I Adopted My 7 Siblings When I Was 18 So They Wouldn't Be Separated – Three Years Later, My Youngest Brother Handed Me a Photo Revealing What Really Happened to Our Parents

"I only wanted what was best."

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The old woman straightened. "I want to be listed as emergency caregiver, if Rowan lets me. He should pick up his studies again. Marianne and Eric raised fine children, but Rowan has goodness in his bones."

I looked at her. "You really want that?"

She snorted. "Child, I've been feeding your army for three years. Of course."

***

After court, Benji held up the photo. "Would Mom be mad I found it?"

"No," I said. "She'd be proud. You saved us, Ben. You saved us from being separated."

Lila read the back softly. "Rowan will know what to do."

"You really want that?"

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***

That night, I wrote Mrs. Dalrymple's name on the emergency sheet.

Relationship: Family.

She blinked. "I just live next door."

I taped it up. "Then family lives next door."

I spent three years trying to prove I was enough for them.