Blood Is Not A Contract

The throw out

The tea cup shattered at my feet.

Hot tea burned my aforehead, porlecian shards scattering across the cold marble .

For a second the only sound in the Sufu's living room was Andy's sift practiced sobbing from the couch.

“You ungrateful brat.“ My father's roar shook the walls. “ You dare show your face after what you did to your sister?”

I didn't move. I just stared at the broken pieces by my shoes. My forehead still stung where the tea had splashed.

My mother sat beside him, twisting her handkerchief until her knuckles turned white.

Guilt was written all over her face, but as always she said nothing. My little brother stared at his plate not daring to look up from the dinning table where they had started dinner without me. I wasnt surprised.

And Andy— my perfect little sister dabbed at her faintly red cheek with at a tissue. She had gotten home first. Ofcourse she had.

“How could you beat your sister so cruelly?“ My father barked. “Look at her face” there was a visible scratch l was sure wasnt there when l left her earlier but who would believe me if l said that.

“Did she tell you why as well?“ I taunted, knowing my sister she wouldnt dare and true enough she was panicking her eyes darting around looking for an escape root.

She believed l wouldnt say it. I continued “Did your precuous Andy tell you l caught her with her future brother in law? Joshua ? my fiancè? in bed?, Naked ? An hour ago in his apartment Or did she convieniently forget that part?“

Silence. Thick choking silence.

My mother's breath caught. Leo's head snapped up.

Andy wailed louder, right on cue…”its all my fault, l was drunk and seduced brother in law. Dont blame him….please sister “ same old tricks l was fed up

“Shut up” l said.

Everyone froze.

I had never spoken to anyone like that in my life.

Then the front door opened

Joshua walked in.

Joshua looking sharp as always walked like he owned the place and Andy rushed to him and he pulled her into a protective hug.

Like she belonged there

My stomach twisted violently, l thought l'd be sick.

“Mr Sufu, Mrs Sufu” he said smoothly without glancing at me . “Dont blame Andy. I have always loved her, l only got close to Nora to be close to Andy “ He said it like it justified them treating me as a substitute.

Two years. Two years of saving my lunch money to buy him birthday gifts. Two years of defending him when my friends said he was cold. Two years of thinking someone finally chosen me.

All a lie to get to my sister.

My father nodded, as if this was reasonable. As if this was honourable. Because Joshua Caster was old money wether he married me or Andy, the Sufus would still climb.

“ You see?“ My father spat at me. “ Your sister got true love and you tried to ruin it because of yoir jealousy! Your a disgrace to this blood”

He threw a thick stack of papers onto the coffee table. A black card slid out beside it.

“ Severance agreement”, he said coldy. “ You will cut all ties with this family. You will repay everything we spent raising you. And you will sign this agreement.

He flipped to the third page and jabbed his finger at it.

Read it, my fingers started shaking not from fear but from disgust.

I Nora Jasper Sufu willingly give my fiancè Joshua Caster to my sister Andrea Sufu. I consent to Andrea Sufu to take my place and identity as the Caster bride.

“What is…….this?“ I whispered.

“Its the truth” Andy sniffled “ You are just…….. not fit to be a Caster wife, Nora. Everyone knows that, just admit you gave him to me willingly”

My mother cried harder, “Nora……please just sign it. Your father will give you compensation. Two hundred thousand enough to start up.. Don't make this harder”

Two hundred thousand. Hush money. To buy my silence, to buy my identity, to let them rewrite history and say l willing gave them away.

My father pushed the black card toward me like l was a beggar. “Take it and diappear quietly.Donot contest the engagement. Obey our bidding.“

I stared at the contract. At the card. At the three people sharing my blood watching like l was trash they were paying to haul away.

Something in my chest didn't break. It turned cold like stone.

I picked up the pen.

“Blood is not a contract anyway” l said my voice shaking but loud enough for the whole room to hear . You can't expect me to do your bindings everytime. I would rather starve on the streets than continue being a part of this rotten family”

My father's face turned purple “ You dare……..“

I signed Hard Nora Jasper Sufu. The ink tore slightly into the paper.

Then l pushed the black card across the table using one finger. I dont need your money.

“Nora” my mother gasped.

Nora's tears stopped. She furiously stared at me, angry l wouldnt play along.

“You will regret this, you leave with nothing and your cards are frozen” Dont come back begging….

“Good “ l said as l walked out, no one stopped me. I walked into the rain with one thought in my head. “What do l do now?. Nora all the confidence then what are you going to do next”

I had nothing, no home, no name, no money and definitely no one.

Then my phone buzzed a message from an unknown number……….

Unknown number” l saw what they did to you, come to room 808 Grand Hyatt if you want revenge”