A Family’s Unfair Preference Chapter 05
I got straight into the Black Cadillac that came to pick me up, leaving their bickering far behind.
The car drove me all the way to the base.
A few senior students were already waiting for me at the entrance. Seeing me get out, they hurried over to help with my luggage.
“You must be Zora, right? We’ve all heard from the professor that you’re the best prospect he’s seen in years.”
“Yeah, we thought the old man was just bragging, but seeing you today, we know our junior is truly smart and beautiful.”
Their praises made my face flush red.
In that house, the things I heard most were belittlement and mockery.
Mom would say, “Growing up in an orphanage just leaves you lacking in manners.”
Dad would also sigh, “Ugh, so petty and unrefined, not like a daughter of the Harts.”
With my low self-esteem and quiet nature, I could never compare to Elin, who was raised by their side and carried herself with the grace of a true socialite in every move.
No one had ever called me beautiful and intelligent.
Those compliments had always belonged exclusively to Elin.
But after leaving the Harts, I finally received such praise too.
Seeing my discomfort, my senior colleagues cracked a few more jokes.
My unease and apprehension completely vanished amidst their playful banter.
Life in the lab was fulfilling every single day.
No one would secretly belittle or mock me, nor would anyone nitpick my results for not being perfect.
Here, I was no longer Zora — the Harts Family’s lost daughter of twenty years, the misfit who never belonged in a wealthy household, always alienated from her own family.
I was just a newcomer to the project team, the junior colleague looked after by her seniors.
Everyone was filled with the passion to build our nation, with only data and design drafts in their eyes.
Those bitter memories were gradually buried beneath endless experiments and data calculations. So when the front desk told me my parents were on the line, I was momentarily stunned.
“Hello, what is it?” I asked calmly.
It had been almost three months since I left home, and Elin’s birthday had long passed.
I even saw the news reports about Mom and Dad celebrating her birthday. Rumor had it they spent millions renting a luxury cruise ship and setting off fireworks over the sea all night long.
Everyone said that Elin’s life was like that of a Mary Sue protagonist.
Then why give me, a cannon fodder side character, any part to play?
Mom heard the coldness in my tone and sounded a bit hurt.
“I… I just wanted to ask how you’re doing over there, and if you have enough money?”
“Zora, you are our child after all. How could Mom and Dad not miss you at all?”
I was a little surprised.
I had never heard such words in my past life.
No matter how long I was away from home or how far away I went, whenever I took the initiative to call them, they were always impatient. They would say a few words and then rush off to busy themselves with Elin’s affairs.
In this life, I didn’t want anything anymore, yet Mom was saying they missed me?
My first reaction was suspicion.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Zora.”
Hearing the suspicion in my tone, Mom called my name in a flash of anger.
But she took a deep breath and held it in.
“Zora, we are a family. It really breaks my heart when you think like that.
“Your dad and I reflected on what happened before. We didn’t care about you enough.
“We got a bank card for you and transferred your living expenses into it. The PIN is your birthday. Take it, and take good care of yourself.”
After staying cold and numb for so long, my heart stirred faintly at her words.
Perhaps it was because a child could never truly stop loving their parents, or perhaps deep down, I still yearned for them to love me a little.
My tone softened a bit.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Mom breathed a sigh of relief too.
“I thought you were going to hold a grudge against the family forever. By the way, Zora, when will this project of yours be finished?”
I didn’t know why they were asking this, so I gave an ambiguous answer: “In two or three days.”
Mom handed the phone to Dad.
“Zora, here’s the deal. Your sister’s about to graduate, and we’re setting up a tech firm for her.
“Once you’re home, the two of you can run the business side by side. All we need is for you to get Sir Wade and your seniors to help market the company. How does that sound?”
The tiny spark of hope that had just ignited in my heart was instantly snuffed out.
“So, you want me to ask my mentor to promote Elin’s new company?
“You do know that my mentor rarely makes public appearances, right?”
Dad seemed completely oblivious to my reluctance.
“Zora, aren’t you his most valued student? It’s just a tiny favor, how could he possibly refuse?
“Besides, you’ll have a share in this company too.”
He emphasized it again, desperately trying to prove he wasn’t playing favorites.
But the moment he made that request, wasn’t his bias already glaringly obvious?
“There’s no need. I won’t compete with Elin.
“I’ve already applied for a transfer. Once this project wraps up, I’ll be moving out of town for work.
“You can just leave the company entirely to her.”
On the other end of the line, Dad flew into a defensive rage.
“What is that supposed to mean, Zora? Are you going to cut ties with this family over such a trivial matter?”
I fell silent for a moment.
“Sure. If that’s what you want, cutting ties works for me too.”
My words acted like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the fiery rage of his bruised ego.
“How could you say such a thing?
“Zora, you are our own flesh and blood.”
Mom seemed to finally realize I wasn’t just throwing a tantrum, her voice trembling with tears.
“Zora, we know we’ve neglected you lately. As soon as you come back, we’ll go take a new family portrait to make up for it.
“And your birthday too, Mom and Dad will throw you a belated party. Please don’t be mad anymore. We’re already learning how to love you.”
But I only had one curious question in response.
“Did you have to ‘learn’ how to love Elin, too?”