Chapter 13 : I Don’t Have An ID
At dawn, someone knocked on Allison’s door.
Nigel stood at the doorway. One hand was in his pocket, and his brows were tightly furrowed as he listened to her slow movements inside.
When Allison opened the door, he stared at her carefully. She seemed better than she had in the last few days.
Remembering her injuries, he softened his tone. “Get ready. We’re going to the hospital for a full check-up.”
Allison replied, “Forget it. I don’t have an ID. I can’t register.”
“It’s our own hospital. Rules don’t apply,” Nigel said, thinking she was just being stubborn.
His eyes fell on her hands hanging at her sides. Holding back his frustration, he said, “I haven’t found your bracelet yet, but I’ll give it back once I do. Mom and Toby’s rooms aren’t possible, but don’t worry. Just wait for me. Once the hospital’s monthly earnings are settled, I’ll buy you your own place.”
Wait? He wanted me to wait again?
I had heard that word too many times.
When Sherrie first came to the Rogers family, they coaxed me again and again. “Just wait a little longer. Sherrie will stop taking Mom’s attention from you. Just wait a little longer. She’ll learn to be considerate. Just wait. She’ll get closer to you.”
I would not believe their empty promises anymore.
And I knew Nigel wouldn’t buy me a house. By tomorrow, he would use the same promise to comfort Sherrie instead.
Nigel waited for her reaction. He thought, In the past, if I mentioned giving her something, she would smile no matter how angry she was. I was offering her a house now. She should be happy, right?
But Allison still didn’t look happy.
Nigel was confused. “I promised you a new house and your bracelet. What more do you want?”
Allison let out a short laugh. “Those were mine to begin with. Are they my rewards now?”
Nigel, embarrassed and sensing something was wrong with Allison, quickly asked, “You haven’t called me ‘brother’ even once since you came back. Are you planning to cut ties with the family?”
Allison smiled weakly. “It’s not that I want to cut ties. I just… can’t call you ‘brother’ anymore.”
Nigel’s brows furrowed. What was that supposed to mean?
He didn’t understand. Allison continued before he could speak, “You said you’re taking me to the hospital. When your subordinates ask about me, how will you introduce me?”
Nigel opened his mouth, but Allison interrupted him.
“Sherrie went to school using my name. She interned at our family hospital using my name. She went on to pursue the postgraduate program that was meant for me. Her entire social circle was built under the name ‘Allison Rogers.’ Anyone who hears the name ‘Allison’ will think of her, not me.”
Allison looked straight at him and continued, “If you take me to the hospital, you can’t use my real identity. You can only say I’m just another younger sister. Otherwise, the identity you’ve carefully built for Sherrie over the years will fall apart. You don’t want people to think she’s been pretending and lying all this time, right?”
Allison’s point of view was something Nigel had never thought of, but deep down, he knew she was right.
In front of outsiders, Allison couldn’t call herself Allison or say she was part of the Rogers family. Otherwise, Sherrie would be dragged into public criticism.
One identity couldn’t belong to two people at the same time.
A moment ago, Nigel had been angry at Allison’s attitude, but now his tone softened. “Sherrie is still in graduate school. You don’t need your ID right now, so why not let someone who needs it use it for the time being? Once she starts working, she’ll return it to you.”
Allison gave a low, self-mocking chuckle. I always have to wait.
Nigel patted her shoulder and softened his voice. “You have food and a place to live at home. You don’t need to study or work. Do you know how many people would love to have a life like this?”
His tone made it sound like Allison was just being ungrateful.
She didn’t respond at first. But when she noticed Sherrie approaching them, she said, “So this is considered a good life? Then why make Sherrie work so hard? Is the family not willing to support her?”
Nigel heard the sarcasm. His face darkened, but he had no way to respond.
Everyone knew that having skills was better than being useless. But Allison now had a mental illness on her record, which meant she had no future at all.
If the identity of the Rogers family’s daughter was wasted on her, then letting Sherrie use it to bring honor to the family didn’t seem wrong to anyone.
But Nigel knew the truth. Allison had never been mentally ill. They had only labeled her that way to keep her from getting a criminal record.
Sherrie had come to call them for dinner, but she happened to hear Allison’s sarcastic comment.
She pretended not to hear anything and reached out sweetly to hold Nigel’s arm, but he moved away from her.
Nigel did have resentment toward Sherrie. Being kind wasn’t wrong, but kindness without thinking only brought trouble to others.
Three years ago, if she hadn’t run into the fire, I wouldn’t have had to make that impossible choice, and Allison wouldn’t have been pushed to the point of hurting her.
Sensing Nigel’s irritation, Sherrie adjusted her tone. She realized he was feeling guilty toward Allison.
“Allison, Nigel cares about you the most. He’s been so busy lately, but he still made time to prepare a gift for you,” Sherrie said. Then she looked at Nigel. “Isn’t that right?”
By acting like the peacemaker, Sherrie was helping Nigel escape the deep guilt he felt.
Nigel took out a necklace and handed it over, his expression cold. “It’s for you.”
Allison looked at the pendant. Two large stars surround a smaller one in the center. She stared at it quietly.
It was the gift I had wanted three years ago. But now that I have finally received it, I feel nothing.
People change. Three years ago, I treasured family and affection. Now, those were the things I resented the most.
But if I rejected the necklace, Nigel would definitely get angry.
She didn’t want to cause trouble for herself. Just as she reached out to take it, Nigel, annoyed, pushed the necklace into Sherrie’s hands instead.
“So hesitant and unwilling. If you don’t want it, then forget it! Giving it to Sherrie is better than wasting it on you!”