The Family Test Was Their Perfect Lie

My parents worshipped meritocracy. In their eyes, only the most exceptional child deserved to be raised.

Every year they tested me and my adopted sister. Whoever passed got to stay. Whoever failed was sent to a juvenile detention facility.

And I had been failing for five years running.

Because I never measured up, they refused to acknowledge me as their biological daughter. My name wasn't even on their household registration. It was filed under a distant cousin-aunt's family instead.

The sixth time they brought me back, my father slid two sealed exam packets across the table.