Chapter 3: The Interview That Changed Everything

The nightmares of my past life flashed through my mind. The pain in my heart made me realize that giving my all to them was just a joke to them, not worth it at all. Besides, the world’s a big place; there has to be somewhere I belong, people who’ll appreciate me. Why keep chasing after these three?

I remembered every time I’d tried, every time I’d failed, every time my heart broke a little more. My vision blurred with angry tears. There’s a whole country out there—maybe some small town with honest folks, or a city where I could vanish and start fresh. It had to be better than this.

Little brother and big sisters, being doted on—forget it. In this life, I’ll never get tangled up with these people again. Even if it kills me, I’ll break this bond myself.

I set my jaw, the decision hardening inside me like steel. This time, I’d be the one to walk away, no matter what it cost. The last thing I wanted was anyone else holding the scissors to my lifeline.

With my resolve growing, I only panicked for a second before changing course, climbing over the backyard fence and dragging my wounded body in the opposite direction from Maple Heights Academy, not daring to look back.

The pickets were rough and splintery under my hands. My hoodie snagged, ripping at the hem, but I didn’t stop. I dropped to the grass behind the shed and limped down the alley, head ducked, heart hammering. The autumn air stung my cut, but I welcomed the pain. Anything was better than being found.

A distant train horn cut through the night, reminding me there was a world beyond this town—maybe even a place for me.

What I didn’t know was that just after I left, Natalie, Aubrey, and Lillian arrived. My parents quickly pulled themselves together and greeted them: “You girls honor us with your visit. Please, come in—please.”

Dad’s voice was too formal, the way he spoke to the church board or the mayor at the Fourth of July parade. Mom fussed at her hair, trying to hide the panic in her eyes. The house smelled like Lysol and lemon cookies—her way of showing hospitality in a pinch.

Unlike their cold and distant vibe from my past life, the three didn’t blame anyone. Instead, they smiled gently at my parents and softly explained that they were here to recruit new students for Maple Heights Academy, and said that if there were any talented kids, they could be brought directly to them for recommendation. Especially when saying “talented kids,” their tone was deliberate, as if hinting at something.

Natalie’s smile was practiced, the kind you see on valedictorians at graduation. Aubrey flashed a dimple and complimented the living room décor. Lillian lingered by the bookshelf, eyeing the family photos. For once, they seemed almost approachable—almost.

My parents were thrilled, thinking this was a sign for the Carter family to seize the opportunity. They immediately brought out the younger cousins for the three to interview. If I’d been there, I would have been shocked to see this. Because Natalie, Aubrey, and Lillian represented Maple Heights Academy, high-status and notoriously unapproachable. Other than their beloved Lucas, no one ever got a kind word from them. But now, not only did they smile at my parents, they even treated my family kindly during the interviews. Such friendliness had never been seen before; it was honestly weird.

Aunt Cheryl’s lemon bars sat untouched on the coffee table, the powdered sugar melting into sticky fingerprints. My little cousin Susie beamed as Aubrey asked her about her favorite book. Uncle Dave hovered nervously by the kitchen door, whispering updates into his phone. The whole house buzzed with excitement, everyone secretly hoping for a nod from the three girls. It was as if a Hollywood audition had come to our quiet street.

As time passed, the Carter family’s kids were almost all interviewed, and there were quite a few with decent grades. The three even made exceptions to accept some with only average records. Normally, they could have visited a few more families and gone back to Maple Heights early to report. But for some reason, the three weren’t in high spirits. Especially when interviewing the last person, their faces darkened, and they kept searching the crowd, as if looking for someone.

Natalie kept glancing at the staircase. Aubrey’s foot tapped anxiously. Lillian’s smile faded as she peered out the front window, as if expecting someone to come running up the walk at the last minute. The room’s mood shifted—everyone noticed.

“Young ladies, is something wrong?”

Aunt Cheryl asked, her voice hesitant, glancing from the girls to my parents.

Natalie, as the leader, didn’t lose her cool but patiently asked, “Mr. Carter, are you sure all the young people in your family are here? If anyone’s missing and loses this chance, it’d be a real shame.”

She leaned forward, eyes sharp but polite, her tone carrying more weight than a principal’s morning announcement. It was clear she wasn’t going to let this drop.

“Ma’am, I’ve checked—no one’s missing.”

Dad’s voice was steady, but he shifted his weight, glancing over at Mom as if asking for backup. Tension thickened, everyone holding their breath.

Hearing this, Aubrey on the side couldn’t sit still. Frowning, she asked, “That can’t be right. Before I came, I heard your son Ethan is the brightest in the Carter family. Why isn’t he here today?”

Aubrey’s tone was light but insistent, and her words echoed in the suddenly silent room. The air was thick with anticipation—everyone waiting to see how Dad would handle this curveball.

My dad was startled, feeling uneasy but mostly guilty. He looked at the floor, jaw tight, the way he always did when he was about to tell a lie. Remembering my determined face and repeated pleas before leaving, he could only brace himself and explain, “Ma’am, you must be joking. That’s just a rumor. My son was born with a medical condition, so we didn’t want him to come out and embarrass us...”

Dad’s words came out rushed, the excuse a flimsy shield he hoped would hold up. I knew he hated lying, especially with all eyes on him, but what choice did he have?

With a loud crack, the three lost control and crushed the coffee cups in their hands, shards slipping through their fingers, their faces turning grim: “How could that be!”

The sound made everyone jump. Coffee splattered across the tablecloth, and Aunt Cheryl rushed to grab napkins. The three girls’ faces darkened, eyes flashing with something fierce and desperate. The room felt colder, as if the furnace had kicked off.

My dad was baffled, not understanding why the three suddenly got angry. Lillian, who had been quiet, bit her lip and spoke in a cold voice tinged with warning: “Whether or not he has a condition, we’ll know after talking to him. How can you judge so quickly?”

Lillian’s voice cut through the room, sharp and low. Her hands shook as she set the broken mug down. The grown-ups exchanged uneasy glances, not sure how to respond.

“Mr. Carter, since we’re here, we have to be responsible in finding talent for the academy. Bring him here and let us decide.”

Natalie’s words had the ring of an ultimatum. She looked Dad straight in the eye, all traces of friendliness gone. It was clear: the interview wasn’t over until they said so.

Seeing that the three were about to turn the house upside down if they didn’t bring me out, my dad hesitated for a long time before finally telling the truth: “Ladies, to be honest, my son Ethan is talented, but for some reason, he threw away his own future and would rather be a nobody than meet you. I really have no choice. Please, don’t blame us.”

He sighed, shoulders drooping in defeat. The truth hung in the air, heavier than the smell of spilled coffee. No one dared speak for a moment, waiting for the girls’ reaction.

Actually, there are plenty of talented kids out there. If I don’t appreciate the opportunity, they could just move on. If they pressed, people would think they were being petty. But the result was a shock to everyone.

Aunt Cheryl murmured, “Maybe it’s just nerves.” Uncle Dave cleared his throat, trying to lighten the mood. But nothing could break the tension building in the air.

Natalie, Aubrey, and Lillian—these three ice-cold girls who could face down any challenge—now looked as if the sky had fallen, their eyes red, stumbling back two steps, exclaiming together: “What? You’re saying Ethan would rather throw away his future and never try again than meet us?”

Their voices overlapped in disbelief, shock painted across their faces. For the first time, the three legends of Maple Heights looked lost—and all because of me.