Chapter 1

The day I was born, my biological parents, Richard Mason and Linda May, sold me to death-row inmate John Thorn for half an acre of homestead land.

They lied to the entire world about my death while showering every luxury and privilege on their younger daughter, Sophie Mason, who wanted for nothing amid a lifetime of wealth and ease.

For eighteen years, I endured untold hardships in Thornville, the village next to the prison, weathered endless disdainful glares, fought tooth and nail to claim a national competition gold medal, and eventually earned early admission into one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Now, Sophie was struck down by kidney failure, and only then did Richard and Linda suddenly recall the flesh-and-blood daughter they had discarded long ago.

A fleet of luxury cars lined up and blocked the school gates, and they put on an over-the-top weeping act before all the teachers and students.

They spun a tale of searching desperately for their lost daughter for eighteen whole years and begged me to go back with them to live a life of extravagant comfort.

Everyone around me pressed me to reconcile, parroting the old saying that blood ran thicker than water and urging me to accept them for an effortless leap into high society.

I let out a cold laugh right there in front of the crowd and pulled out the official police record along with complete evidence that documented how they had abandoned me the moment I was born.

Blood ran thicker than water? Where had that principle been when they so casually handed me over to a cold-blooded killer?

They had set their sights on my kidney to save their precious Sophie.

They deserved nothing less than to rot behind bars for the rest of their lives.

The house they resided in and the land it sat on had all been purchased at the cost of my fate and my abandoned childhood.

From now on, every single thing they had once possessed would belong to me.

*****

The September breeze drifted through the gates of Riverdale High School. I had stepped down from the podium, clutching my gold medal from the National Physics Competition, with the principal and teachers beaming with pride behind me.

Before the applause could fade, a commotion suddenly erupted at the school gate.

Three black Mercedes rolled up in perfect formation, and out stepped a well-dressed middle-aged couple, followed by several bodyguards in sharp suits. The whole scene was more than imposing.

The woman stepped out of the car, clutching a yellowed baby blanket. Her eyes were red with emotion as she stumbled toward me, crying out, "My daughter. My little girl. Mommy finally found you."

I paused, instinctively taking a step back to avoid her outstretched hand.

Suddenly, everything went silent. All the teachers and students fixed their gaze on me and the woman.

The woman was Linda May, and the man beside her was Richard Mason, a well-known building materials mogul in Riverdale, worth millions of dollars.

As for me? I was Alice Thorn, the famous poor genius at Riverdale High School. No parents, raised by the grandmother of a murderer, living in Thornville right next to the prison.

When I dodged her, Linda's tears streamed down even harder. Then, with a sudden thud, she dropped to her knees right in front of everyone.

She sobbed, "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. This is all our fault. We've been searching for you for eighteen years. We lost you by accident all those years ago, and not a single day has gone by that we didn't regret it or think about you."

Richard's eyes were red. He stepped forward, his voice thick with emotion. "Alice, come home with us. We've got the best room ready for you, the nicest clothes. Whatever you want, it's yours. We'll spend the rest of our lives making it up to you."

As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone gasped in disbelief.

No one could believe that the poor orphan girl everyone pitied was the heiress of the Mason family, lost for eighteen years.

Whispers broke out all around.

"Oh, my god. Is Alice a Mason? Mr. Mason is one of the richest men in Riverdale."

"No wonder Alice is so smart. She must've gotten those genes from her real parents. After eighteen years of suffering, she's finally going to live like a princess."

"This is so touching. Eighteen years of searching, and they finally found her. This is like something out of a fairy tale."

"Alice, say yes. Blood is thicker than water. Your real parents have been looking for you all this time. It can't have been easy."

My homeroom teacher tugged at my arm, whispering, "Alice, don't stand there. Help your parents up. Having parents who love you is a blessing. Don't be so stubborn."

Everyone stared at me, their eyes filled with envy and sympathy. They all thought I'd struck gold, about to go from rock bottom to the top in an instant.

But I was the only one who knew what their so-called "accident" really meant.

I looked at Linda. Her makeup was flawless, the custom dress she wore was the kind I'd never be able to buy, even if I worked my whole life, and that tear in her eye was just right. Suddenly, I burst out laughing.

I laughed so loudly that everyone was left speechless.

Linda was stunned by my laughter, her tears drying up instantly. She choked out, "Sweetheart, why are you laughing?"

I stopped laughing, looked down at her, and let my words echo across the field, "You've been searching for me for eighteen years? Linda, Richard, tell me, do you believe that yourselves?"

Richard's expression shifted instantly. "Alice, what do you mean by that?"