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423words
Hoping for quick wins,he'd missed repayment deadlines,and wasnow hounded by hulking creditors.
"I can't go home,and they tanked my job..."
Wolfing down a sandwich,he eyed me expectantly."Sophia,you made so much on stocks,right?Transfer the money to me!"
"But Uncle,you haven't given me living expenses in six months.I used that money for tuition and rent..."I said timidly.
"Tuition?I'm about to get beaten to death,and you care about school?Drop out!"
When I refused,he slapped me twice."Ungrateful!I brought you to France,and this is how you repay me?"
"But I really want to study..."I sobbed.
"Fine,don't drop out.You know rich classmates and professors—borrow from then!Or go become a prostitute!"he roared."Tomorrow,get me my money!"
His familiar face felt alien.
Fine,no more blood ties.
The next day,I"carefully"wore sunglasses and a mask to hide my bruised cheek and eye.
Jane asked what happened,but I shook my head,silent.
At lunch in the cafeteria,they saw my shocking bruises.
"Sophia,is someone abusing you?I'm calling the cops!"Jane grabbed her phone.
Before I could speak,a group of burly creditors strode in,with Uncle being dragged after them like a groveling dog.
"PLease,this is my foster daughter!"
"She's loaded!Scholarships worth tens of thousands,and her friends are rich—she can pay my debts!"
"Uncle,how could you do this?"I cried,tears falling."You beat me like this and force me to pay your gambling debts?"
"Miss,this is a debt transfer agreement,"one of the thugs tossed a paper at me."Help your foster dad,and he'll suffer less."
"Ridiculous,forcing a minor to pay up for gambling debts!"my classmates snapped.
"Cops are here.To go jail."
At the station,a female officer inspected my injuries.
I presented last night's assault recording and security footage.
"With this,we'll charge him with abusing a minor,"she said,pitying my bruises."He said you owe him money—what's that about?"
"Officer,that's my parents'inheritance he got when he adopted me.He gave me just 10%."
"That adds extortion and financial misappropriation,"she sneered."He's likely going to prison."
"If so,he could no longer act as your guardian.You're a minor—any other relatives?"she asked,concerned."Otherwise,you might be sent back home."
"Let me be her guardian."My physics teacher's gentle voice rang out.
I'd bet right.
Yesterday,I'd provoked Uncle to hit my face's most visible spot,guessing he'd give my address to creditors.
Today's cafeteria act was to draw out my teacher,I bet that her wouldn’t want to lose a physics prodigy. I was right
This freed me from Uncle,the hopeless gambler.
My teacher came from a wealthy,scholarly family.
Their protection kept loan sharks at bay.
With no worries,my research soared.
Then,Aunt texted me:Jenna was in trouble.
