My daughter's personality completely changed after she was in a car accident. Then I started hearing her inner thoughts. "That old hag. Wish she'd just die already, save me the trouble of taking care of her later." Soon after, a girl I'd been sponsoring showed up nervously at my door, saying she wanted to take care of me in my old age. And looking at her... it was like seeing a shadow of the daughter I used to know. Which one was my real daughter? 1. "Mom, how could you just donate money to those people? That money was supposed to be..." My daughter, Jessica, had seen the news first thing in the morning and stormed in, demanding answers. "And? Do I need your permission to spend my own money?" I sat at the dining table, casually eating my breakfast. "No, it's just..." She looked down, then came over, grabbing my arm and trying to charm me. "Mommy, I'm just worried you'll get scammed, you know? I heard those donation things are all frauds. You could've just bought me a couple of designer bags with that money." Old hag. All your money is going to be mine eventually anyway, right? How dare you give MY money to those broke losers. That was what she was really thinking. I looked up at her. I'd raised her for twenty years, and right now, she felt like a complete stranger. Whether those underprivileged girls in rural areas would scam me, I didn't know. But I knew the biggest scam I'd ever fallen for was believing my daughter was a kind, innocent person. Until a week ago. She got into a car accident. When she woke up, it was like she was someone else entirely. I could hear her thoughts. Cursing me, wishing me dead, just because she couldn't wait to get her hands on my inheritance. "Whether they scam me or not is my business," I said coolly. "But you should understand, you have no right to tell me what to do with my life or my money." Just then, Maria, our housekeeper, came in to say a young woman was at the door. She claimed I'd sponsored her education and wanted to thank me in person. Normally, I'd brush it off. But today was different. I wanted to teach Jessica a lesson, show her I wasn't just making empty threats. I waved a hand. "Let her in." The girl who entered was painfully thin, looking like she might collapse any second. Her face was pale, completely devoid of color. The way she looked at me, though... it wasn't like she was seeing a stranger. And I felt like I recognized her somehow. "Hello, Ma'am. My name is Claire Miller. If it wasn't for your support, I never would have had the chance to go to school. I came specially to thank you." I motioned for her to come closer so I could get a better look. Her expression grew more intense, like she had something important to tell me, but just as she opened her mouth, she fainted, collapsing onto the floor. My heart gave an involuntary lurch. Then I heard that familiar voice again, but this time it wasn't her inner thoughts, it was Jessica speaking aloud. "Mom, she's trouble. She's definitely faking it. Maria, get her out of here! Throw her out!" I looked at Jessica. Her face was twisted in an ugly glare directed at the unconscious girl. "Do you know her?" I asked sharply. "If not, why would you jump to such conclusions?" "No... I mean..." Jessica faltered, suddenly cautious. I called for a doctor to check on the girl. The doctor said it was severe malnutrition from long-term neglect. She just needed rest and proper food. I looked at the girl's face. So unfamiliar. I was sure I'd never met her before. And yet... so familiar. Jessica was still cursing her out in her head. I couldn't hear everything, just snippets, but the sheer vulgarity was shocking. The daughter I'd raised for twenty years had always been sweet and well-behaved. How could she change into this overnight? The crude language spilling from her mind was something I'd never heard from her before. Since Jessica seemed to hate Claire so much, I made a decision. I would take Claire in, treat her like a daughter. "No way! I won't allow it! You can only have me as your daughter!" Jessica threw a massive tantrum right there in the house. 2. The more Jessica objected, the more determined I was not to give her what she wanted. I contacted Claire's parents. After all, if I was going to take their daughter under my wing, I should at least consult them. Meeting Claire's parents in person, I finally understood why she was in such poor health. Her mother walked right up to Claire and slapped her hard across the face. "You stupid girl! How dare you pay your tuition behind my back? You got a death wish? That money's for your brother!" The slap sent Claire staggering to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She couldn't even get up. I had my security guys step in to restrain the parents while I helped Claire to her feet. Claire just shook her head weakly. "I'm okay, don't worry." My heart ached for her. How could she possibly be okay after a blow like that? "If you lay another hand on her, I'm calling the police," I warned them sternly. Claire's father started shoving at me and the security guys. "Who the hell do you think you are? I need your permission to discipline my own daughter?" I was about to retort when Claire's mother suddenly leaned in and whispered something to her husband. His face changed instantly. "Oh! You're the wealthy benefactor! So sorry, Ma'am, didn't realize." He then spat on the ground near Claire. "Ungrateful brat. Didn't even tell us who was coming. Trying to make me look bad, huh?" I pulled Claire behind me. "I asked you here today to discuss the possibility of me adopting Claire." Initially, I'd only thought of treating her like a daughter, but seeing this... if she didn't get away from this family, her future looked bleak. "Adopt her? What's the point of raising some useless girl?" Mrs. Miller scoffed. Then she pushed a little boy forward from behind her. "This is my son, Kevin. Why don't you adopt him instead?" She sounded incredibly proud. I looked down at the boy. Maybe eight or nine, chubby, clutching a bag of chips, his eyes squeezed into slits by his cheeks. "We're not asking for much," Mr. Miller chimed in. "Just, say, $50,000 a month. Plus two houses and a car. Oh, and of course, he'll still need to support us in our old age. He is our kid, after all." I stared at them, speechless. Did they even hear themselves? "Mom, why don't you just agree?" Jessica piped up, startling me. It was the first remotely positive thing I'd heard her say in days, but she was saying it in defense of these awful people. "We've got the money, right? And raising a boy is always better than a girl." Suddenly, Claire's little brother, Kevin, lunged forward, yelling, "Sister! Give me a piggyback ride!" But he was yelling at Jessica. Jessica jumped back, startled and panicked. Mrs. Miller quickly pulled Kevin away. "Oh, look at that! Isn't that something? First time meeting, and our Kevin already knows to call her sister!" Phew, that was close. Almost got found out. Jessica's inner voice again. Almost found out what? I cleared my throat. "I think you've misunderstood. I am only interested in adopting Claire. Nothing else concerns me." Faster than I could react, Mr. Miller lunged forward and kicked Claire viciously. "You little tramp! Did you tell her something? Why else would she want you instead of your brother?" My security team tackled Mr. Miller. I immediately called the police and took Claire to the hospital to document her injuries. "Have they always treated you like this?" I asked gently. Claire nodded silently. She lifted her shirt slightly. Beneath it, her skin was a horrifying canvas of bruises and welts, old and new. I gasped. There was hardly an inch of undamaged skin visible. "Don't worry," I promised her, my voice tight with anger. "You have me now. I'll make sure they pay for this." I hired the best lawyers. With the hospital report and security footage as evidence, winning the case wasn't hard. The challenge was ensuring they completely severed legal ties with Claire. Jessica, for some reason I couldn't fathom, kept insisting on coming with me to the police station and court proceedings. I was suspicious, but then I thought, maybe she'd finally come to her senses and wanted to support Claire. So, I agreed. At the police station, Mr. Miller was still ranting. "It's my God-given right to discipline my own daughter! You people are just bullying us 'cause you're rich and we're poor! Is there any justice left in this world?" A police officer tried explaining the law to him, but Mr. Miller just stared blankly, then stubbornly declared, "I don't know anything about the law! None of you can tell me what to do!" My lawyers helped Claire file for emancipation and a restraining order, severing ties with her parents. With the evidence of abuse and Claire being legally an adult, it was relatively straightforward. I also refused to sign any agreement that might lessen Mr. Miller's sentence. I wanted him to face consequences, even if it meant just a few months in jail. But Jessica became frantic. "Mom, just forgive them! I'm sure they didn't mean it! If he goes to jail, what will happen to their family?" "Do you think abusing his own daughter is okay?" I asked her, my gaze sharp. "What's wrong with disciplining his own kid? Mom, please, just forgive them. Don't let them send him to jail!" This was beyond strange. It was almost as if Jessica was their daughter. I shook my head, dismissing the absurd thought. Of course, I didn't listen to Jessica. Mr. Miller was sentenced to a few months in jail. A lesson learned, hopefully. 3. With Mr. Miller locked up, Mrs. Miller started showing up at the house with Kevin, causing scenes. "I don't care! You have to support me and my son now! Or else give Claire back, and you owe us at least two million dollars!" If assault wasn't illegal, I swear I would have punched her. "I had your finances investigated," I stated coldly. "Over the past twenty years, you've spent maybe two thousand dollars on Claire, if that. Not to mention you took all the money she earned from part-time jobs and the funds I sent for her sponsorship. If anything, you owe Claire money." "Tch! Rich people are all so stingy!" she spat. "This world is full of trash. People from the sticks like us are more generous." Rage boiled inside me, but Jessica pulled me towards the car. "Mom, let's just go. Don't stoop to their level." Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Claire subtly signaling something to Mrs. Miller. In the car. I asked Jessica, "Why are you defending them? I remember you used to hate people like that." Before, when Jessica saw stories on TV about abused children, she'd burst into tears. "That's horrible! How could parents be like that?" Could a person really change that drastically? I refused to believe that the Jessica I knew before had been faking it all along. "I... I just feel sorry for them..." Jessica stammered. "If they had a choice, they wouldn't treat her like that..." I didn't reply. I suddenly felt like I didn't understand this daughter of mine at all anymore. I decided to throw a party, specifically to announce to everyone that I had gained another daughter. Jessica was furious, grinding her teeth. That bitch better not think she can steal my inheritance. I picked out several beautiful dresses for Claire, but she was so thin, practically skeletal, that everything hung off her. We had to have a dress custom-made. I held her hand, my heart aching. "From now on, whatever you want, I can give it to you. The hard times are over." She just stared at me blankly. Sometimes I wondered if she was mute. "Thank you... Mom... I mean, Ma'am." I covered my mouth to hide a smile. "What? Don't you want to be my daughter?" "Of course not... I mean, yes! I just..." She scrambled to explain. "It's alright," I soothed. "There will be a lot of people tonight, but don't be scared. No one will give you a hard time." That evening, I was busy mingling with guests when suddenly the music changed. Everyone's attention snapped to the grand staircase. There stood Jessica, wearing the custom-made dress meant for Claire, making a dramatic entrance. My face hardened, but I couldn't make a scene. Jessica, however, addressed the crowd. "Hello everyone. I am the only daughter of this family, and the sole heir to the family fortune." A stunned silence fell over the room. Awkwardness hung thick in the air. Everyone understood the implication – this party was supposed to welcome my adopted daughter, and here was Jessica claiming exclusivity. But since I hadn't spoken, no one dared react. "Apologies, everyone," I said, forcing a smile. "My daughter just loves to joke around. Jessica, dear, quickly bring your sister out." I shot her a warning look, hoping she wasn't completely foolish. "I'm not joking! This family fortune is mine! No one is going to take it from me!" "Your daughter certainly has spirit!" a guest nearby quickly tried to smooth things over. "Just protective of her mommy, I suppose." Just then, Claire appeared, gracefully linking her arm through Jessica's. "My sister was just worried I might be nervous, that's why she said that. She's usually very kind to me," Claire said smoothly. She was wearing an ill-fitting, oversized gown, but she carried herself with dignity. I nodded in satisfaction. But the next second, Jessica violently shoved Claire's arm away. Claire lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs! Gasps echoed through the hall. I was furious. Jessica couldn't possibly be this immature! I rushed over and helped Claire up. "My apologies, everyone. We seem to have had a small accident. Let's conclude the party for tonight. I'll make it up to you all another time." After the guests left, I personally tended to Claire's scrapes, applying antiseptic. She bit her lip tightly, not daring to utter a sound of pain. Jessica was still raging nearby. "She faked it! I didn't push her! I told you from the start that bitch was no good!" Maria went over to try and calm her down, but before she could say a word, Jessica snatched a glass from the table and hurled it at her. "Who do you think you are, talking to me? You're just a servant! You want me to throw you out of my house?" "Who do you think you're throwing out? Is this your house to run?" I slapped Jessica across the face. "Claire fell, and you claim she did it on purpose. Did this glass decide to fly at Maria all by itself too?" Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief. "You hit me? For a maid? I'm your daughter! Aren't you supposed to love me unconditionally?" Claire helped Maria to a chair. Maria had been with me for twenty years, hired right after Jessica was born because I was too busy. She'd watched Jessica grow up, practically a second mother to her. "Ma'am, I'm fine, really," Maria insisted, still defending Jessica. "Jess didn't mean it, I'm sure. It was my fault for not being careful." I rubbed my temples. This was absolutely not the Jessica I knew. She had always treated Maria like family. How could she suddenly be calling her a servant? "Yes! I did mean it!" Jessica shrieked, losing control. "So what? You just don't like me anymore! It's all her fault, that bitch!" She lunged forward like a maniac and shoved Claire hard, knocking her down again. Looking at her then, I suddenly saw a disturbing resemblance to Mr. Miller.
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