On Her 18th Birthday, Girl's Parents Kicked Her Out Without a Word, 10 Years Later She Gets a Bill from Them

On Her 18th Birthday, Girl's Parents Kicked Her Out Without a Word, 10 Years Later She Gets a Bill from Them Claire had spent a decade proving she didn’t need them. She built her life from the ground up, earned her success. But just as she secured the job of her dreams, a letter arrived—a ghost from the past, wrapped in hospital bills. Her parents had abandoned her at eighteen. Now, they wanted something. The corridor smelled like polished wood and expensive perfume, a scent that carried the weight of power and money. Claire inhaled deeply, willing her nerves to settle. The smooth marble floor beneath her heels felt cold, solid—nothing like the twisting feeling in her stomach. She shifted her weight, adjusting the crisp navy blazer she had bought specifically for today. Professional but not stiff. Confident but not arrogant. She had rehearsed this moment a hundred times in her mind, but now that she was here, the air felt thick, pressing in on her lungs. A voice s...