No Longer My Burden

The moment Sophia heard that I had called the police, she panicked so badly she nearly jumped in place.

"Nat, how could you call the police?!"

I looked at her frantic reaction and found it almost amusing. "I called the police to help this child find his biological parents, and to clear my own name. What’s wrong with that? Or are you afraid the police will discover that you’re the one who abandoned the baby?"

When I stared straight at Sophia, I clearly saw the flash of panic and fear that crossed her eyes.

Nevertheless, she recovered quickly and immediately turned to our parents for help. "Mom, Dad, listen to what she’s saying. Just to cover up the truth, she’s actually framing me in front of everyone!"

Mom frowned. "Natalie, apologize to your sister."

"She accused me without any evidence. Why don’t you make her apologize first?"

Dad shouted my name again, harsher this time. His eyes were cold, unquestioning, leaving no room for argument.

Watching how blatantly they favored Sophia, bitterness rose in my throat.

Even though they had done the same in my previous life, going so far as to throw me out of the house, they were still my biological parents. It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt at all.

However, I wasn’t going to apologize, and I wasn’t going to hold on to even a shred of hope for them anymore.

In the middle of the standoff, the police pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of us.

"We received a report about an abandoned infant. Who made the call?"

I raised my hand and explained everything from beginning to end. "Officer, I want to review last night’s surveillance footage and see who actually left the baby at my doorstep."

The officer nodded. "We’ll check the surveillance footage. For now, we’ll take the child back to the station."

I handed the cardboard box with Tom inside to the officer. Suddenly, Sophia lunged forward and snatched it back.

"Officer, my sister already agreed to adopt this baby. There’s no need for you to take him away!"

She shot a look at our parents. They immediately understood and rushed to back her up.

"Yes, yes. Our eldest daughter here, Natalie, already agreed to take him in. Just leave the baby with us for now."

"I never agreed—" I had barely started to speak when Mom slapped me across the face.

"Shut up! Who told you to call the police? Haven’t you embarrassed us enough already?"

As she spoke, she dragged me into the house by force and locked me inside a room. However, I wasn’t panicked at all. I used the time to pack my belongings and get ready to move out.

After a long while, presumably after they had sent the police away, they came back carrying Tom.

Mom shoved Tom straight into my arms. "We brought the baby back. From now on, you’ll raise him."

I placed Tom down on the couch. "I never agreed. Whoever wants to raise him can do it themselves."

Mom was so angry that she pointed at my nose and cursed. "The incident today has already spread. Everyone says you’re the one who abandoned the baby. If you don’t raise him, you’re bringing shame to our family!"

"I already told you, this isn’t my child. If you want to raise him, then do it yourselves. Don’t try to force this on me!" With that, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door.

Dad stopped me. "Where do you think you’re going?"

"I’m moving out."

"Who allowed you to move out? If you dare walk out today, don’t even think about stepping back into this house ever again!"

Sophia rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Nat, you can’t run away from your responsibility like this. If you’re going to move out, at least take the baby with you."

I shoved her hard, sending her to the ground. "I’m not coming back. From now on, I’m cutting ties with all of you completely. Don’t ever come looking for me again."

Without sparing these so-called family members another glance, I turned around and walked away.