Chapter 7
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Kathy burst into tears, pointing at me with shaking hands.
“Mom, Dad! It was her! My sister was the reason I was abducted!”
Her voice trembled with fury as she continued, “Ten years ago, the traffickers were originally going to take her, but she told them to kidnap me instead because I was younger!”
She turned to my parents, eyes brimming with desperation. “If you don’t believe me, check her room! She planned this! It’s all in her diary! She wanted to get rid of me so she could have you both to herself!”
My parents stiffened, their eyes flickering with doubt as they turned to look at me.
Before they could speak, the police officer interjected.
“That brings me to another important matter,” he said, his voice firm. “We’ve located the two traffickers who kidnapped Kathy.”
Kathy’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Yes! Interrogate them! They’ll tell you the truth! They were supposed to take my sister first!”
The officer gave a small nod. “Their statements match what you’ve said–initially, they did intend to kidnap Nadine.”
Kathy gasped in triumph, clutching my mother’s arm. “See? Did you hear that?! It was Nadine’s fault!”
Before I could speak, my father’s hand struck my cheek with a loud crack. My head snapped to the side, and I stumbled back, clutching my stinging face.
“Tell me the truth!” he bellowed, his eyes blazing with anger. “Why did you do this to your own sister? She suffered for ten years because of you! How could you be so cruel?”
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at them in disbelief.
“I… I never tried to harm my sister,” I said, my voice shaking. “Yes, I was their first target, but I sensed something was wrong. I planned to let them take me instead of her!”
“You’re lying!” Kathy shrieked, her face twisted with rage.
“I’m not!” I shot back. “I was ready to sacrifice myself, but it was Kathy who stopped me. She told the traffickers to take her instead! And she even said…”
I paused, looking directly into my parents‘ eyes.
“She said, ‘Meibao also wants to eat candied haws. Grandma, give it to Meibao instead of me, okay?”
I mimicked her soft, pleading tone, the very same she had used all those years ago. Kathy’s face drained of color. “You’re making that up! I never said that!” she screamed, panic creeping into her voice.
The police officer remained unmoved. “We confirmed this with the traffickers. Kathy voluntarily offered herself in her sister’s place. Her abduction wasn’t Nadine’s doing–it
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The police officer remained unmoved. “We confirmed this with the traffickers. Kathy voluntarily offered herself in her sister’s place. Her abduction wasn’t Nadine’s doing–it
was her own choice.”
Silence fell over the room. My parents looked shaken.
Ten years ago, Kathy had been their spoiled, willful daughter, always taking what she wanted–whether it was my toys, my clothes, or even my parents‘ affection. And now, confronted with the truth, doubt flickered across their faces.
Seeing their hesitation, Kathy’s tears flowed freely.
“Mom, Dad, I only did it because I didn’t want my sister to be taken! Was that so wrong?” she sobbed. “I suffered for ten years because of her! Am I not allowed to be happy now?”
She clutched at her bandaged arms, her body trembling.
Moved by her suffering, my parents‘ resolve wavered.
*Regardless of how it happened,” my father sighed, “our daughter was kidnapped and endured terrible things for ten years.”
My mother nodded, pleading with the police. “Officer, please… she’s already been through so much. Can’t the court be lenient with her poisoning case?”
The officer’s expression hardened. “I don’t decide convictions–that’s up to the court. But there’s more.”
My parents stiffened.
“Kathy is guilty of more than just poisoning,” he said grimly.
“You may not know this… but she kidnapped the very traffickers who once abducted her.”
