Chapter 2

Seeing that I didn’t object, Caroline sighed in relief and pulled me, wanting to leave. But after only a few steps, the pain in my abdomen made it almost impossible to stand. I collapsed to my knees in the snow. Caroline’s panicked cries echoed in my ears. “Don’t scare me! What’s wrong with you?! ”

2

The next time I woke, I was in a hospital bed. Caroline and Robert, seeing me awake, hugged me with red eyes:

“It’s all our fault…”

Seeing their guilty expressions, my heart ached. I felt a little anxious. Did they know I had stomach cancer? Were they finally going to tell me the truth? Would they regret tricking me, even a little bit? I murmured:

“Did the doctor tell you the test results…? ”

Caroline froze, then looked away guiltily and said:

“Our family is too poor… we don’t have money for your tests. I think you just got a stomachache from eating that cake from the trash. I asked the doctor to give you some painkillers… See? Don’t you feel much better now? ”

I stared at her blankly. Caroline stood up and pulled me:

“Since you’re awake, let’s go home with me. The hospital fees are too expensive; we don't have any money left. ”

It felt like my tears were flowing backward, straight into my heart, leaving a bitter ache in my chest. The door to the hospital room burst open, and several fierce-looking men stormed in. “When are you going to pay back the thirty thousand dollars you owe us?! ”

“If you don’t pay up, we’ll break your legs! ”

Caroline immediately pleaded. “Please, can you give us a few more days? We really don’t have any money because of the medical bills. ”

Robert looked surprised but, catching Caroline’s eye, he immediately reacted. “Please give us a few more days. We’ve been working really hard. My youngest daughter even started working at a club. We’ll pay you back soon. ”

The men sneered:

“What good is one daughter working? Don’t you have another one here? ”

“Let this little girl go work at the club too. As soon as she earns enough to pay off the debt, we’ll bring her back. ”

Caroline and Robert repeatedly refused. “No, you can’t take our precious daughter! We’re working so hard precisely so she can have a good life! ”

But they didn’t move an inch, watching with expectant eyes as I was dragged away. Just before I was shoved into the van,

Caroline suddenly panicked and called my name. “Amelia…”

“Robert and I are so sorry. We’ll gather the money soon and bring you home. ”

I lowered my eyes, not looking at them. I was thrown into the kitchen, where piles of dishes stood before me. I wanted to tell them that I knew Caroline and Robert had hired them to give me a "hardship education. "

I wanted to beg them to let me go. But as soon as I opened my mouth, I was slapped several times and knocked down. If I moved too slowly, I’d get a kick to the stomach. They held my head under the faucet, watching me gasp until my eyes rolled back, then they laughed and let go. They talked loudly:

“Talk about different fates! Both are daughters, but one’s stuck here scrubbing dishes, while the other’s popping champagne bottles outside. Tsk, tsk, who cares if she’s the ‘real’ daughter? If she’s not favored, she’s still treated like trash. ”

A man holding a drink glass grabbed me from the floor:

“The big boss outside wants you to deliver drinks. Hurry up. ”

I was pushed to the private room door. Inside the room, a dazzling Isabella was surrounded by her friends. The supervisor behind me kicked me in. “What are you waiting for?! ”

Numbly, I stepped forward and set down the drinks. A girl shrieked, knocking over a bottle of wine. She pointed at me:

“Why didn’t you hold the bottle properly?! Look, you stained my dress! ”

“Supervisor! What are you going to do about this?! ”

Brenda immediately understood. She grabbed me, pressed me onto the broken glass, and slapped me with all her might. Her friend said:

“Not enough! This dress cost me thousands! Do it again! ”

Punches and kicks rained down on me until I couldn't get up anymore. Only then did Isabella nod in satisfaction. She walked over, smiling, and said to me:

“Amelia! Surprised to see me here, aren’t you? ”

“You didn’t really think I was slaving away in this filthy place like you, did you? You didn’t really think this dress was given to me by the club, did you? ”

“You’re so naive. Caroline and Robert lied to you! They never went bankrupt. They just pretended to be poor because they were afraid you’d fight me for the inheritance. ”

“While you were back home, poor and scavenging for scraps on the streets, Caroline and Robert bought me an entire closet full of jewelry, luxury goods. ”

“Who cares if you’re the biological daughter? You still can't compete with me. ”

She wanted to see hatred and despair on my face. But there was none. I clutched my abdomen and said. “I won’t fight you, Isabella. Will you please let me go? ”

“I’ll cut ties with them. From now on, they’ll be only your parents. ”

She scoffed, grabbed my hair, and poured a glass of liquor down my throat. “Do you think I’ll believe that crap you’re spewing? ”

“Stomach pain, huh? Drink more and just die of the pain. If you die, no one will fight me for Caroline and Robert. ”

The burning alcohol seared my stomach, and the pain made me convulse uncontrollably. I mustered all my strength and pushed Isabella away. She shrieked and fell to the floor.