Swapping Parents Every September, But They Only Choose My Sister Chapter 04

Swapping Parents Every September, But They Only Choose My Sister Chapter 04

When fall break arrived, I walked out of school and immediately saw Dad’s car. 

I waited nearby. 

A few minutes later, Mom, Dad, and Arden came out together. 

Mom carried a bag of Arden’s used training clothes. 

Dad had Arden’s pink backpack slung over his shoulder. 

All three of them were taughing. 

Then they saw me. 

The laughter stopped. 

Almost instinctively, Mom stepped in front of the car door and blocked my way. 

Aveline, haven’t you always liked reading somewhere quiet? 

You can spend fall break at the pack library or stay in the training hall to study. 

You can’t swim, so the beach isn’t safe for you,” 

I looked at her standing guard before the door. 

Then I looked at Dad. He still hadn’t unlocked the car. 

I almost laughed. 

Did they think I was going to ruin their happy family vacation? 

“Relax. I’m not asking to come. 

“I’m only here for money to cover fall break. If you’re all 

leaving, how am I supposed to live?” 

Mom visibly relaxed. 

She searched her wallet, then tugged on Dad’s sleeve. 

“Do you 

any cash? Give her some. I don’t have any, and have any my phone is dead.” 

Dad didn’t move. 

She’s yours this year. Why should I pay? 

Don’t you ever get tired of dumping every bill and problem 

involving Aveline on me?” 

She’s your pup too!” 

But she’s your responsibility this year!” 

In the end, all I had were a few crumpled bills. 

slowly closed my fist around the crumpled bills, my chest 

tightening with every crease, 

Mom and Dad were still arguing. In the struggle, Mom 

accidentally caught the zipper of Arden’s backpack and pulled it open. 

The bag gaped wide. 

Inside was a thick stack of cash. 

Arden snatched up the backpack and hugged it tightly to her chest. 

“Mom gave me this because my assessment score improved. It 

has nothing to do with you. Don’t read into it.” 

Mom waved a hand impatiently. 

Enough, Aveline. Go home. I’ll charge my phone and transfer 

you some money later.” 

I didn’t move. 

Your ranking went up? By how much?” 

bad answered proudly. 

Two points! 

In the advanced program’s overall assessment, even one or 

two points can separate a large group of students. 

Arden improved by two points in one assessment. Of course she deserves a reward.” 

So they had given her three hundred dollars for that? 

That assessment had been notoriously easy. 

Even those of us in the graduating class knew that the junior 

class average had risen nearly twenty points since the previous assessment. 

Arden had improved by only two. 

Which meant that compared with everyone else, she had actually done worse.” 

Both my parents were senior warriors. There was no way they couldn’t read a training report. 

But favoritism had never needed logic. 

They wanted to give Arden money. 

So they did. 

The reason? They could invent one afterward. 

Mom looked at me impatiently. 

Stop sulking, Aveline. I asked one of your classmates about your score. You dropped three points. 

Rewards come with consequences. If you want to keep 

arguing about this, pay us a four–hundred–and–fifty–dollar penalty first.” 

At last, I laughed. 

This mock assessment had been the hardest in years. The entire class average had plummeted. 

My total score had fallen by only three points. 

But my ranking hadn’t changed. I was still first in my class. 

Ms. Rowan Hale had praised me for three days straight. 

But in my parents‘ eyes? I was a failure who owed them money. 

“You asked how many points I lost. Did you ask what my actual score was?” 

Mom shrugged. 

“I was in a hurry. I didn’t ask for details. 

“That’s not the point. 

“We have a flight to catch. I’m done arguing. Stop hounding 

me like a debt collector. I’ll send the money, all right?” 

The car doors unlocked. 

The three of them quickly left. 

The day came and went. 

She never transferred the money. 

messaged her. 

She never replied. 

But she had time to edit Arden’s vacation pictures and post them on Instagram. 

I messaged Dad. 

He told me to ask Mom. 

This time, I turned off my phone. 

This had happened countless times throughout my life. 

Yet it still hurt every single time. 

Every Sunday night before Arden returned to school, they called each other to make sure she had enough spending money. 

If one of them had to travel for work, they swallowed their, reluctance and sent Arden to stay with the other for a few days. 

Neither could bear the thought of her going hungry or spending a night alone. 

They weren’t forgetful. 

They weren’t irresponsible. 

They just simply… didn’t love me. 

At the end of August, it was time for Arden and me to switch homes again. 

Mom entered my bedroom and immediately began packing my things. 

She moved incredibly fast. 

She could barely hide her delight at sending me away and getting Arden back. 

Early the next morning, I left with my suitcase. 

But I had no intention of going to the restaurant where we met every September before Arden and I switched homes. 

I called a car. 

My destination was the airport. 

Nora came to see me off. 

As we sat at the gate waiting to board, she suddenly asked, “Have you ever thought about something? 

“Your parents favor Arden. What happens after you graduate 

from Royal Frostvale and become a senior warrior, or even join Pack Command? 

Will they dump the entire burden of caring for them on you?” 

smiled. 

“Simple. We’ll settle it through the Pack Council. 

One parent each. Every September, we switch” 

I didn’t know then that many years later, when September 

came, the ones who feared being exchanged- Would be them.