The real heiress was a kleptomaniac, and my entire family enabled her. “Go on, sweetie, take whatever you want. Mom and Dad are top lawyers. We’ve got your back!” But when she stole the fountain pen I treasured above all else, I called the police. In return, my parents sent me to prison. “Aurora has been through so much. If this is her only little hobby, what’s wrong with us indulging her?” “Don’t think that just because we raised you for a few years, you can compete with our real daughter. You occupied her place for ten years. You’re the real thief!” “And let me tell you, if you ever cross your sister again, it won’t be just a month in a cell.” Is that so? Then let’s see just how much you’re willing to tolerate from your precious little thief. I looked at the real heiress, a challenge in my eyes. “Stealing a few trinkets is nothing.” “My brother has key evidence for his trial next week. I dare you to steal that.” A week later, my brother confidently presented his evidence in court. Seconds later, the bouncy, animated butt of Crayon Shin-chan was dancing across the massive courtroom screen. “Elephant, oh elephant, why is your trunk so long… I don’t care, I don’t care…” … The day Aurora was brought home, she stole our mother’s most precious necklace. When Mom couldn’t find it, she slapped me across the face. “You little bitch! We just brought our real daughter home, and you’re already stealing things to stake your claim on the inheritance?” I tried to explain. “I didn’t take it. If you just look again, maybe…” “A thief and a liar? I should have known. What good can come from an orphanage?” “You grew up in a family of lawyers, and you still couldn’t shed your degenerate nature!” “No wonder your parents were taken by that earthquake. Must have been karma for all the bad things they did!” “Give me the necklace, right now, or I’ll send you to prison!” Just then, Aurora came skipping into the room. I saw the necklace instantly, dangling around her neck. I pointed it out to Mom. “Is this the necklace you’re talking about?” Mom’s expression and tone softened in a heartbeat. “Oh, Aurora, sweetie, you took Mommy’s necklace? Why didn’t you tell me?” Aurora clutched the necklace protectively. “What do you mean, your necklace? What proof do you have that it’s yours?” “Did you see me take it?” “If you didn’t see it happen, then it’s mine!” Mom looked confused. “What are you saying, sweetie? If you like it, Mommy can give it to you…” “I don’t want you to give it to me! Pfft! I got it with my own skills!” “My classmates’ pens, toys, hair clips… I can make them all mine.” “My old parents used to praise me all the time. They said I was clever and saved the family money!” Mom paused for a moment. “That couple… that’s what they taught you? To steal… to take other people’s things?” Aurora’s face was full of pride. “Yup! When my old mom went grocery shopping, I’d help her by grabbing a few potatoes.” “When she tried on makeup at the mall, I’d help her by grabbing a few lipsticks.” “I’m really good at it. She said I could support myself for the rest of my life with this skill!” Mom hesitated. “Aurora, honey, that’s not right. From now on, if you want something, just tell Mommy, and I’ll get it for you…” Aurora shook her head. “I don’t want you to give it to me! I like taking things myself!” “You’re mean! I don’t like you! My old mommy would have told me I was amazing!” “I want to go find my old mommy!” As Aurora turned to leave in a huff, Mom quickly grabbed her arm. Dad, drawn by the commotion, came over with a sigh. “Let it go. If it makes Aurora happy, just let her be.” Mom hugged Aurora and cooed, “Aurora is so clever! You can take care of yourself with your own special skills!” “Mommy loves you the most. Please don’t go looking for your old mommy, okay?” Aurora beamed and nodded. I was stunned. “Mom,” I said, “what she’s doing is theft. It’s illegal. We should be correcting her.” “Today she took your necklace. What if she’s caught doing this outside…” Mom cut me off, her voice vicious. “So what? We’re a family of lawyers. You think we can’t protect our own daughter?” “My daughter can do whatever she wants. Who are you to lecture us?” “Aurora has skills to support herself. What are you without us?” Her voice was thick with self-righteousness, as if she hadn’t been the one disgusted by the idea of theft just moments ago. Aurora shot me a look over Mom’s shoulder, a tiny, triumphant smirk on her face. The next day, I saw Aurora sneaking out of my room. I rushed inside and found the fountain pen on my desk was gone. That pen was a memento from my late mentor. It was the only thing I had left of her. Ten years ago, she had shielded me with her own body during the earthquake, saving my life. I ran out and grabbed Aurora, trying to keep my voice gentle. “Aurora, did you happen to see the pen on my desk?” Aurora clutched her hands behind her back and burst into tears, wailing. “Why are you calling me a thief? Did you see me do it?” “Who would want your stupid pen? You need proof to accuse someone! Where’s the pen?” My parents rushed over at the sound of her cries. “Aurora, what’s wrong? Who upset you?” Her crying intensified. “It’s Grace! She keeps saying I took her pen and called me a thief!” “I knew it! You all look down on me! I’ll just leave!” My parents immediately started comforting her. “Hush, Aurora, no one looks down on you. You’re the best.” “Grace, apologize to your sister right now!” Tears of frustration streamed down my face. “I can apologize, but please, just make her give the pen back. You know it was a memento from my teacher…” “Grace, that’s enough! What proof do you have that Aurora took your pen?” I pointed at her hands, still hidden behind her back. “Then let me see her hands.” Aurora shook her head, a smug look in her eyes. “She’s slandering me. I don’t have to show her anything.” My parents stared at me coldly. “The burden of proof is on the accuser. Aurora is not obligated to cooperate with you.” I nodded. “Fine. Then let’s check the security camera in my room.” My brother, Wesley, walked over and shrugged. “Sorry. The footage seems to have been accidentally deleted.” “Grace, you know, falsely accusing Aurora is a crime.” I stared at them in disbelief. “You’re all lawyers. You know that theft is wrong. How can you enable her like this?” They looked at me with contempt. “Even lawyers have people they want to protect.” Seeing everyone rally to her side, Aurora’s expression turned defiant. “So what if I took it? I’m not giving it back to you! Neener-neener!” “If you want it, come and find it yourself!” I lunged forward, grabbing for the hands she held behind her back. My father kicked me, sending me sprawling to the floor. “How dare you? Who do you think you are, trying to search her?” “Even the police need a warrant for that!” I looked up, my voice filled with despair. “Fine. Then let’s have the police help me find it.” Wesley reached for my phone, but I had already hit the emergency dial button. “Grace, you…” My father shot Wesley a look. “Let’s teach your sister a lesson today.” The police arrived quickly. My parents greeted them at the door. “Officers, thank you for coming. I’m afraid our adopted daughter is upset that we brought our biological daughter home, so she filed a false police report to frame her.” An officer turned to me. “You’re the one who called? What’s the situation?” “My fountain pen is missing. My sister, Aurora, took it. I just want her to give it back.” My parents jumped in. “She’s lying. Who would take a stupid pen?” The officer looked at me sternly. “Do you have any evidence?” I shook my head, defeated. “She was hiding it behind her back, but after I called you, I don’t know where she put it.” “The security footage was also deleted…” “Grace, did you deliberately destroy the camera footage just to frame your sister?” “Officers, filing a false police report is a criminal offense. Please, arrest her.” “This daughter of mine needs to be taught a lesson.” I shook my head frantically. “I didn’t file a false report! I’m telling the truth…” Mom’s voice was like ice. “Aurora is our biological daughter. She can have anything she wants. Why would she need to take your worthless pen?” Dad stepped forward, his voice calm and authoritative. “Officers, we are legal professionals. We understand the societal harm caused by false reports and slander.” “If she can frame her sister over something so trivial today, she could pose a much greater threat to society tomorrow. We urge you to handle this strictly. It’s for her own good, to educate and save her.” In the end, I was the one taken away for disturbing the peace. Thanks to my parents’ “professional defense,” what should have been a ten-day detention turned into a month. The day I was released, my parents warned me, their faces cold. “If there’s a next time, it won’t be just a month in a cell.” “If you like prison food so much, we have no problem letting you rot in there.” “If you want to test our skills, go ahead and make trouble.” Aurora threw the fountain pen at my face. “Here’s your junk. I don’t want it.” I trembled as I picked it up. The barrel was maliciously dented, the nib snapped in two. My parents took Aurora’s hand. “Aurora is so clever. We don’t steal worthless junk like this.” “Didn’t you say you wanted to practice at the mall, sweetie? Come on, let’s go show Mom and Dad what you can do.” “Take whatever you like. If anything happens, we’ve got your back.” Wesley chimed in, “Don’t worry, sis. I’ve got your back too!” “Aurora, tell me, who’s better? Us, or your old family?” Aurora clapped her hands. “My new mom, dad, and brother are the best! You even let me steal from fancy malls!” “I feel so much more accomplished now!” The four of them left, cheerful and excited. I was stunned. In just one month, the word “steal” had become a badge of honor in this house. Mom, Dad, have you thrown away your values and your professional ethics just to please your biological daughter? That night, Aurora returned, triumphant, surrounded by her adoring family. She came to my room to gloat. “Look! This perfume is worth over six hundred dollars. I got it without paying a cent!” “And this ring? The price tag was over a thousand.” “The salesclerks are probably still searching for it. They almost suspected me, but Mom and Dad said a few words and shut them right up.” “What do you think? You have the guts to call the cops on me?” “Oh, that’s right, you don’t. Because Mom and Dad will just send you back to prison.” “You’re so pathetic. Ten years in this house and they treat you like dirt.” “I’ve only been back a few months, and they worship me.” I looked up at her and laughed, my voice dripping with contempt. Aurora’s smug expression vanished. “What are you laughing at?” I raised an eyebrow. “At how naive you are.” “They only indulge you because you steal things that don’t matter.” “And you’re already showing off because of a little affection? You must be starved for love.” “When I was a kid, I accidentally tore up some of their legal documents and replaced them with my drawings. When they found out, they didn’t even have the heart to scold me.” “You think stealing a few things from strangers proves they love you? How pathetic.” Aurora glared at me. “Don’t try to manipulate me! You’re just jealous!” I shrugged. “Think what you want. I can tell you’re not so sure yourself.” “You know deep down that they’re only indulging you because you just got here. But they raised me for ten years.” “Do you dare steal something important to them? No, you don’t.” Aurora’s eyes burned with hatred. “You bitch! I’ll show you just how much they adore me!” My parents and Wesley had recently taken on a case for Zinberg Corp., the most powerful company in the city. After losing the initial trial, Zinberg Corp. had hired our family’s firm.
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