A Box

I carefully picked up the old box.

The laughter around the table hadn't stopped.

Linda and Elena were practically waiting for me to embarrass myself.

"Go on, Laura," Elena said impatiently. "Open it already."

"Yeah," Linda added with a smirk. "Let's see what's so special about that ugly little box."

Dad chuckled.

"Why don't you open it and find out?"

I looked at him suspiciously.

"You seem awfully confident."

"Maybe because I know what's inside."

His eyes twinkled mischievously.

Then his expression softened.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't realize everyone would pay more attention to the box than the actual gift."

I smiled.

"It's okay, Dad."

"No, hurry up!" Elena practically shouted.

"I'm dying to know what's inside."

Linda crossed her arms.

"Honestly, don't get your hopes up."

She looked at the worn-out box and laughed.

"What could it possibly be?"

"A cheap bracelet?"

"A wooden hairpin?"

"Maybe a keychain."

Elena snorted.

"That sounds about right."

Their mockery continued.

But for once, I wasn't listening.

Something about Dad's smile made me curious.

Slowly, I lifted the lid.

The second I looked inside, my entire body froze.

My eyes widened.

My mouth fell open.

For a moment, I thought I was imagining things.

"Dad..."

Everyone immediately noticed my reaction.

"What is it?" Linda asked.

"What did he get you?" Elena demanded.

I looked up.

Then back down.

Then up again.

"Are these..."

My voice trembled.

"Car keys?"

Silence.

Complete silence.

The dining room suddenly felt frozen.

Then—

"What?!"

Linda nearly jumped out of her chair.

"No way!"

Elena rushed to my side.

"Move!"

She practically shoved me aside to see for herself.

The moment she saw the keys, her face turned pale.

They weren't ordinary keys.

The silver logo attached to them revealed everything.

A brand-new luxury sedan.

Dad had bought me a car.

A car.

For me.

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Then excitement exploded inside me.

"I have my own car?"

I stared at Dad.

"You bought me a car?"

Dad smiled.

"You like it?"

"Like it?"

I laughed.

Then laughed again.

"I love it!"

I stood up and threw my arms around him.

"Dad, thank you!"

His arms wrapped around me instantly.

"Happy birthday, Princess."

I couldn't stop smiling.

Honestly?

I didn't even care about the car itself.

What mattered was the thought behind it.

The fact that he had spent time choosing something for me.

The fact that he remembered.

The fact that he cared.

That was what made it special.

But unfortunately...

Not everyone shared my happiness.

Linda's face had gone completely red.

Meanwhile, Elena looked ready to explode.

"This isn't fair!"

The room fell silent again.

I slowly sat down.

Here we go.

"Dad," Elena continued, "you can't seriously give HER a car."

Dad raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"Because..."

She struggled for words.

"Because she's Laura!"

Dad blinked.

"And?"

"And..."

Elena glanced toward Mom for support.

"She's never even asked for one."

Dad folded his arms.

"That's exactly why she deserves it."

Linda slammed her hands against the table.

"What about me?"

Dad looked at her calmly.

"What about you?"

"What about my car?"

"What car?"

"The car you promised me!"

Dad frowned.

"I never promised you a car."

Mom immediately jumped in.

"We discussed it."

Dad turned toward her.

"We discussed possibilities."

"You knew it was meant for Linda."

Dad laughed humorlessly.

"No."

His voice hardened.

"It wasn't."

The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.

I quietly looked down at the keys.

Part of me wanted to disappear.

I hadn't asked for this.

I hadn't asked for any of this.

But another part of me...

A very small part...

Enjoyed seeing them jealous.

After years of being treated like dirt, maybe I deserved one happy moment.

Just one.

Dad leaned forward.

"I bought Laura a car because she's twenty-two years old."

Nobody spoke.

"She's about to graduate."

Still silence.

"She'll start working soon."

His gaze moved between my sisters.

"She needs independence."

Mom scoffed.

"Independence?"

"Yes."

"She already has transportation."

Dad's eyes narrowed.

"Oh really?"

Mom immediately realized her mistake.

But it was too late.

"A driver picks her up when necessary."

Dad laughed again.

This time, there was no humor in it.

"Necessary?"

The single word sounded dangerous.

"Kathy."

My mother's face stiffened.

"You and I both know that's not true."

Nobody dared interrupt.

"You send the driver away."

Silence.

"You invent excuses."

More silence.

"You force Laura to take the bus."

Mom crossed her arms.

"She's capable of taking the bus."

Dad nodded slowly.

"Interesting."

The calmness in his voice scared me more than shouting.

"Then perhaps Linda and Elena should start taking the bus as well."

"What?"

Linda looked horrified.

"Dad!"

"It would build character."

Elena looked offended.

"We're not talking about us."

"No."

Dad nodded.

"Apparently we never are."

The tension became unbearable.

Then Dad said something nobody expected.

"Besides..."

He looked directly at Linda.

"A little walking wouldn't hurt."

Linda frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Dad sighed.

"You've gained weight."

The room exploded.

"DAD!"

Linda burst into tears instantly.

Mom shot up from her chair.

"Giovanni!"

"I'm worried about her health."

"That's not what you said!"

Linda was crying openly now.

"You called me fat!"

"I didn't."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"You basically did!"

And just like that, she ran upstairs.

The sound of her sobbing echoed through the house.

A heavy silence followed.

Then suddenly—

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Mom slowly applauded.

The sarcastic smile on her face sent chills down my spine.

"Wonderful."

Dad stared at her.

"Kathy."

"No."

She shook her head.

"Don't."

The anger in her eyes was terrifying.

"I'm impressed."

Dad remained silent.

"You humiliated your daughter."

"Kathy—"

"You embarrassed your wife."

"Kathy."

"And for what?"

Her gaze landed on me.

A gaze so cold it made my stomach twist.

"For her."

The words stung.

Even after all these years.

They still hurt.

Dad immediately noticed.

His expression darkened.

"Watch your tone."

Mom laughed bitterly.

"My tone?"

"Yes."

"This is unbelievable."

Her voice shook.

"You always choose her."

The room became deadly silent.

Dad slowly stood up.

"Enough."

"No."

"I said enough."

"You always choose her!"

The accusation echoed through the dining room.

And suddenly...

Something strange happened.

Something I'd never seen before.

Dad looked guilty.

Not angry.

Not frustrated.

Guilty.

As if Mom had touched a nerve.

A dangerous one.

Then Mom said something that made my heart stop.

"If I had known things would turn out like this..."

She paused.

Her eyes filled with emotions I couldn't understand.

Regret.

Pain.

Resentment.

Hatred.

All mixed together.

"If I had known..."

My breath caught.

Known what?

What was she talking about?

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Even Dad looked alarmed.

Then Mom started to say something else.

Something important.

Something that clearly wasn't meant for my ears.

"If I had just abandoned—"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Dad's voice thundered through the room.

The entire house shook.

Mom immediately fell silent.

So did everyone else.

My heart pounded.

Abandoned what?

Who?

Me?

The thought hit me like lightning.

No.

No.

That couldn't be what she meant.

Could it?

Dad looked furious.

More furious than I'd ever seen him.

"I don't want to hear another word."

Mom clenched her jaw.

But she said nothing.

The conversation was over.

At least for now.

A few minutes later, Dad's expression softened.

He turned toward me.

The anger disappeared from his face completely.

Only love remained.

"Laura."

I looked up.

"I'm sorry."

I blinked.

"For what?"

"For ruining your birthday."

My chest tightened.

"Dad..."

"I wanted tonight to be special."

"It was."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You deserved better."

I smiled sadly.

Maybe I did.

But life wasn't perfect.

And neither was our family.

Still...

I had him.

That was enough.

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"I love you."

For a second, his eyes became glassy.

Then he smiled.

"I love you too, Princess."

And in that moment, I meant every word.

Maybe God hadn't given me a loving mother.

Maybe He hadn't given me caring sisters.

Maybe my home was broken.

But He had given me Giovanni McKenzie.

The best father in the world.

And for that, I would always be grateful.

A few minutes later, dinner ended.

Everyone left the dining room.

Everyone except Mom and Dad.

As I reached the staircase, I suddenly heard raised voices behind me.

I froze.

My parents were arguing.

And this time...

They weren't trying to hide it.

Something told me I should keep walking.

But another part of me desperately wanted answers.

Especially after what Mom almost revealed.

Slowly, I stepped back …

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***