Chapter 3

After being locked up all night, my wound became infected.

I wanted to go out and get the medicine kit. When I opened the door, I found the house set up with cameras, with several cameramen and a host surrounding Dad and Sophia Foster.

The gentle, loving expression on Dad's face was something I hadn't seen in ten years.

Host: "As the CEO of a publicly traded company, you must not have much time to spend with your daughter, right? How did you raise her so well?"

Dad: "Sophia is naturally well-behaved. She's my only daughter. No matter how busy I am, I make time to be with her."

Sophia hugged Dad's arm and acted cute. "My dad is the best dad in the whole world! I just wish he had even more time to play with me! Dad, I haven't traveled abroad yet this year!"

Dad smiled helplessly but indulgently. "Alright, alright. After your birthday, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

I blinked, feeling completely numb inside.

I'd seen scenes like this too many times. It didn't hurt as much anymore.

But inevitably, I still thought back to ten years ago.

Ten years ago, when Mom was still here, I would hug Mom and act cute like that too, making all sorts of little requests.

Mom would agree to any request I made. She had a jade necklace she'd worn for many years. When I said I liked it, she immediately took it off and put it on me.

"Chloe, you must treasure this necklace. Grandma left it to Mom, and Mom has worn it for many years."

At the time, Mom stroked my head with sadness and nostalgia in her eyes that I didn't understand.

On the other side, the host suddenly mentioned Mom.

"Does Sophia often think about her mother? Mrs. Foster was a very talented actress. I heard Sophia wants to take the arts exam and become an actress in the future. Is this because of her mother's influence?"

The atmosphere in the room froze for a moment.

Mom's name was taboo around Dad. In the past, when people asked questions like this, Dad would have lost his temper long ago.

But today was Sophia Foster's first variety show appearance since growing up. Dad was paving the way for her entry into the entertainment industry.

Sophia's expression turned somber. "I've always missed Mom and wanted to see her. The reason I want to be an actress is because I want to become an excellent person like her."

She took out a necklace.

"This necklace is a keepsake Mom left me. Whenever I'm sad, I take out the necklace and look at it, and I feel like Mom is still by my side."

Seeing that necklace, I froze, uncontrollable anger surging in my chest.

That was the necklace Mom gave me!

Over these ten years, Sophia Foster had taken everything from me. All I had left was that one necklace.

I rushed forward and snatched the necklace back without caring about anything else.

"Chloe Foster! Who said you could come out?" Dad's face darkened.

"Chloe? What's wrong?" Sophia stood up, her face showing perfectly calibrated confusion.

"Sophia Foster, when did you steal the necklace?" I checked the box where I kept the necklace every night before bed. Last night, the necklace was still safely in the box.

During these years when no one cared about me, only by stroking this necklace could I keep myself alive.

It represented that someone had once loved me. It represented that Mom had truly existed.

"What? Steal?" Sophia's expression was shocked and innocent.

"Chloe Foster! Have you caused enough trouble? This is a live broadcast!" Dad's face was ugly.

"I don't care about any live broadcast! This is the necklace my mom left me. Why should she take it? Hasn't she taken enough of my things already?"

"And! My mom isn't dead! Sophia Foster, watch your mouth. This isn't a keepsake!"

"Mr. Foster, what's going on?" The host looked at me hesitantly.

Sophia panicked a little and looked to Dad for help.

Dad's eyes were cold. "A servant's relative."

I clutched the necklace tightly, my whole body turning cold.

Although Dad had long ago publicly announced that Sophia Foster was his only daughter, and Sophia always told people at school that I was the maid's daughter.

But this was the first time he personally said he didn't want me.

The panic on Sophia's face disappeared completely, and she couldn't help feeling triumphant. Taking advantage of my dazed state, she snatched the necklace away.

"Chloe, you must be mistaken. This necklace isn't yours."

"If it were anything else, I'd give it to you if you liked it, no matter how expensive. But this necklace is what my mom left me. I can't give it to you."

The watching staff members looked at me with very subtle expressions, probably wondering why a maid's daughter would suddenly go crazy and rush out to steal things from the master's family.

Someone said quietly, "What a schemer. She knows it's being broadcast live and wants to gain notoriety."

I had no time to care what others said. I just wanted the necklace back. "Give it back! That was the last thing Mom left me. Give it back!"

Sophia let me pull her, deliberately loosened her hand, and the necklace fell to the ground. The jade pendant shattered into several pieces.

I staggered, my mind going blank.

The last thing Mom left me was also gone.

"Are you satisfied now? Get out!" Dad's face was black, his eyes looking like he wanted to tear me apart.

Sophia's eyes brimmed with tears. "Chloe! You've gone too far!"

Those staff members were also quietly condemning me.

But I couldn't hear anything anymore. I just quickly bent down to pick up the necklace.

The fragments cut my fingers. My tears fell on the wounds--wet, hot, and painful.