Chapter 1
My parents were nationally celebrated philanthropists. They poured everything they had into helping countless children.
Because they were always busy, I grew up like a stray, wandering streets and alleys.
When I was five, I fought a wild dog for food and got bitten. Most of my nose was torn off.
I cried and called them.
They were handing out candy at an orphanage and didn't pick up.
I missed the best time for surgery.
From that day on, I became a monster in everyone's eyes.
That was also when my parents suddenly started loving me.
They took me to charity forums and public talks. In front of cameras, they repeatedly cried and said, "To help those poor children, our daughter was disfigured and turned into a monster people laugh at. But after all these years, we have no regrets."
My mother wiped her tears, turned to me like she always did, and gripped my hand. "Mandy, do you blame Mom and Dad?"
Countless cameras aimed straight at me, capturing every grotesque, humiliating angle of my face.
This time, I didn't shake my head.
In that packed auditorium, under endless staring eyes, I coldly pulled my hand out of hers and said, "Why wouldn't I?"
*****
Camera flashes exploded all around us.
Mom's gentle grip on my hand froze.
She couldn't believe her ears. Her brows knitted as she whispered, "Mandy, what did you say?"
Dad, sitting on my other side, kept that gentle smile plastered on his face as he looked over at me. "Mandy, this is an important event. Don't make a scene.
"Can you look at the cameras and answer properly this time?"
I slowly stood up, pulling my hand free from my mom's grip.
With the cameras closing in on me, I spoke each word slowly and clearly. "Why should I not resent my parents? Is it my fault those poor kids are suffering? Did I deserve to be abandoned by my parents?
"When I was five, I was so desperate for food I had to fight a stray dog for scraps, and it tore off most of my nose.
"Do I deserve to sit here for ten years, nothing but a prop to show off my parents' so-called greatness?"
Everyone froze, staring at me in disbelief.
I lifted my eyes and glanced over at a girl not far away, rocking a fancy designer outfit.
I continued, "All the other kids gets pampered and cared for in every way by my parents. Even if she's just the maid's daughter, she gets all their love and attention.
"But me? I get ignored and put on display and humiliated. Why wouldn't I resent them?"
Roxie Wallace, usually gentle and well-mannered, suddenly looked utterly shocked and terrified.
Her eyes grew red with emotion in an instant.
She stammered, "N-no, it's not like that. Mandy, Mr. and Mrs. Fischer were just being kind to me. You misunderstood."
The crowd burst out in a wave of shocked and questioning voices.
"Didn't they say Mandy snuck out to play?"
"Didn't Mandy get bitten because she hurt the dog?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Fischer, can you tell us what really happened?"
"Have you two actually taken care of your own daughter all these years? If not, maybe it's time for the public to rethink your whole charity persona!"
"And what's the deal with the maid's daughter?"
The venue quickly descended into chaos, and some reporters started live-streaming right then and there.
Mom shot to her feet.
She kept her voice low and tight, but one could hear the fury boiling underneath.
She barked, "Mandy, what the hell are you saying? Are you crazy?"
For ten years, I was like a zombie every time they paraded me out, always obedient, just playing my part.
I smiled on cue, and cried on command, all for the hundred bucks allowance a month.
But this was the first time I didn't play along.
The crowd quickly descended into chaos.
Suddenly, someone threw something at my parents and Roxie.
A voice shouted furiously, "If what Mandy said is true, then phony do-gooders like you don't deserve to be professors or lawyers!"
The crowd erupted in agreement.
Mom got hit on the forehead, and blood began to stream down her face.
Security stormed in, ushering people out quickly.
Reporters kept shouting, their voices trailing off as they were pushed away.
Roxie covered her face, crying her heart out, feeling totally wronged.
Mom was trembling all over, her eyes fixed on me.
Dad's eyes were wide with fury. He hurried over to Roxie, handed her a tissue, and tried to comfort her, his heart aching for her.
For a moment, he just stood there in the chaos.
Then, out of nowhere, he marched right up to me and slapped me across the face, so hard it made my head spin.
I didn't even have time to dodge. My cheek instantly burned like fire.
Right in my ear, his voice exploded, wild and furious. "You just had to turn your own parents into public enemy number one.
"Does it make you happy watching your mom and Roxie get hurt? Mandy, after all these years, you really are a heartless wretch."