Chapter 12 Dad had only symbolically brought up the idea of me dropping out to test my opinion - he hadn't expected me to be bold enough to confront him head - on . ]] A father's authority could not be violated ! [ ] The result of his fury was beating me up and locking me in my room . [] " You must take a year off school . Stop having wild ideas and stay home to take care of Aunt Quinn . " [ ] Dad threw out these words and left . [ ] I buried my head in my knees , Knowing I'd messed everything up . Trying to soar before my wings were fully grown could only end in disaster . I don't know how much time passed before the door opened and Quinn stood in the doorway . [ ] She handed me a sandwich : " Eat . " }] I mentally calculated my chances of escaping past her . Quinn seemed to see through my thoughts and sneered : " If you still want to live in Lincoln's house , I advise you to abandon any thoughts of running away . " [ ] That made sense . I took the sandwich from her and wolfed them down . [] Quinn was acting strange today . Usually we maintained a policy of mutual non - interference - not tripping each other up was about the best we could manage . Today she'd not only made me food but had also dragged over a stool with great interest to sit and watch me eat . ] Let her watch - I wasn't losing any flesh over it . [ ] " Sienna Cohen , sometimes I think you're terrifyingly mature . No normal 13 - year - old facing your situation could eat so calmly . " [ ] I pursed my lips , thinking : You're looking at an eighteen - year - old soul . The suffering I've experienced is beyond your imagination . [ ] Quinn didn't mind my silence and continued talking to herself . Maybe she didn't need me to respond - she just wanted someone to confide in , and anyone would do . ho you especially hate me ? Think Fm the bad woman who destroyed your family ? " ] I don't owe you Calen people anything . If we're talking about debts . It's you Cobens who owe me " " When I was young . 4 never looked at your father . Your grandmother acted like she couldn't understand plain language . coming to my house to make a huge scene , telling me so leave her son alone . Chapter 12 " What a joke ! Back then I had countless suitors - why would I look at your father when he was so crude , poor ? " ] ] " But people didn't believe it . They all said I was a shameless tramp clinging to your father . " [ ] " My family felt disgraced and moved away with me , but we encountered a landslide on the road . My whole family died , my hands were ruined , and my future was destroyed . " [ ] " These hands could never dance gracefully across piano keys again . " [ ] Quinn dangled her two slender , pale hands in front of me , her expression gradually becoming manic . ]] I swallowed the last mouthful of sandwich and asked her : " What did my mom and I do wrong ? The family's broken up , and now because of you , Dad wants me to drop out of school . " [ ] Quinn froze . After a few seconds , maybe minutes , she said bitterly : " I almost fell into your little trap . You're a Cohen , with Cohen blood flowing through you - that's your crime ! " ] ] As she left and locked the door , her voice came from behind it : " As for your mother , I can only say I'm sorry to her . " ] I sneered coldly . These people were all such hypocrites - hurting innocent people for their own selfish desires while hypocritically making up reasons to justify themselves .