. "Nathan too

y to have you. If it were me, I'd have run awa

d. Sure, it's hard and tiring, but as l

appreciates you at all. You're taking care of his father, his siblings, and now you're stuck deal

er blunt nature well, so I just smiled and s

every day breaks my heart. Skye, don't take this the wrong way, but you should ha

subject. We chatted as we packed up the cardboa

s," I said. "I'll give you thirty-s

my heart sank. Only about two hundred dollars remained. Had Nathan tak

paid Emily and decided to ask N

ss darkness. Nathan and his siblings still hadn't returned. I ca

yet?" he asked, ra

ead, avoidin

mbled. "You don't need to wait for them. Eat

, laughter spilled into the yard. Nathan and the kids wer

.

a new outfit. "Dad, look wha

"Why buy clothes? Wasting money. And coming back so late, d

. The housework has always been Skye's job. We're tired from studying every day. To

lame them. They're still young. Today is Jack's birthday, and it's rar

he first time I'd seen such a large cake. Jack was thrilled, and I was happy

d. "Not much. I

veryone happy. But then Judy, oblivious, blurted o

rs. Nathan said they were branded. Judy, while admiring her new dress, complained to my husband, "Nathan, I

en the dress. That necklace isn't as nice as the dress.

. You promise!" Judy sighed in resignati

, how would brother have enough money to buy i

etended to cough twice. I was puzzled, and apparently, Judy and the others didn't catch on either. Judy blurted out, "If not, th

round, shattering with a piercing sound. I wa

l planning to live like this?" Tom immediately flew into a rage, scolding Nathan, while I silently

.

. He sat down beside me and asked, "Skye, don't be so stingy. I'm not extravagant every day. It's

eached out my hand and asked him,

silent. A cold dread washed over me as I realized the truth. "You spent it all, didn't you? Over six thousand, gone. How could you do this? How are we supposed to live like this? I've been scrimping and saving

t broke, "I will borrow some tomorrow

blings need for their education and living expenses each year. Because of them, we haven't dared to have children yet. But you, y

silent, for what fel

intment. Whether he listened or not was up to him. I

ble outside to enjoy the fresh air while eating. Watching the

o the bedroom, Nathan's snores echoed in the room. They all slept soundly, but I c

ried for seven years, I've never given my parents a penny or properly cared for them. Now, I was about to break my pr

.

me his bank account number. I lowered my head in shame, "Brock, I'm so

ftly, "Alright, no problem. J

hanging up. I could sense Brock's disappointment, knowing

t to Tom. As I reached the door,

and the others. Did you spend all the money? I heard you were planning t

did spend a bit too much. But Skye was also a bit though

an ice cellar. Is this really how he sees me? Tom

s you who should learn to appreciate her. She helps you take care of yo

ey on this and that yesterday. Tell

e. Tom took a deep drag on his cigarette and said sternly, "You don't cherish your wife, a

of relief and quietly retreated, plannin

of money, "Here, five thousand dollars

p, especially Judy, whose desire for money was even m

, finally relieved, "No need

e money in our room,

thousand dollars had vanished. I panicked and quickly called Nathan. He was a

. I turned the house upside down but still couldn't find t

r hearing what happened, he scratched his head and accused

vigorously, "No, I put it inside af

it go? Did it wa

elieve me, which hurt

for words, unable to explain, as if

.

"I know who took the money. It was my sister. Last night, I saw her get

d, as if a bombshell had dropp

ing for her with stern faces. She was taken aback

l, you should have

d it over, bring

are a grown girl now. How dare you do something like stealing? Are yo

tealing? I took money from my own family. Tha

I just exercised my right a bit early. What's wrong with that? It

athan hit Judy. We were all a bit stunned, ex

you don't understand this? I promised I'd buy it for you, and I would have. You can use m

d, "If that's how you all feel, then I'll return it. Here, sister-i

t me and ran back to her room. Tom t

even years, watching her grow from a little girl into a graceful woman. I couldn't bear to see her upset. So that even

ted at me, "Skye, come back. Don't bother with her. If she

to us for days, locking herself in her room after school. Eventually, s

she was like oil and water with the family. I suggested Na

ever I objected, she'd say she was motherless and being bullied by me. I could only ask Na

t over three hundred dollars on a new dress, knowing she loved new clothes, hop

seen. It was almost eleven o'clock, and I was getting worried, so I went out to look for her. To my surprise, I saw a

nuing to chat and laugh with the man. Un

taneously. Judy's eyes were still filled