Chapter 1

In the sixth month after Dad left with the nanny, Mom found her biological daughter, Heidi.

Heidi was a bit sassy, had excellent grades, and would help Mom scold away all the bad neighbors who came to mock them.

Then I hid in the storage room every day, secretly watching Mom's smile grow wider and wider.

Wonderful, Mom. I, whom you'd hated for ten years, could finally leave with peace of mind.

But Mom, why were you crying?

*****

I stared blankly at the haughty girl at the door, who looked like a little princess.

I opened my mouth, but my mind went blank, and I could only smile blankly.

Mom, who had been sad for over half a year, smiled again and introduced to me. "Madilyn, this is Heidi, your older sister by half an hour."

She paused, then continued with a smile, introducing, "She's also my biological daughter."

The midday spring sun was clearly warm, yet I felt cold all over.

But I was so foolish. I couldn't even understand why my body didn't feel warm.

Mom smiled, and I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, clumsily showing a happy smile.

I responded, "That's wonderful, Mom, you found your biological daughter."

Mom, slightly surprised, stroked my hair and praised me with a smile. "You're such a good girl, Madilyn."

Impatiently, Mom took her newly found daughter out to buy clothes.

I obediently went back to my room, climbed onto the big bed, hugged Benny, and happily whispered, "Benny, Mommy said I was a good girl today."

Benny, however, burst into tears. "Baby, you've been abandoned by another relative again. The villainess supporting character is truly pathetic."

Benny appeared on my bed by herself when I was three years old. She said she was a system.

I pouted a little unhappily. "Benny, Mommy didn't abandon me. She praised me for being good.

"I must be even better behaved. Mommy likes well-behaved children."

Benny cried even louder, and I didn't know how to comfort her.

I stared blankly for a moment, then fell asleep holding Benny.

I woke up again to Grandma's scolding. The wrinkles crisscrossed on her face, deep lines making her look fierce.

She shouted, "Susan, get out here now and hand over this month's child support."

I was a little scared, hiding under the small blanket, silently muttering, "She can't see me, she can't see me."

Benny sensed my fear and whispered to me, "Baby, don't be scared. Your mommy will be back soon."

Grandma searched around but couldn't find anyone, so she stormed into my bedroom and yanked off the blanket covering me.

She demanded, "Oh, you idiot, you ill-mannered thing. I've been calling outside for ages, why didn't you answer me?"

As Grandma spoke, she harshly twisted my ear, pulling me up. The pain made me want to cry.

Grandma still muttered, "It's you, you good-for-nothing, who caused my son to run away from home. Now I'm so old and all alone.

"I really don't know, you a fool, why does your mom keep you? Her life will probably just stay like this."

With tears in my eyes, I retorted fiercely, "Grandma, Mom is very, very good. She found her biological daughter."

Grandma was stunned for a moment, then she snorted coldly, a sneer twisting her mouth, "Biological daughter?

"What an idiot. Raising someone else's child for so many years. It serves you right that your father abandoned you and your mom.

"Madilyn as soon as your mom's biological daughter returns, you'll be kicked out. It's perfect, your uncle's family also has a foolish son. You two would make a perfect match."

I pursed my lips, my eyes reddened, but I dared not resist.

Mom said she hates it when I act crazy. She only likes well-behaved children.

'It's okay, I don't hurt.' Just as I was thinking, Mom and Heidi came back.

Grandma immediately grabbed my ear, took a few big steps, and rushed in front of Mom.

She started cursing loudly, "Susan, you shameless woman, where have you been flirting around again? My son isn't even dead yet. If you're not discreet, I'm not done with you."

The smile on Mom's face disappeared the moment she saw Grandma, and her expression turned grim.

She replied, "Mom, what brings you here? Let go of the child quickly. Her ears are all red."

"What does an idiot know? Give me this month's child support," Grandma shot back.

Mom looked troubled. "Mom, didn't I give it all to you on the 1st of this month? The child also needs to eat and be cared for. Jeremy didn't leave any money for the family back then either."