Chapter 1

I was the real daughter who had just been found and brought back to my wealthy family.

But the moment I stepped through the door, the fake daughter Barbara threw herself into my parents' arms, sobbing.

"Dad, Mom, forgive me—I really can't accept her."

"She's that transfer student who spread rumors about me at school and gave me depression!"

Mom Lucy held the fake daughter close, comforting her with heartache in her voice.

Dad Patterson's face was full of anger, his eyes looking at me with utter disappointment.

"I never imagined that just a few years of being lost would make you pick up so many bad habits!"

"Butler, throw her out! We don't have a daughter who bullies others at school!"

I looked confused and quickly signed:

"I spread rumors about her? But I'm mute!"

I stood at the doorway, my fingertips still cold from the chill outside.

Barbara was in my parents' arms, crying so hard she could barely breathe.

She buried her face in Lucy's neck, her shoulders shaking violently. When she lifted her head, the corners of her eyes were bright red.

"Dad, Mom, you don't know."

"Last monthly exam, I came in second in our grade, and she went around telling everyone I cheated, that my dad bribed the teachers with money, and that I did things with the grade director in his office to secure my recommendation spot..."

With each sentence she spoke, Lucy's hand patting her back grew heavier, and Patterson's brow furrowed tighter.

I opened my mouth but could only produce fragmented breath sounds.

I hadn't been able to speak since I could remember. The doctors said it was damaged vocal cords.

Over the years, I'd grown used to communicating with people through sign language and pen and paper.

I raised my hand, my fingers just about to form the sign for "it wasn't me," when my brother Pierre suddenly jumped up from the sofa.

He strode over to me in a few steps, looking down at me from above, the contempt in his eyes almost overflowing.

"Alice, how long are you going to keep up this act? Barbara's been driven to depression because of you, and you still want to make excuses?"

I froze for a moment, my fingertips suspended in midair.

Pierre was Patterson's only son. From the moment I entered the house, he'd been protecting Barbara, his gaze full of tenderness toward her.

But when he looked at me, it was like he was looking at something filthy.

"Pierre, don't say that about Alice..."

Barbara tugged at Pierre's sleeve, her voice as soft as water, yet every word stabbed into my heart.

"Maybe Alice just wants to fit into this family so badly that she's trying to get attention this way. I don't blame her, I really don't..."

"You're just too kind!"

Lucy immediately held her tighter, then turned to look at me with eyes as cold as ice.

"Alice, we brought you back to feel the warmth of family, not to bully people! Can you stop with those underhanded tactics you learned out there?"

Patterson let out a heavy snort, his knuckles rapping on the coffee table with dull thuds.

"My daughter, even if she was lost outside, should still carry herself like a proper young lady. But look at you—the moment you walk through the door, you're spreading rumors and bullying Barbara. You've completely disgraced our family!"

The servants nearby huddled together whispering, their eyes full of undisguised contempt.

"I heard she was just a wild girl from the countryside. Never thought she'd be so malicious."

"Barbara's so gentle—how could anyone bear to bully her?"

"Look at her doing sign language. She's acting like it's real. Maybe she's just faking it to get sympathy."

Those words were like fine needles piercing my eardrums.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, and reached for the side pocket of my backpack.

Inside was the notebook I'd brought back from school. I could write down what had really happened.

But the moment my hand touched the zipper, Pierre pressed down on my wrist.

His grip was strong, his knuckles almost digging into my flesh.

"What else are you trying to pull out to deceive people?"

I struggled briefly, using my other hand to reach into my bag, finally pulling out that stack of white paper.

But before I could unfold it, Pierre snatched it away and tore it in half with both hands. The stack of paper instantly became confetti dancing through the air.

The pieces landed in my hair. I stared at him blankly, the last bit of warmth in my heart freezing over.

Barbara let out a timely sob, burying her head even deeper.

"Pierre, don't be like this. Alice is just..."

Pierre cut her off, the fury in his eyes almost catching fire.

"She's driven you to this state, and you're still defending her? This kind of malicious person doesn't deserve to stay in our home!"

Patterson's expression darkened completely. He waved at the butler by the door, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"Butler, throw her out. We don't have a daughter like this!"