«Robert, a second baby is on the way!» Linda eagerly informed her spouse. «Third, Linda, not second!» «For you, third; for me, second!»
In autumn, as Sophia entered third grade, her additional brother, Lucas, arrived. Linda existed for her young sons, pampering them while disregarding Sophia. The girl strove to assist her mother, craving her approval and care.
But Linda was drained from raising closely spaced boys, suffering sleep deprivation. She vented frustrations on Sophia, criticizing minor faults. Linda recognized her injustice toward Sophia, yet couldn’t restrain herself.
The adopted child felt like a weight. Sophia wept silently into her bedding but never rebutted her mother or tattled to her father. If scolded, it had to be justified.
Robert, home from employment, strived to attend to his daughter, assisting with schoolwork and reviewing tasks. «Linda, you might aid Sophia with studies,» he chided his wife. «I lack any time for Sophia; I’ve got two young sons, my flesh and blood.»
«Cease tormenting the girl,» Robert erupted. «She’s not our natural child,» Linda insisted repeatedly. September weather prevailed outside.
Sophia had begun fourth grade recently. She arrived home weeping. «What’s wrong?» Linda inquired flatly.
«I clashed with a classmate.» «No big deal, you’ll reconcile.» Linda lacked interest in Sophia’s academic woes.
«She claimed my father isn’t my true father.» «She spoke accurately,» Linda responded impulsively. «Nor am I your real mother. We collected you from the agency as a newborn.»
«I refuse to accept it,» the child wailed. «Sophia, you’re mature enough now. Ten years old. Grasp this: compare your appearance to ours. You’re dark-featured, we’re light. Such mismatches don’t occur.»
Sophia sobbed through the afternoon until her father’s arrival. «Why reveal that? Why inform her?» he confronted his wife upon hearing the cause of the tears. «Concealing it serves no purpose anymore. Others will highlight our disparities. Better truth from us than painful hearsay.»
«Perhaps you’re correct,» Robert conceded softly. «But delivery mattered. You could’ve awaited my return. We might’ve explained jointly.» From then, Linda fixated on Sophia potentially seeking vengeance against her siblings.
«Might a non-blood daughter harm my true sons?» the notion plagued the woman. «Absolutely possible,» the response echoed instantly. «Her origins are unknown. What heredity she carries. They mentioned her mother birthed at fourteen-and-a-half. Obviously a rebellious sort. At that stage, I was still playing games in class. No, adopting Sophia was erroneous. A grave error. But hindsight teaches many.»
Linda monitored Sophia incessantly. Whenever she neared her brothers, she shouted: «Step back from them!» The girl, nose running, retreated…
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