Chapter 3

I kept up a brutal schedule, dropping one fully rendered episode every single day. I poured every waking second into my tablet, running back and forth between college lectures and digital drafting.

A month after the animation took off, Mom finally remembered that her eldest daughter hadn't set foot in the house for weeks. Her call came through out of nowhere.

"Taylor, why aren't you at home?"

Before I could answer, she scoffed dismissively, "Whatever, it’s better that you're not here anyway. A TV crew is coming over for an exclusive home interview with Chloe. Since you're already out, stay away!"

"It saves us the trouble of explaining who you are."

"Okay, sure," I replied calmly. My lack of emotion caught her off guard. She probably expected me to beg for an invite.

I was ready to hang up, but Mom abruptly barked another order: "We need the house spotless for the cameras. There’s still a pile of your junk in the attic. Clear it all out!"

"Be here tomorrow morning!"

"Fine," I said.

Early the next morning, I returned to the house, walked up the creaky stairs to the attic, and boxed up everything left behind. Then, I carried it all downstairs and tossed it into the dumpster outside.

None of it belonged to me anyway.

Old stage outfits Chloe had discarded, outdated textbooks Dad didn't want on his pristine shelves, cheap souvenir snacks Mom bought on vacation trips...

I had spent ten years playing the role of their household trash bin, passively receiving whatever leftover scrap they didn't want.

Now, their junk went straight where it belonged. I didn't hesitate for a second.

Just as I turned around, the front gates opened. Chloe walked in, flanked by a full production crew.

I paused, slightly confused. Mom said they were coming the day after tomorrow. Why the early shoot?

The crew carried heavy cameras and boom mics, already rolling b-roll footage. I stepped aside immediately, keeping my head down to slip away.

When Chloe spotted me, her face froze. Then she scowled, turning to the cameras with an awkward chuckle. "Oh! Um... that’s just our distant relative staying over!"

I gave a polite nod, ready to vanish, but a young man carrying a director's monitor suddenly blocked my path.

"Wait! Hold on!" He stared at me in shock. "Are you... are you 'Little Tay', the webtoon artist?"

I froze, caught off guard. "Yes, that's me." I honestly never expected to get recognized in person.

His face lit up with raw excitement. "Oh my god! I'm a huge fan of your series! Could I please get your autograph? Seriously, your story is incredible!"

Surprised by his genuine warmth, I signed his notebook and let him snap a quick selfie with me.

The man pulled a business card from his pocket and pressed it into my hand. "I’m Zach Evans, the showrunner. Your storytelling is out of this world. I'd love to produce a special documentary feature on you. In fact, would you be interested in guest starring on this reality docuseries?"

I glanced at Chloe. Her eyes were burning with pure jealousy and sharp, venomous warnings.

I shook my head without hesitation. "Thank you, but I'll pass. I'm really not interested."

I turned to leave, but Zach rushed forward, calling out, "I'm Zach! Please call me whenever you're free! Seriously, think about it!"

I gave a noncommittal hum and hurried out. What I didn't know was that the crew's camera had caught every second of the interaction.

Once the behind-the-scenes clip leaked online, social media went wild:

【Wait, hold up! The 'distant relative' Chloe brushed off is literally Little Tay?! I’m obsessed with her webtoon!】

【Tay, drop the pen and update the comic! Stop wandering around outside!】

【Is it just me, or do they look insanely similar? Are they actually sisters?】

【Chloe literally said distant relative. Relatives share genetics, so looking alike makes total sense.】

【Props to Chloe's family, though. Letting a broke distant relative crash in their mansion for over ten years isn't cheap.】

【Wait, Taylor was my elementary school classmate! I never once saw her parents at teacher conferences. Living under someone else's roof must have been hell for her.】

The online chatter completely derailed Chloe's spotlight. I had barely reached the subway platform when my phone buzzed with an incoming call from her.

The moment I picked up, she shrieked through the speaker: "Taylor, what the hell is wrong with you?! Did you show up today just to steal my spotlight?!"

"Let me tell you something: don't you dare step foot in this house ever again! It's either you or me in this family! Pick one!"

"Mom and Dad will NEVER admit you're their daughter! You're nothing!"

She vented like a maniac, spitting poison into the receiver.

I stayed eerily calm. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a panicked voice shouted from her background:

"Chloe! Your mic was live! The entire stream heard every word!"