Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

point. And it’s not just about hard work. It’s about dedication, money, and a lot of sheer luck.”

I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I know, Mom. I know.”

“No, Jessica, you don’t know,” Dad replied adamantly. “You have an amazing talent, and you should, by all means, continue singing and making music, but keep it as a hobby. You already have a YouTube channel. You can keep creating music for your channel, but get your priorities straight. You already have a job secured at my firm after you go to school, which will make you good money.”

“I can also make good money as a singer. In fact, I can earn much, much more if I make it to the top.”

“If you make it to the top. You said that well. That’s a big ‘if’,” Dad said. “You’re still very young, and I’m sure when you’re older, you’ll be grateful to your mother and me. Singing is not a good career choice. It’s an unsteady income, and you can never know when the things could go down.”

“Things can go down whichever career I choose, Dad.” I raised my tone, getting frustrated. “If we’re going to be that pessimistic then you also don’t know if your firm will go bankrupt in ten years or not. We don’t know if global warming will kill us all in fifty years or not. No one can be sure about anything these days.

“But I know I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing something I hate. I hate the law and everything associated with it. I don’t want to do something I hate for your sake.” I pointed my finger at them.

“It’s not for our sake,” Mom said. “It’s for your sake—”

“It’s not for my sake if it makes me unhappy. Do you want me to be unhappy? Do you?” They stayed silent, wearing flinty expressions. “Yes, maybe I’ll be miserably poor. Maybe I’ll never have any success. But I’ll be at peace with myself because I’ll be doing everything I can to make my dreams come true. I won’t be sitting in some office and wishing I was out there singing. I won’t be withering away with regret as the years go by and my dreams just disappear.”

My mom sighed. “Look, Jess, I understand that this period in your life is extremely stressful, and you might even feel cornered. College decisions put a lot of pressure on students because it’s a huge step toward adulthood, and it can make you confused. But we’re here to support you and—”

“I accepted the admission to a music college in New York,” I said, deadpan.

The expression of shock settled on their faces. I dug my nails into my palms. I’d done it. I’d finally told them the truth. I was terrified, but the words had liberated me, removing the tension from my body layer by layer, and I could breathe a bit easier.

I could look in the mirror and be proud of myself for fighting for who I was at last. This was me, and I wasn’t going to allow them to shape me into something I wasn’t.

“I’m not confused. I know what I want, from the bottom of my heart. I declined your college’s offer, Dad,” I said, watching his face go pale. “I know this is disappointing for you, but I’ve made my decision. And I really, really hope you’ll be able to support it one day.”

“You…” Mom made a choking sound. “You declined the offer? But…” She kneaded the space between her eyebrows with two fingers.

“Jessica, why didn’t you talk to us first?” Dad asked, and I winced at the reproach in his tone. His face was the picture of disappointment, just like I’d thought it would be, but the impact it had on me was stronger than I’d imagined it’d be. I was ready to go to a music college against their approval, but I’d hoped they would at least try to understand me and wish me the best.

“Because I knew you would react like this,” I replied. “You wouldn’t let me major in music. Please understand. I was ready to give up on my dreams and follow your wishes, but it would make me miserable. I just want to be me. I want to live my life the way I want it, with all its ups and downs.”

I thought about Emma, whose life had ended before it even started. I thought about Blake, who was ready to sacrifice his life, never even giving himself the chance to live and realize his dreams. Did he even have dreams? Or had those been lost in the same darkness that had swallowed Emma?

“Life is too short and unpredictable for me to waste my opportunities.” I slid off my chair and took Mom’s hand. “I know you want to protect me and only want the best for me, but please, try to understand me. Maybe I’m young and inexperienced, but I think life is more than just stressing over money. Sure, I’m going to stress about it, maybe even more once I start fighting for my place in the music industry, but at least I will work my hardest to succeed.”

We sank into silence, and the atmosphere in the kitchen got heavier with tension. I let go of Mom’s hand and supported myself against the kitchen island.

Dad gave me the stink eye. “It doesn’t matter if we agree with you or not, does it? Because you’ve already accepted the offer. You did everything without even consulting us.”

I rubbed my chest against the pressure his accusing tone created, battling to keep my eyes on them. “It’s true that maybe I should’ve talked to you first, but have you ever talked to me about what I really want? No, you just assumed I would follow in your footsteps. You never even asked me what I wanted to do in life.” A tear slid down my cheek, and I wiped it off. I wasn’t going to cry. “Please