Chapter 1

I, the stolen true heiress, was finally home, and I was notoriously thin-skinned.

The impostor daughter, Charlotte, shot me a vicious glare the moment I arrived.

Then I pulled out a length of rope and prepared to hang myself right there.

Charlotte broke down in terrified sobs.

Forgetting to comfort her, my parents rushed to me and said carefully, "Sophia, Charlotte has apologized. Won't you forgive her?"

I lifted my gaze slowly and answered, "So now I'm the one who's petty?"

With a practiced motion, I finished tying the noose.

I turned back, giving my parents a look of profound tragedy. I said, "If there's another chance, be more careful with your children and don't let them be taken away again."

*****

As soon as my real parents brought me home, I noticed Charlotte looked pretty unhappy.

But when my parents led me over and finished introducing me to her, Charlotte plastered on a smile.

She said, "Sophie, I finally got to meet you. You're even cuter than a doll.

"It must have been so hard for you all these years."

As she spoke, Charlotte started sniffling and crying.

"I'm so sorry. I took your parents' love for over ten years. If you want to take it out on me, go ahead. Whatever you want from now on, it's yours," she said.

Seeing Charlotte crying her eyes out, looking all delicate and heartbroken, my parents' eyes instantly turned red too.

My mom walked over and hugged Charlotte. Mom said, "Charlotte, it's not your fault. We don't blame you. You'll always be our sweetheart."

My dad joined them, and the three of them hugged together, all cozy and loving like one big happy family.

I just watched with a smile as the whole scene played out.

Wow, this is just like something out of a TV drama.

Suddenly, Charlotte slowly lifted her head and looked right at me, her eyes flashing with smugness and defiance.

When my parents weren't watching, she smirked at me with contempt and shot me a vicious glare.

My smile froze on my face.

Charlotte just gave me the stink eye. She seriously can't stand me.

Just a second ago, Charlotte was playing the perfect sister in front of my parents, like she actually cared about me.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Without a second thought, I fished a thin rope out of my pocket and walked straight toward the maple tree outside the villa.

Charlotte's eyes widened in shock. She shouted, "Sophie, what are you doing?"

I didn't even look at her, just walked straight to the maple tree without a word.

My parents rushed after me.

My mom called out anxiously, "Sophie, what's wrong? What are you doing?"

I let out a bitter laugh, my face twisted with anger. I said, "Charlotte just rolled her eyes at me behind your backs. She totally hates me. There's no place for me in this family. I'm done. I don't want to live anymore."

As soon as I finished, my parents whipped their heads around to stare at Charlotte.

My mom looked exasperated. She said, "Charlotte?"

Charlotte went beet red, totally mortified.

Charlotte stammered, flustered, "Mom, Dad, no, it's not like that. I really didn't."

Charlotte barely got the words out before I'd already tossed the rope over the tree branch.

Charlotte started bawling, totally freaked out. She said, "I swear, I didn't do it on purpose. I don't hate my sister. Mom, Dad, you have to believe me."

My parents totally ignored Charlotte at that moment.

My mom rushed over and grabbed my hand. She said, "Sophie, Charlotte already apologized. Can't you just forgive her?"

My dad added gently, trying to comfort me. He said, "Charlotte's actually understanding. If you two spend more time together, things will get better."

I lifted my gaze slowly, a couple of tears slipping down my cheeks. I asked, "Are you saying I'm just being petty?"

My parents just stood there, not knowing what to say.

I quickly tied a knot in the rope, not wasting a second.

I turned back, giving my parents a look of profound tragedy. I said, "If there's another chance, be more careful with your children."