Chapter 6 Severing Ties with My Parents

• "Open the door!" David had run out of patience. He raised his leg, ready to kick the door down.
• But just as his foot made contact, the door swung open, and his kick landed squarely on Joshua's chest. The force was so strong that it nearly sent him flying backward and crashing into the table behind him.
• "Joshua?" David was momentarily stunned, his anger giving way to surprise.
• Joshua slowly lifted his head, his face ghostly pale. Despite the obvious pain, he bit his lip and forced himself to stand upright, showing no sign of the struggle within. Without a word, he dragged a suitcase out of his room.
• "Not that anyone cares," he said quietly as he walked into the living room, his voice carrying a strange calmness, "but I feel it's necessary to make things official. Ideally, something legally binding."
• The living room was filled with onlookers such as Maggie, Shirley, Maddy, and, of course, Frankie. Katherine also stood nearby.
• "We can have Mrs. Locker witnessed it," he continued, his tone even, emotionless. He pulled out a blank sheet of paper and handed it to David.
• "Mr. Joshua, what are you…?" Katherine asked, her voice faltering as her gaze landed on the suitcase he was dragging behind him. Her surprise was evident.
• David took the paper, glanced at it, and after a moment of reading, his face contorted with rage. "Joshua, what is this nonsense? Have you lost your mind?"
• "I'm not crazy," Joshua replied, his expression tired yet resolute. "If you and Mrs. Jensen agree, then we can settle this once and for all. If not, we'll still end it here. I just think it's important to have something on record. It's for the best."
• David's anger erupted. "Where did you learn all this rubbish? Who put these ideas in your head? Your mother's right. You're full of bad habits! And now you're trying to use this to threaten me? Threaten your mother?"
• Joshua chuckled softly at David's words, a hollow laugh that echoed through the tense room. "Mr. David, I think you've misunderstood. I'm not trying to threaten anyone. I'm just tired. I don't want to argue anymore. Surely, you can agree to that, can't you?"
• "What did he write?" Maggie asked in surprise and stepped closer to take a look.
• As soon as her eyes scanned the paper, her face twisted with fury.
• "Joshua, have you lost your mind? Where's the ruler?" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage.
• The words on the paper were nothing short of outrageous. It turned out to be a formal declaration severing all ties between him and his parents. It listed point after point as if Joshua had already made up his mind to cut off their relationship entirely.
• How could Maggie tolerate such a thing? She immediately began searching the table for the ruler, and when she spotted it lying nearby, she noticed it still had traces of blood on it.
• Without a second thought, she grabbed it and swung it at him.
• This time, however, he didn't just stand there like before. With calm precision, he reached up and caught the cane mid-swing.
• "Do you really want to see me bleed again?" he asked coldly, his gaze steady as he stared at her, his expression unfamiliar and distant, like he was speaking to a stranger.
• "You—" She was stunned as she hadn't expected him to actually catch the ruler. Her shock quickly turned to anger, and she snatched a broom from Katherine's hands.
• With a swift motion, she swung the broom at his head.
• He frowned. This time, he could have easily dodged the blow. He saw it coming, yet, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, he didn't move. The broom handle came down hard, cracking against his skull.
• The impact was heavy, and blood began to drip from the fresh wound.
• "Joshua!"
• The others gasped in shock as he made no attempt to defend himself.
• "I've lost some blood," he said, his voice trembling with pain. "Consider it payback for the blood you lost giving birth to me. I'm returning it to you…to all of you!" His head throbbed, and he could feel the warm trickle of blood seeping from his wound, but he forced himself to stay conscious, refusing to give in to the darkness that threatened to overtake him.
• Gritting his teeth against the pain, he continued, "I suppose I also owe you guys some money. The past four years' worth of living expenses should be about thirty a day. That adds up to around 40,000, but let's round it to 50,00 dollars just to be safe!"
• He paused for a moment, catching his breath, then added with a grim smile, "And then there's the money for gifts, snacks, and rent. Let's call that another 50,000 dollars. So, in total, I owe you 100,000 dollars!"
• His voice grew stronger, more defiant. "Don't worry, I won't leave you unpaid. I've calculated everything. I promise I'll pay you back within a year!"
• Seeing Joshua's pallor, David's face filled with alarm. "Mrs. Locker, call an ambulance!" he shouted, his voice tight with fear as he watched Joshua sway unsteadily on his feet.
• But Joshua waved him off, his jaw clenched. "No need. I'm fine!"
• Despite the blood loss and the sharp pain stabbing through his skull, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth, wrapping it tightly around his head. His face, pale and clammy moments ago, regained some color as he managed to stabilize himself.
• "These few drops of blood," he said coldly, "consider them the first part of my repayment. As for the flesh you've given me… Well, I don't have a way to return that right now. But I'll convert it into cash and repay you for that, too! And if you really want the flesh back," he added with a bitter chuckle, "I could always go to the hospital and have the doctors cut off a piece for you. Don't worry; I'll make sure you get everything you're owed!"
• "Joshua, have you lost your mind?" David gasped, stunned by the madness in Joshua's words.