A Family’s Unfair Preference Chapter 03
The happiness on her face was a little blinding.
I knew she was provoking me on purpose.
Just like the countless times before, using the most innocent tone to make me break down, to drive me crazy.
Only to follow up with a confused: “Sister, are you throwing a tantrum?”
I had suffered through so many of these passive-aggressive jabs in my past life.
Everyone thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, that I was just being petty.
Only I knew that from the very beginning, all I ever wanted was fairness.
But now, none of that mattered anymore.
I calmly took the family portrait that didn’t include me, and smiled sincerely.
“It is quite pretty.”
Elin’s smile froze on her face.
Mom was also a bit taken aback by my reaction.
She thought I would be angry, and had even prepared to scold me for being unreasonable.
Now, with the words caught in her throat, she could only offer an awkward smile.
“Next time. Next time we’ll take pictures with you.”
I nodded gently, but in my heart I was thinking—
There won’t be a next time.
Mom didn’t know what I was thinking. Seeing that I really wasn’t making a fuss, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
“Zora, it was just bad luck this time.”
“Your sister’s birthday is in a few days. Let’s go on a trip abroad.”
Elin chimed in: “Yeah, sis. You didn’t have it easy before, so you probably haven’t traveled abroad yet, right?”
“This time, as a family, we’ll take you around to see the sights.”
I remained impervious: “Don’t bother. I’m not going.”
Mom’s tiny bit of guilt vanished instantly. She frowned: “What nonsense is this?
It’s your sister’s birthday, how can you not go?”
Faced with her questioning, my tone remained flat.
“First, I don’t have a passport, so I can’t go abroad.”
“Second, I’ll be busy with other things those few days.”
Mom froze.
“You don’t have a passport? How could you not have a passport? Don’t we always…”
Her words came to an abrupt halt.
The passports for their family of three were indeed sent for renewal every year.
But I had only just returned home this year.
Not a single person remembered that I didn’t have a passport, let alone thought to take me to get one.
In my past life, even after I got married and had kids, I never went abroad with the family once.
In this life, I didn’t expect it either.
“Enough!”
Dad, who had been sitting silently on the sofa, finally spoke up.
“We can get someone to expedite it. There’s still time.”
“As for whatever you’ve got going on, nothing matters more than your sister’s birthday. Call it off.”
He had the final say, making the decision as if it were nothing.
My opinion had never mattered.
I tugged the corners of my lips in a mocking smirk.
For the first time across two lifetimes, I opened my mouth to defy this authoritative father.
“Dad, I’m not going.”
“My project doesn’t allow me to leave the country. If you think my business isn’t important, then please take it up with my mentor.”
His brows knitted tightly, highly displeased: “Who is your mentor?
I’ll go talk to him!”
“Sir Wade from Caltech.”
Dad processed this for a moment, his eyes widening in shock: “You mean Sir Wade, the father of rocketry?”
“How could he be your mentor?”
“You go to Caltech?
How come I’ve never heard you mention it?”