- 8.
Eventually, my dad found out I was still alive. My cousin was right, I really did get my
smarts from my dad.
He sent Sarah. She started crying the second
she saw me, apologizing over and over.
“Emily, I’m not asking you to forgive me. Please forgive your dad! He’s been through
so much! You’re a girl, you’ll get married
eventually. The family fortune needs to go to
<
I was beyond disappointed. Even after
everything my cousin had done, my dad
wouldn’t give up on him.
“With my cousin’s brainpower, he’ll squander it all away. Oh, wait, he already has. The
company’s almost bankrupt, right?”
Sarah started crying even harder. “Emily, your
cousin’s a jerk, your dad even said he wanted
to kill him!”
“But he’s still my dad’s nephew, my cousin,
right? So Dad still can’t let go. He’ll still let
him take over the family business…”
Sarah laughed. She interrupted me. “Of
course not. Your dad isn’t that stupid. I’m
pregnant, with a boy. I’m already 24 weeks
What the hell?
“The baby…the baby is my dad’s?”
I was stunned.
“Of course. Your dad said your aunt was just
a pretty face, and your cousin took after her,
all looks and no substance.
I’m smart, so my child will be smart too.
So don’t worry, your dad’s company will go to
my son. He won’t disappoint you like your
cousin did!”
I couldn’t process it. My former best friend
had betrayed me, and now she was having my
dad’s baby.
Sarah saw my blank stare and grabbed my
arm, just like she used to do in school when
she had a bug in her code and needed me to
fix it.
“You’re going to be a big sister! Aren’t you
happy? There won’t be that annoying cousin
anymore, just our family of four.
Emily, don’t worry, the baby in my belly will be
a genius. He’ll make our whole family rich.”
I pulled my arm away. I didn’t know why she
thought I’d be happy. But, thinking about it,
none of this really had anything to do with
- me.
I never wanted the family fortune. And I
certainly didn’t want to help them get the
money back.
<
I said coldly, “Congratulations.”
“I knew you’d be happy for me! So you’ll help
your dad, get the money back!”
I shook my head. “Sarah, you know my dad’s
got high standards for his kids‘ intelligence. If
the baby has to be a genius, then the baby’s
mom has to be a genius, too.
You’ve seen my dad’s abilities. He can get
you pregnant, he can get other women
pregnant.
Now that my dad’s company’s in trouble, this
is your chance to shine. You should help him.
solve the crisis, so your baby’s position is
secure.”
Sarah looked uneasy. “But you know I’m not
く
that good. I can’t solve problems this
complex.
Can’t we go back to how things were? You do
the work, I copy.”
“Sure.”
We’d gotten into the computer science
program together. She was smart, but all she
cared about was finding a rich guy. She never
really tried.
We used to be friends. I always carried her in
competitions, doing the work of two people. I
never expected she’d betray me so
completely.
