Chapter 3
A gift box was tossed at my feet. Dad was clearly struggling to keep his temper in check.
He said, "Here, I did get you a birthday present. Why are you making such a fuss? Acting like we're so cruel to you.
"You didn't even bother to change your clothes. You came here just to cause trouble, didn't you? Raising you was for nothing. Take the gift and get out. Just leave. You're not joining us today."
I picked up the gift box and opened it.
Inside was a bottle of Saint Laurent perfume.
I grabbed it and smashed it to the floor.
With a loud crash, the bottle shattered. The strong scent of perfume hit me instantly, overwhelming the room.
Dad shouted, "Are you out of your mind? You came back just to stir up trouble, didn't you? I gave you a present. What more do you want? Should I just hand over Charlotte's dress?"
Dad was practically shaking with anger.
I raised my chin, giving him a frosty stare.
I said, "You really think I can't tell this is just some promo gift that came with the dress?"
Dad froze for a second.
With all the designer clothes and flashy jewelry Charlotte was showing off, the brand probably just handed out a fifty-milliliter bottle of perfume as a throwaway freebie.
He might not have realized it, but I saw him digging through the pile of promo gifts and grabbing whatever box he could find.
Some of the noble ladies started gossiping.
Even though my parents pretended I didn't exist, everyone in our social circle knew I was the real daughter. I just kept things quiet.
Now that the real daughter was stuck with the fake daughter's leftover freebies, I could bet the rumor mill was about to go wild.
Dad's frown deepened, but I just gave him a cold, hard look.
I said, "Dad, either stick to your old ways and give me nothing, or stop handing me Charlotte's freebies.
"You really think I should be grateful just because you throw some random junk my way?
"Forget it, Dad. You might as well pretend you never had a daughter."
Dad jabbed a finger at me, voice trembling with fury. "How dare you talk to your father like that?"
I shot back, "Giving your own daughter a freebie? Is that what you call being a father?"
"You!" Dad blurted out, his voice caught in his throat.
He was so furious that he could barely breathe, but I didn't even spare him a glance. I just turned and headed upstairs.
My room was crammed up against the attic, barely the size of a closet. It was just a makeshift space my family threw together for me when I came back.
Right next door was Charlotte's doll room, overflowing with plushies, and beside that was her personal dressing room, an entire space just for her designer dresses and jewelry.
I wiped away my tears and pulled out my diary.
It read: [Mom and Dad don't seem to like me, but I get it. When I suddenly appeared in their lives, it must've been hard for everyone to adjust. As long as I'm good, maybe they'll accept me.]
[Mom and Dad took Charlotte and Ethan on a trip. I wonder if they just forgot about me. They left me at home.]
[Charlotte got third place in her exams, and everyone at home is celebrating for her. But I got first place. Why isn't anyone congratulating me?]
[No matter how hard I try, they never seem to care about me. I see teachers and parents always scolding the bad kids. If I became a bad kid, would Mom and Dad finally pay attention to me?]
[They said I'm just like the kid raised by a nanny. But isn't it all because of them?]
[Ethan said Mom and Dad prepared a surprise for me today. Is it because I'm turning eighteen? I'm so happy!]
Page by page, I turned through my diary, and a tear fell onto the last page.
I wiped my tears and wrote on the newest page: [Admitting my parents don't really love me is the first step to growing up.]
The celebration downstairs kicked off again, laughter and music filling the whole house.
I put on my headphones and sent a message to my head teacher Amara Lewis. [Ms. Lewis, can I apply for the Bright Future Scholarship Fund program?]
Amara replied almost instantly. [Of course. So you've made up your mind? With your grades, you'll definitely make the cut.]
I hesitated for a second, and then typed: [If I get accepted, will they really pay for everything if I go abroad?]
Amara: [Absolutely. Plus, you'll get a hefty bonus all for yourself.]
I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. [I'm in, Ms. Lewis.]
Why stick around in a family that'd never see me as one of their own? I'd rather strike out on my own and see what I could do out there.
I woke up late the next morning, feeling groggy and a little out of it.
Yesterday, I'd rushed home in nothing but my thin school uniform, and now I'd caught a bit of a cold.
Sneezing, I made my way downstairs. Our servant, Lucy, was already cleaning up the dining table.
When Lucy saw me, she froze for a moment, and then gave me an apologetic smile.
Lucy said, "I'm so sorry, Ms. Hayes. I forgot your breakfast. I always made breakfast for just four people, and I guess I still haven't gotten used to you being here."
I smiled and said, "Six years and you still haven't gotten used to having me around, huh?"
Lucy paused, looking a bit surprised.
Mom didn't even bother to hide her coldness. "Ignore her. She slept in, so it's her own fault. Let her starve if she wants," she snapped.
She shot me a chilly glare, and then turned to Charlotte. Her whole expression instantly melted into motherly affection.
"So, Charlotte, where do you want to go with your friends?" Mom asked.
Charlotte's face lit up with excitement and hope.
"I want to go to Haven Isles. And... And Coralay. Azure Coast! Can we, Mom?" she exclaimed.
Dad was grinning from ear to ear. "Of course you can.
"This is the first time you get to travel without us after you officially turn into an adult. It's a sign of you growing up. Go wherever you want, have fun with your besties, and come back whenever you feel like it."
"Thanks, Dad," Charlotte chirped, throwing herself into his arms. But as she did, her eyes slid over to me, a smug little smirk tugging at her lips.
It was like she was saying, "See? So what if you're the real daughter? You still can't win against me."