The night before the SATs, I was kidnapped by my foster sister’s cronies. They locked me in a dark warehouse for three days and three nights. When I finally saw light again, I was barely alive. My hands and feet were broken, my lower body was a bloody mess, and there wasn't an inch of my skin that wasn't bruised or cut. My mother was devastated, swearing to make the perpetrators pay. My father spent a fortune on top doctors to try and save me. As I was wheeled into the ER, I faintly overheard my parents talking. "Emily is still our biological daughter. Even for Ashley's sake, we should have stopped her from taking the SATs in a different way." My father sounded regretful. "Who knew those animals would be so ruthless? But Ashley's been struggling with depression because Emily's grades were so high. If Emily had taken the SATs, it would have been a huge blow to Ashley." My mother started to say something, but my father cut her off. "Okay, from now on, we'll shower Emily with love and make it up to her." Make it up to me? So, in my parents' eyes, their adopted daughter was worth more than their own flesh and blood. 1 "The patient has suffered severe trauma to her lower body. The uterus is damaged, and she won't be able to have children. Her intestines are also severely damaged. We need to remove a section and perform a colostomy. She'll have to live with a colostomy bag for the rest of her life." That's what the doctor said after examining me. "How could this happen?" Mom choked, unable to accept the reality. "For something like this to happen to such a young girl, I suggest you call the police right away!" "We can't call the police!" Dad immediately stopped him. He probably realized he sounded harsh, so he added, "She's just gone through a terrible trauma. We want to focus on her treatment first, then we'll contact the authorities." "Please arrange everything as quickly as possible, Doctor. Use the best materials. Money is no object!" I lay in the hospital bed, the anesthesia wearing off, and my parents' conversation grew clearer. "It's almost better this way for Emily. Now Ashley won't have to worry about her getting better grades. And since Emily wasn't around us when she was little, we can spend more time with her now. That's a kind of compensation, right?" Dad's words seemed like a sigh of relief. His tone wasn't cold, but it made me feel frozen inside. This was the family I'd longed for? These were the people I loved and trusted? They were the ones who pushed me into this abyss, letting those thugs trample on my dignity and my body, drowning me in endless pain. And now, they were putting on a savior act, shedding fake tears. How ironic! "Ashley's waiting for us at home. We promised her a graduation party. Let's not waste time here. Emily won't wake up anytime soon anyway." Their footsteps faded away. Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't tell whether my physical wounds or my emotional scars hurt more. I thought finding my family was a gift from heaven. Turns out it was a punishment for my naive hopes. When I was fifteen, I was brought back to the Anderson's. I could tell my parents weren't exactly thrilled to see me. Especially whenever Ashley looked at me with those teary, timid eyes. That just made their faces darken. But I'd grown up in an orphanage, and the desire for a family had become a natural part of me. I'd finally come home to my mom and dad, and I kept telling myself that if I was good and got good grades, they'd love me. At least, that's what the orphanage director always told me. To win my parents' favor, I tried not to cause them any trouble. I kept the house clean, even though Ashley always sneered and said that was something servants did. But when I got the top score in my class, my parents just said a few words of encouragement. I thought I wasn't good enough, so I joined the advanced program and entered all sorts of competitions. The awards kept coming, and my name was often mentioned. Around that time, the school started calling home frequently. But Mom and Dad weren't happy. The atmosphere at home grew tense. Especially for Ashley. Her eyes were always red when she saw me. Dad's gaze toward me became colder and colder. I didn't understand why back then, but I finally get it. They thought my achievements were making their darling daughter feel inferior. So, to make Ashley happy, they hired people to hurt me, ruin my chances at college, and maybe even ruin my entire life. 2 I opened my eyes again. Mom was gently wiping the sweat from my hand, and Dad was putting away his phone. "Emily, you're awake! Are you in any pain?" Mom was looking at me with a worried expression. This was the scene I'd always dreamed of, but now that it was happening, it felt stifling. "Did the SATs happen?" My voice was so weak it was barely a whisper. Mom's eyes flickered with anxiety, but Dad patted my hand reassuringly. "Let's not think about that right now. The most important thing is for you to get better. Even if you didn't take the SATs, Mom and Dad will give you the best future. There's no need to be sad." Could I even have a good future? "I begged him." Mom and Dad exchanged a look, realizing who I was talking about. I turned my head away, staring blankly at the white hospital ceiling. "I told him my parents were rich, that they would come to rescue me. But the more I talked, the more he enjoyed hurting me. The more he enjoyed, the crueler he became." As I spoke, I felt like I was back in that terrifying place, smelling the rotting stench in the air, seeing the shredded pieces of my clothes. I couldn't help but tremble. "I tried to run, but he broke my legs." "I was too scared to cry, but he used a heavy iron bar..." "Okay, okay, don't say anymore..." Mom couldn't help but interrupt, hugging me tightly, tears streaming down her face. Dad frowned, his face grim. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked "It's not your fault. It's my fault. If I had picked you up earlier that day, you wouldn't have met those thugs." I remembered now. The day before the SATs, Ashley was sick and stayed home from school. When I left for school, Mom specifically told me to wait for her at a street corner just outside the school. It was the first time Mom had shown me any special concern since I'd come back to live here. I was so happy, so excited. But all I got was a nightmare, carefully orchestrated by my own parents. Who was the real monster here? "Don't worry, Emily. It's all over now. I promise, we'll use every resource we have to catch that son of a bitch and make him pay!" I closed my eyes, no longer wanting to see this fake concern, letting the tears run down my cheeks. "Family, please step aside. It's time for the patient's medication." The nurse came in and pulled back the covers, exposing the worst parts of my injuries to everyone. A gasp filled the room. "How could anyone do this?" Even though the doctor had warned her, Mom couldn't believe what she was seeing. Now she had to face the reality: my legs were strapped to a frame and couldn't move at all, my abdomen was covered in a horrifying network of stitched scars, some of the wounds were still bleeding, and a bag filled with yellow fluid was attached to my side. Dad had already left for another room, and Mom also hurried out of the room in tears. "I can't believe anyone could be so cruel to a young girl like that!" The nurse cursed as she gently cleaned my wounds. The pain from the medication made me shake, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I could hear my parents arguing outside. "Honey, should we really send Emily's photos to the media? It'll be a huge blow to the company's reputation." "We have to! Don't you remember? Before the SATs, all those top college coaches were contacting us to say they wanted to recruit Emily. We have to make this a big deal so they'll withdraw their offers. Look at her! She can't go back to school in this condition!" I had worked so hard to earn recognition from those schools, but my own parents were wiping it all away. When I'd first come home at fifteen, Dad had told me, "Our business is at a critical stage. We can't have any negative publicity, so we have to pretend that you're an adopted child, just like Ashley. You'll have the same rights as her." Such grand words, but they were hiding everything, even the fact that I was their daughter. Now, to protect Ashley and to keep themselves from getting implicated, they were willing to sacrifice the company's reputation. "Nurse, can I borrow your phone for a minute?" I asked, enduring the throbbing pain. I dialed a number, and someone picked up. "I accept your offer to be your heir." "But I have one condition." 3 The doctors were still busy preparing for the surgeries. I had to rest and wait for the right moment. As for my parents, they'd sent the photos of my injuries to the news. It had caused a huge uproar online. I treated scrolling through my phone as part of my recovery. All sorts of news about me were popping up online. [I know this girl. She's a straight-A student at our school, but she's a terrible person. I heard she's an orphan. Some kind-hearted people paid for her to transfer here. She even bullied another girl until she got depressed.] [Yeah, I heard about that too. This girl shamelessly moved into someone else's house and tried to steal their parents!] [That's right! There's even a version where she's a gold digger. A friend of mine saw her getting into a fancy car with an older man.] [Have you noticed? She never wears tights with her school uniform. She's obviously trying to seduce people! Why else would they pick her instead of someone else?] These cruel comments hidden behind online anonymity felt like knives stabbing me in the heart. Even though I was prepared for it, my hands still shook as I scrolled through the screen. They said I was trying to steal Ashley's parents, but they were my family. Every classmate who wanted to be friends with me was seen as a threat by Ashley and harassed by her supporters. Eventually, I became a loner in my class. In school, my socks were always being torn for no reason, just to make fun of me, all because Ashley wanted to embarrass me. The internet leaves a trail, and I did everything I could to screenshot these comments and save them for future use. Some people were trying to defend me, to speak up for me as a victim, but those posts were quickly deleted. It was obvious someone was behind this, and their goal wasn't to make people feel sorry for me, but to completely smear my name. But I wouldn't let them win! 4 "Emily, look who's here!" Mom excitedly pushed open the hospital room door. I saw Ashley holding a bouquet of flowers, a smile on her face, and she skillfully sat down next to my bed. This was the person who'd made me into what I was today. "Mom and Dad didn't want me to miss the SATs, so they didn't tell me you were in the hospital until now. You're not mad at me, are you?" Ashley sounded like she was complaining, but her eyes were full of triumph. She wanted to show me who was the most loved in the family. "Don't talk like that. We did it for you, and now you're complaining." Mom pretended to be angry, but she gently tapped Ashley's head with affection. "No, I know Mom loves me the most. Right, Emily?" Their interaction felt more like a mother and daughter than me and my own mom. When I didn't respond, the room suddenly fell silent. "Mom, Emily might not be in a good mood. I want to talk to her alone for a bit. Can you go downstairs and meet Dad?" Mom left the room with a hint of displeasure. As soon as the door closed, Ashley's beautiful face twisted into a malicious grin. "Emily, you look so disgusting right now. You're going to have to live with a pee bag for the rest of your life, aren't you? Haha." "So what if you're their real daughter? I'm the one they care about the most!" "Dad promised me ten percent of the company's stock after the SATs. It's already in my account. He even said I'll be the heir to the company." Ashley frowned, looking annoyed that I wasn't reacting. "I don't even care about the SATs score. Dad already arranged for me to study abroad, but that doesn't mean I'll let you be better than me!" "You probably don't know, but Mom and Dad hired the people who kidnapped you. They even sent your photos to the internet." "It's because you made me unhappy. Of course, they'd help me get rid of you." I kept my expression blank, my heart numb. When I decided to leave, I had already given up on this family. Ashley suddenly stood up, grabbed my collar, and her eyes flashed with malice. "Emily, I wish you'd just die." "But if you died, I'd be bored." "I almost forgot to tell you. Dad only wanted to kidnap you and keep you from taking the SATs. But I paid them more to beat you up so you'd be useless for the rest of your life. You're not worthy of being my stepping stone." !!! I looked up, one thought in my mind: kill her! Before I could act, Ashley smirked. She quickly grabbed the water pitcher from the bedside table and smashed it on the floor. "Ah! Don't hit me!" "Ashley, are you okay?" The door burst open, and Mom and Dad rushed in and hugged Ashley. Fragments of the pitcher had hit her feet, leaving a few shallow cuts. The injuries weren't serious, and there wasn't any hot water in the pitcher. But Dad's eyes were filled with rage as he looked at me. "Emily! Ashley came to see you! How could you hit her?" "You can't blame her for your unhappiness!" "If anything happens to her, don't blame me for disowning you!" Mom looked anxiously at Ashley, who appeared terrified. "Emily, how can you be so petty? I'm so disappointed!" They quickly took Ashley to find a doctor, not even glancing at me. If they had looked, they would have seen that my injured body didn't even have the strength to lift a pitcher. Those words were just for their own ears, to make themselves feel better. But it didn't matter. I picked up my phone. "Hello, I'm ready." My eyes scanned a hidden corner of the room where a small light was blinking. Everything here was being broadcast live for everyone to see. "It's time to go." And it was time for them to pay. 5 On the way to the airport, I saw a trending news story. It was a video taken by a bystander showing Ashley being rushed to the hospital by Mom and Dad. In the video, Mom went to pay the bill while Dad stayed with Ashley. "Dad, I'm really okay. Don't blame Emily. She must be upset after what happened. If it makes her feel better, I don't mind." "You're too soft-hearted. That's why she always bullies you! If I hadn't looked into it, I wouldn't have known she was using her grades to isolate you from the other students." "As long as Mom and Dad love me, I'm happy." The video had thousands of likes, and the comments praised Ashley's kindness, while others cursed me, some even threatening to expose my personal information. It was obvious Ashley had done this on purpose. They were the ones who did all the bad things, but I was the one being condemned by the entire internet. But karma was a bitch. Because of this trending story and the photos the media had released, the traffic to my livestream exploded. My injuries had already attracted a lot of attention, and now with the added drama of a rich family feud, the internet was in a frenzy. "Mr. Anderson, something terrible has happened. Several of our major partners are withdrawing from our deals, and the bank won't approve our loan." Dad's phone rang, and his assistant sounded frantic. "What? What did they say?" "They... they said they don't work with criminals. Mr. Anderson, you should check the livestream online." [Oh my God, did her own parents really do this? This is completely changing my perspective!] [This girl is such a drama queen! Is she staging this too?] [Someone call the police!] Dad finally realized there was a livestream in the hospital room. He made a public relations announcement to take it down, and then rushed into the room to turn off the camera. It was too late. All the marketing accounts had already recorded it. Just then, he realized that I was gone. Thirty minutes later, under the respectful guidance of several staff members, I walked into the VVIP lounge. Seeing the figure waiting there, I felt at ease and grateful. "Aunt Susan." The woman turned around. She'd already known about my situation from the time I’d contacted her. But when she saw my injuries in person, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. "Sweetheart, you've suffered so much. I'll make those people pay." "I've found the best medical team in Switzerland for you. They'll start the surgery as soon as you get there and heal your wounds." "Thank you, Aunt Susan." Aunt Susan was the biggest donor to our orphanage. She didn't want to get married, but she needed an heir, so she started observing the children at the orphanage six years ago. Eventually, she chose me. I was just starting middle school then, and I'd shown an amazing talent for academics. Not only was I gifted at math, but my understanding of physics was almost genius-level. But I wanted to find my birth parents, so I turned down Aunt Susan. She wasn't disappointed or looking to replace me. Instead, she helped me find my family. Even so, she continued to support me, sending me all kinds of study materials every year. After I went back to the Anderson's, we kept in touch. I once asked her why she chose me. She said she had a lover once. They planned to get married after graduation and dreamed of having a daughter. When the time came, the father would teach her physics, and the mother would teach her math. However, her lover's family wasn't wealthy. Aunt Susan was the family's only heir and had to obey the elders. To completely end their relationship, her lover's family arranged a car accident that killed him. From that moment on, Aunt Susan never wanted to get married. She used her power to control the family business and successfully avenged her lover. So sometimes, fate is strange. My parents hurt me for Ashley's sake. But Aunt Susan, who wasn't related to me by blood, helped me selflessly. "The private jet is ready. Let's go." "Okay." Just before boarding the plane, my phone kept buzzing with messages and calls. [Emily, where are you? You're not well. I'm worried about you. Please come home.] [Emily, don't listen to your sister. You're our real daughter. How could we ever hurt you? Come home, and I'll explain everything.] I didn't hesitate to turn off my phone.
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