Chapter 2

After the party ended, Aunt Zelda took me into the storage room.

The place was only about five square meters. There was nothing inside except a wooden bed piled with clutter and a rusty iron window.

Aunt Zelda stood at the door, appearing as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. "Miss ... I mean, Sophie. Mr. and Mrs. Langford indeed remember your kindness. Once they've thought it through, you will still be the eldest daughter of the Langford Family ... "

Before she could finish, two cockroaches darted out from the corner and quickly scurried away.

I pretended not to see the embarrassment on her face and simply replied, "Thank you, I understand."

Aunt Zelda shook her head as she left, whispering under her breath, "They look so much alike, how could she not be theirs? Sigh … "

I sat on the wooden bed, staring blankly at the dark night outside the window. I said inwardly, "It's okay, just wait another year and I can leave forever."

That night, my lower abdomen hurt terribly. With no sanitary pads, I could only use tissues instead.

Once I stepped out of the bathroom, I overheard my parents' hushed voices.

"Honey, do you think Sophie will hate us for treating her like this? She's still our biological daughter," said my mother.

However, my father just scoffed, "It's all because she always bullies Scarlett. As the older sister, she never gives in to her younger sister. Making her suffer is all for her own good."

He then continued, "A year later, when Scarlett's had her fun, we'll find an excuse and say the paternity test was wrong. Once she's back to being the eldest daughter of the Langford Family, she'll be overjoyed."

My fingertips went cold. I found it both absurd and laughable.

What made them think that after trampling me to pieces, I'd still stand there obediently waiting for them?

The next day, I went out to buy sanitary pads. However, when I went to check out, I was told there were insufficient funds. This was impossible, as I clearly had $200 saved on my card.

When I returned home and pushed open the door, I saw the three of them chatting and laughing at the dining table.

A gift bag sat on the table and my mother lovingly stroked the silk scarf in her hand. "Our Scarlett is such a sweet little angel! She even gives me a gift now! Mommy is so happy!"

At the same time, my father was spinning a plastic cup in his hand, unable to stop smiling. "I love mine too. You truly are my precious daughter."

Scarlett pouted and leaned against my mother's shoulder. "But these two gifts only cost two hundred dollars. You won't blame me for buying something so cheap, will you?"

My mother immediately shook her head. "Of course not! As long as it's a gift from my baby, even something worth two dollars would be my treasure."

My father didn't miss the chance to belittle me while comforting her. "Exactly! Not like your sister, who only knows how to spend the family's money and has never bought us a single gift. She's an ungrateful wretch. How could she compare to my Scarlett … "

Noticing my return, they abruptly fell silent.

Scarlett tilted her head to look at me, a malicious smile spreading across her face.

That two hundred dollars was the living allowance I had saved for two months. It was all the money I had.

My whole body went cold and something in my mind snapped instantaneously. Before I realized what was happening, I had already grabbed Scarlett and raised my hand.

But before the slap could land, my father kicked me away. The back of my spine slammed into the sharp corner of the coffee table and the pain made my vision go dark.

Scarlett held up her arm, which showed only a small red mark and wailed as if the sky were falling. "Mom, Dad, it hurts so much! Is my arm broken?"

My mother cried out in a panic, "Quick, call an ambulance!"

"There's no time for an ambulance," my father said hurriedly. "I'll drive Scarlett to the hospital myself."

Unexpectedly, Scarlett pointed at me lying on the ground. "I don't want to ride in a car! This bastard hurt me! I want her to carry me to the hospital!"