Chapter 1
I lost my memory.
I was in the hospital for ten days, and not once did my family show up.
On the very first day after I was discharged, my parents demanded I apologize to their adopted daughter, Stella Phillips, before they even let me through the door.
When I stayed silent, my brother, Marcus Phillips, kicked me to the ground. "Stop acting pathetic. You don't even deserve to be my sister."
I felt a burning pain shoot up my calf and froze.
I thought I had just come back from the hospital.
When I looked at my parents with questioning eyes, my mother rushed forward and slapped me.
"Aurora, this time you've really gone too far," she hissed. "If you don't want us to send you back, you'd better apologize to Stella."
Send me back? Suddenly, it all clicked. I had been abducted. They weren't my parents. They were the buyers.
*****
With that realization, I immediately acted meekly and apologized, "I'm sorry. I was wrong."
My parents were stunned for a moment.
In their eyes, I'd always been tough and headstrong, never one to admit fault.
They even sent me to a strict boarding school for three years.
But not once did I admit I was wrong or apologize to Stella.
They'd already decided that if I didn't show any remorse this time, they'd send me back to that strict boarding school again.
They'd only let me come back home once I finally admitted I was wrong.
But when I actually apologized, Mom looked a bit awkward and waved her hand awkwardly. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?" Seriously, Aurora, you have to piss people off to stop, huh?"
I bowed, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Secretly, I warned myself to stay calm. I was deep in enemy territory right now. I had to do what benefited my current situation.
Until I gathered enough evidence, I had to lay low and make sure none of them noticed anything off.
If they send me back and I end up with those traffickers again, getting out would be way harder.
I quietly observed the people in front of me.
Their fine clothes were in a whole different league compared to my shabby old outfit.
The clothes I was wearing cost no more than 10 dollars, while they were all dressed in big designer brands from the mall.
I rolled my eyes secretly. So I really was bought to be their servant. I was sure they were a bunch of bad people.
Seeing my parents still wouldn't let me straighten up from the bow, I quietly asked, "Mom, Dad, can I straighten up now?"
Mom finally realized I was still bowing there.
She was about to let me stand up, but my brother, Marcus Phillips, interrupted her. "No way. Seriously? You can't even handle this? Do you remember Stella almost lost her life because of you?"
As soon as Marcus said that, Mom and Dad's faces darkened.
Stella, standing off to the side, immediately put on her most innocent face. "It's okay, Mom, Dad. Even if I'm not sure whether Aurora really means it, as long as she's willing to apologize, that's enough for me."
I was so furious that I could've screamed.
Her hypocritical words made me unable to hold back and retort, "Yeah, sure. You really think me, barely recovered, bowing to apologize to you isn't sincere enough?
"What? You want me to bow till I drop dead, dig my heart out, and show it to you before you'll believe I'm actually sorry? Do you even have a conscience?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I was in trouble.
Before I could even explain myself, Mom swung the stick and smacked it hard against my leg.
Her face was twisted with rage, like I'd committed some unforgivable crime.
When she saw me glaring at her, Mom snapped, "Aurora, how dare you act like you're the victim? Is this what I've taught you? Is that any way to talk to Stella?
"Have I not taught you better than this? Who do you think you're showing that attitude to?"
The stick came down again and again, each blow landing hard on my leg.
I hated it so much. I hated that I didn't even have a phone on me right now. There was no way to call the police and get any of this on video.
Biting back the pain in my leg, I scanned the room with my peripheral vision, searching for a camera.
Finally, my persistence paid off. I spotted a security camera. The red light was on, showing it was definitely recording.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to shift enough so the camera could see every single hit Mom landed on me.
After all, I wasn't about to let myself get beaten for nothing. If I ever called the cops, this would be all the evidence I needed.
Marcus frowned slightly when he noticed I was about to pass out.
Stella stepped forward and grabbed Mom's arm. "Mom, stop. She didn't do it on purpose."
Mom lowered her hand and shot me a look of disgust. "Stella has always been more considerate than you. You're so young yet so mean. What on earth do we owe you?
"Why are you always taking Stella's things? We've never treated you unfairly."
I looked at Stella, then at myself. Sure enough, they treated their daughter ten thousand times better than the girl they abducted.
Afraid of making Mom mad again, I put on the best performance of my life and pleaded, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I really was. Stella, please forgive me. I promise I'll never take your things again."
Mom seemed moved by my words. She glanced at Stella.
Stella walked over to me, pretending to be caring. She reached out to help me up, deliberately showing off the wooden bracelet on her wrist.
She was so obvious about it that my eyes kept drifting to that bracelet.
Stella snickered, and I gave her a puzzled look. What was she bragging about? It was not even a ruby bracelet.
Stella saw I wasn't reacting, so she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with undisguised sarcasm. "Aurora, who do you think you are?"
I was a stolen kid, after all. But after what happened, I knew when to keep quiet. I wasn't going to say a single word until the police arrived.
Stella didn't catch the chill in my gaze. She kept up her threats. "Listen, Aurora. I've got all sorts of ways to make Mom and Dad send you back.
"I accidentally let the dog play with the things Grandma left you, and they got wrecked. Hope you're not mad at me. Looks like all that's left is this bracelet. I kind of like it. You're so kind, right? Why not give it to me?"
I shot Stella a suspicious look. What was her deal? It was not like it was a big deal if a dog broke something. Was she really making a big deal out of this?
Stella kept up her innocent smile, acting like she hadn't noticed my obvious disgust. But suddenly, she pinched my arm viciously.
Pain shot through me, and my eyes flew open in shock.
Stella shot me a smug, taunting grin.
I saw right through her act, but I wasn't about to give her what she wanted.
Instead, I lowered my head, took a step back, and put on my sweetest voice. "Stella, everything that happened before was my fault. You're so kind, you'll forgive me, right? If you want the bracelet, keep it."
Stella's smile froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.
She blurted out, "What are you talking about? That bracelet was Grandma's, and you used to treasure it more than anything."
I lowered my gaze, scoffing at all that talk about heirlooms. I was Grandma's real treasure.
If someone truly cared about me, seeing me get threatened and bullied over a bracelet would only make her feel sorry for me. But I was keeping score.
I'd been wondering how to deal with Stella, and now she'd handed me the perfect excuse.
That was stealing. It was illegal. The whole family would end up behind bars.
Thinking about it, I lowered my voice and said, "It's fine. No matter how precious the bracelet is, it's nothing compared to you, Stella. As long as you're happy, nothing else matters to me."
The more I gave in, the more gloomy Stella's expression became.
Even the smile at the corner of her mouth was barely hanging on.
Her carefully staged provocation landed like a punch on cotton, absolutely pointless.
Meanwhile, Mom, Dad, and Marcus looked downright delighted with how obedient and considerate I was acting.
With everyone watching, no matter how much it burned her, Stella had to force herself to say she forgave me.