MY FATHER GAVE EVERYTHING TO HIS NEW FAMILY—THEN HE NEEDED MY SIGNATURE
MY FATHER GAVE EVERYTHING TO HIS NEW FAMILY—THEN HE NEEDED MY SIGNATURE
CHAPTER 1: YOU'RE NOT MY DAUGHTER ANYMORE
"Get out."
The words echoed through the restaurant.
I slowly lowered my fork.
Across the table sat my father.
Beside him sat his new wife, Brenda.
Beside her sat her son, Kyle.
The family that replaced me.
The family he chose.
"What did you just say?"
My father didn't hesitate.
"I said get out."
The entire restaurant seemed to go quiet.
People were staring.
I could feel it.
But I couldn't look away from him.
The man who raised me.
The man who taught me to ride a bike.
The man who hadn't called on my birthday in three years.
"Why?"
My voice sounded smaller than I wanted.
Brenda rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please."
I ignored her.
My father pointed across the table.
"Because you're embarrassing me."
I laughed in disbelief.
"Embarrassing you?"
"You keep telling people I abandoned you."
The audacity nearly took my breath away.
"You did."
Kyle snorted.
Brenda smirked.
My father slammed his hand on the table.
"I gave you everything."
"No."
I stood up.
"You gave everything to them."
The restaurant became silent.
Everyone was listening now.
Good.
Let them.
Because it was true.
When my mother died, my father remarried within a year.
Then suddenly every family vacation included Brenda.
Every holiday included Kyle.
Every major decision excluded me.
When I turned eighteen, he stopped trying altogether.
Brenda smiled coldly.
"Maybe if you weren't so dramatic..."
I turned toward her.
"Maybe if you weren't sleeping with married men..."
The restaurant exploded.
Kyle jumped to his feet.
"Watch your mouth."
My father looked furious.
"Enough."
He pointed toward the exit.
"You're not my daughter anymore."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Not my daughter.
Just like that.
Thirty years erased.
I nodded slowly.
"Fine."
I grabbed my purse.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
"Hello?"
A woman spoke urgently.
"Is this Abigail Turner?"
"Yes."
"I'm calling from St. Mary's Medical Center."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
The woman hesitated.
Then said:
"Your father has collapsed."
I frowned.
I looked up.
My father was still standing right there.
Still glaring at me.
"What are you talking about?"
The woman sounded confused.
"Mr. Daniel Turner was admitted thirty minutes ago."
My blood ran cold.
Because Daniel Turner wasn't my father.
It was my grandfather.
May you like
The grandfather my father told me had died five years ago.
END OF CHAPTER 1
