I stare at her in disbelief.

She has a stern, determined look on her face, glaring back at me.

``Excuse me aunt Caitlyn, but what did you just say?'' [Nathan]

She puts the dagger on a small table behind her.

``Your parents's will makes me your legal guardian. As such, this dagger is now legally in my possession, along with whatever else they left you, until the day you turn eighteen.'' [Caitlyn]

"..But I'm of age." [Nathan]

"And in most matters you are considered old enough that you can make decisions for yourself. But you cannot inherit without the consent of your legal guardian." [Caitlyn]

``.. You can't be serious..'' [Nathan]

``Do I not look serious?'' [Caitlyn]

She said, completely unfazed by the preposterity of her proposition.

``You-, you want me to change my name?'' [Nathan]

``Correct.'' [Caitlyn]

``I can't call myself Bluefin anymore?..'' [Nathan]

``Correct.'' [Caitlyn]

``That's ridiculous. Why on earth would you want me to change my name?'' [Nathan]

``Jessica and Shale never told you this, bu-'' [Caitlyn]

``What, you don't think I know that I'm adopted?'' [Nathan]

For a second, she is taken aback, a look of surprise painted on her face.

``How stupid do you think I am? You think I didn't notice that neither of my parents look anything like me? I knew all along, but I never cared. I was their child, and they were my parents.

You are probably the only person that didn't know that I would figure it out on my own, because you never took as much as a second to know me!'' [Nathan]

Staring at me with a stunned look on her face, she stands there. For the first time since we met, I am not the well-behaved little puppet that she thinks me.

``You think I haven't noticed? You think I haven't seen the way you stare at me? I saw it from the first time I laid eyes on you, holding your newborn daughter in your arms, staring at me like I was filth. Every single time I had to endure your loathful presence, I went out of my way to do absolutely nothing to cross you, NOTHING to upset you in ANY way! And now, mere DAYS after my parents are gone, you try to leverage their final gift to me, because you don't want to share a name with me?! You hateful cretin!" [Nathan]

I rise to my feet, facing her in raging defiance.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"She spend eight years! EIGHT YEARS! Trying to appease you, trying to fix your relationship! And this is how you repay her?!

Time and time again, she defended you, she apologized for you! Because she thought you were family! If only, if ONLY she had known that you are no more our family than rotten fish that wash ashore! Only fit to be looked on with disgust as we hurry past..

You can take your damned ``offer'' and choke on it! No way in hell am I EVER going to accept!

But don't worry, aunt dear, the very SECOND that I turn eighteen I will come and demand every single thing that they left me, which will be the very last you will ever see of me.

.. And until that day, you are as good as dead to me.'' [Nathan]

As I turn to leave, I hear the front door open. Shortly after, Shawn reenters the room.

``Excuse me, but I forgot to ask this. Caitlyn, what are you going to do with that other girl, Sarah was it? Her parents hasn't paid for her tuition in advance, so I cannot enroll her.'' [Shawn]

What?.. Sarah?

``Sigh.. She'll have to be left to an orphanage outside of the city then.'' [Caitlyn]

``What?'' [Nathan]

``I lost my husband, I can't afford to pay another tuition.'' [Caitlyn]

``So you're just going to ship her off to an orphanage?!'' [Nathan]

``Nathan, I know it seems unfair. But a tuition is expensive, I cannot provide it for free out of pity.'' [Shawn]

``Then give her a scholarship!'' [Nathan]

``Nathan. Stop being unreasonable and calm down child. I cannot just give away scholarships.'' [Shawn]

Guh..

``How much is the tuition?'' [Nathan]

``Ten thousand a month, including lodging. Six without.'' [Shawn]

``Then I'll pay for it! I'll work making crystals an-'' [Nathan]

``Don't be daft boy, you simply cannot possibly make that kind of money. Your tuition is already paid for, but even so, that's beyond you.'' [Shawn]

Argh!.. He's right, I need more money. Isn't there anything I can sell? Isn't there anythi-

"Actually Shawn, Jessica and Shale left Nathan a substantial sum. It should be enough to keep her in school for at least a year. They willed it to him, so he is going to receive it.. Together with their gift for his ninth birthday." [Caitlyn]

.. So that's your counter offer, aunt Caitlyn.. Ugh, even the word aunt makes me sick to my stomach. You despicable fiend, that you would leverage the fate of a child in your care..

"Hmm.. I'm still not sure it's such a good idea, if she can only attend for a year then.." [Shawn]

"She can live with me. She owns part of the house anyways. She's Tony's sister." [Nathan]

"What? No, you absolutely cannot live together Nathan." [Shawn]

"And why not?" [Nathan]

"Look, you're young child, there's, things, that happen when-" [Shawn]

"She can move out when she hits puberty, if that's what you're worried about. Not that it matters." [Nathan]

I turn my back towards him to look at Caitlyn.

As I try not to show the anger and powerlessness on my face.

"I was as close to her family as I was to my own, and we played together almost every day." [Nathan]

I walk past Caitlyn, not sparing her a glance, and pick up the sheathed dagger.

"From today on, she and I are family. I am not leaving here without her, and I am certainly not letting her rot away in some orphanage." [Nathan]

With a bewildered look on his face, Shawn looks to Caitlyn, who silently nods at him.

"Argh.. If there is no other way, then so be it, but I wash my hands of this mess." [Shawn]

"That's fine. Now excuse me, I'll go get my sister. We'll be ready to leave shortly, so if you want you can wait by the boat Shawn." [Nathan]

I strap the sheath to my belt, and head for Samantha's room. I knock on the door, and enter.

Sam and Elena are lying on the bed, hugging each other. Sam is sobbing, and Elena looks like she is on the verge of crying herself.

Sarah is sitting on the floor, hugging her knees, back against the bed.

Her face is completely blank, with large blue bags under her eyes. She looks like she hasn't slept in several days.

"Sarah, we are leaving. Come on." [Nathan]

I gently take her arm and pull her to her feet. She gets up, but doesn't really react to me.

I take her hand, and lead her out of the room.

"Where are you taking her?" [Elena]

Both Elena and Sam are looking at me with confused eyes.

"I'm taking her home." [Nathan]