I lay in a hospital bed covered in blood after a car accident. My father muttered, "Money loser, we're broke..." Then he picked up his phone, excitedly praising my brother: "Great job, son! First place in the class gaming tournament? Dad's coming home to celebrate!" When he left me alone in the hospital, I wasn't surprised. I even laughed at myself for the flicker of hope I felt when I first saw him, thinking he might actually be worried about me. Under the angry yet sympathetic gazes of the medical staff, I didn't feel helpless or sad. I was just thinking about how to get the doctor to give me more anesthesia for the surgery. Because it hurt so much. Just then, an elegant couple walked into the ward, led by the hospital director. They said I was their daughter, switched at birth. Compared to their excitement and joy, I seemed rather calm. I only asked one question. "Will you pay for my surgery?" "Will you pay for my college tuition?" After getting affirmative answers, I called them directly. "Mom, Dad." It didn't matter if they truly loved me. I didn't ask about the girl who was switched. When Grandpa Joe was still alive, he told me that in this life, you can only rely on yourself to be invincible. So all I have to do is live well. Use them as a stepping stone to climb up. 1 The surgery went well. I was transferred to a VIP room for post-op observation and recovery. These were the most comfortable and quiet days I could remember. It was in this hospital room that I learned my biological father was William Sterling, chairman of the famous Sterling Group in this state, and my mother was Eleanor Vance, the eldest daughter of Vance Electronics. Turns out, two months ago, when I worked part-time as a greeter at a Sterling Group event, I was earning my own family's money. What was the theme of that banquet? Oh, right, it was to celebrate the 18th birthday of the Sterling Group's only daughter. It was so grand that financial news and entertainment news across the state were scrambling to report it. As an outdoor greeter, I wasn't even qualified to enter the venue, shivering in the early spring wind. After Grandpa passed away, no one remembered my birthday, let alone a coming-of-age ceremony. Peeking through the cracks at the fragrant clothes, shadows, clinking glasses, and blessings inside. At that time, I thought, look at her, loved by thousands, and look at me, peeking at the princess's happiness like a rat in the sewer. Worlds apart. That day was also my unnoticed 18th birthday. When I got home that night, I faced: "Where the hell have you been? Don't you know to come home and cook?" "Your brother is about to take his high school entrance exams. What if he starves?" "Money loser. We should have given you away when you were born, saved us money." Hearing this, I sneered in my heart. They wouldn't have been willing to give me away. When I was born, the area where we lived was being demolished for redevelopment. To get an extra apartment allocation based on headcount, they registered me. And if it weren't for Grandpa insisting, my name on the birth certificate wouldn't be Grace, it would have been "Asset." But I wouldn't argue back because that would make them angrier, and my adoptive father would hit me. I'd suffer too much. That's the experience I've summed up over the years. Don't speak, just do the work silently, and it will pass. At that time, my only hope was the SATs, to test into a college far, far away. Knock, knock. A gentle knock sounded. My biological parents walked in, followed by a tall, handsome young man in a suit. "Grace, this is your brother. We came together to pick you up." As I guessed, this was the crown prince of the Sterling Group, Liam Sterling. I had long heard that this prince spoiled his only sister excessively, giving her the moon if she asked for stars. Of course, that sister wasn't me. Watching him stride over, looking reserved, his gentle tone slightly stiff. "Grace, I'm your brother." I looked up, smiled slightly, and said softly, "Brother." When I was bullied by classmates, seeing other brothers protecting their siblings, I also longed for a brother. Liam was stunned for a moment when he heard me call him, then relaxed. "Mom, Dad, and I discussed it and felt it's better to visit your adoptive parents' home." "We investigated what happened back then. It was an accident." "They raised you after all. And about Bella... she's still abroad..." I looked at their guilty faces, their eyes dodging mine but full of love. For the sake of this love, I tentatively said, "They treat me bad..." "Grace," I was interrupted by Liam before I could finish. "Your adoptive family isn't exactly poor based on my investigation. Raising you for eighteen years deserves gratitude." Seeing the slightly disapproving looks from my parents behind him, I fell silent. So this love wasn't just for me. It was more for the daughter they had loved for eighteen years. Judging me as ungrateful and vain based on an unfinished sentence. Fine. "Okay, let's go now." 2 With their surprised expressions, I got out of bed holding my bandaged left arm and left the room. Since the love isn't exclusive, I'll use your guilt to fill the gap. It was lunchtime when we arrived at the Zhou house. I unlocked the door and went in first. The family of three, eating fish and meat, paused when they saw my sudden intrusion, then continued eating as if nothing happened. "Just in time. Go wash the clothes in the bathroom." "Mom, I told you she has secret money. Look, she got out of the hospital fine without us giving her a cent." "Damn girl, always out. Who knows how you earn that money? Disgusting." I stood there, a look of horror on my face, shrinking back in fear. Seeing me stand still, my adoptive father's face darkened. "What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear your mother tell you to wash clothes?" I whispered fearfully, lifting my arm slightly. "I... I just got out of the hospital. My injury hasn't healed. I can't hand wash. Can I use the machine?" As soon as I finished, my adoptive mother's harsh voice followed. "Does the machine run for free? Don't you have another hand?" "I..." Seeing I wanted to speak again, my adoptive father's temper flared. He threw his empty bowl and walked towards me under the gloating gazes of my adoptive mother and brother, Tyler. Raising his hand to hit me. I quickly squatted down, holding my head, chanting non-stop. "I was wrong, I was wrong. I shouldn't have talked back." "I won't dare again. Dad, don't hit me, don't hit me. I'll wash the clothes right now, by hand." As expected, the slap didn't land on me. Liam, who came in a step later, grabbed my adoptive father's arm and pushed him aside. My parents surrounded me to comfort me, eyes full of heartache and guilt. Seeing the sudden intruders, my adoptive mother quickly got up to support my adoptive father. She screeched, "Who are you people?" Seeing my parents comforting me, she realized and cursed at me. "Bitch, bringing outsiders home to bully your parents, huh?" "Raising you is worse than raising a dog. Should have thrown you in the river to drown." Next came money loser, slut, uneducated—whatever was ugliest, my adoptive parents said it. I was confused. They didn't know I wasn't biological yet. Why could they insult and beat a daughter so extremely, yet spoil a son so extremely? Especially incomprehensible was my adoptive mother. She was a woman once too. Why did she become the executioner hurting her younger "self"? I thought she was bound by old-fashioned thinking and had no choice. Later, I realized she was just bad. Narrow-minded. If she suffered, her daughter must suffer too. Even double the suffering. When I was little, I got good grades and awards, longing for her love and praise, but got ignored and mocked. From childhood to adulthood, the nastiest words came from my adoptive mother first. Now I'm immune to these curses. I can ignore them and do my own thing. But my biological parents looked terrible, and my brother clenched his fists in anger. Oh well, I achieved the desired effect, exceeded expectations even. Next, I didn't need to do anything. I just had to be scared. This feeling of having family protecting me in front was nice. I once longed for it. Now? It's optional. It's no longer a necessity for my life. And this love was calculated. I don't think it will belong to me completely in the future. There's still a Sterling family princess they raised for eighteen years. Hearing I wasn't their biological daughter, my adoptive mother wanted to make a scene, but my adoptive father sized up my parents and quickly started negotiating terms. My brother rubbed my hair and said gently, "Go pack your things with Mom." "Dad and I will handle this." I nodded timidly and went to my room under Mom's pitying gaze. 3 The renovated storage room. One side for junk, one side for my bed, an old wardrobe, and a desk. That was it. I saw Mom's red eyes, pretended not to see, and packed. When she saw me stuffing faded jeans and jackets into the worn suitcase. She couldn't hold it back anymore. She walked over and threw everything in my hands onto the narrow bed. Her voice choked. "Grace, no more. Leave these. Mom will buy you new ones." I looked up in confusion. "But these aren't worn out yet. I can still wear them." Mom's lips trembled, unable to speak. She hugged me, tears wetting my shoulder. My shirt was wet. When I changed, I was wearing a sports bra, and I heard sobbing behind me again. "Grace, what happened here?" Mom pointed at the burns on my back and arms. Before I could speak, the door opened. Father and Liam stood there looking at my scars. The air went silent. My adoptive father followed, squeezing in when he saw no movement. Yelling loudly, "What are you doing? Hurry up and leave, then send the money." Then seeing me, he froze for a second, then got angry. "Damn girl, what are you looking at? Didn't you do that yourself?" Then he reached to grab me. I flinched slightly and spoke with difficulty. "Yes, I did it myself by accident." My brother stepped forward, pushed him out of the room, and roared, "Behave if you want the money! Is my sister someone you can shout at?" Father's eyes were red too. "Grace has suffered." I shook my head and didn't speak. In the car back, I was still thinking. It went smoothly. At least with my biological parents' help, I can completely get rid of this rotten family. My silent contemplation was mistaken for shock. "Grace, it's our fault. We shouldn't have brought you there." "It's our fault. If we found you earlier, you wouldn't have suffered so much." "Grace, don't worry, Brother will get revenge for you." "From now on, with Mom and Dad here, no one dares to bully you again." Looking at the unconcealed guilt and love in their red eyes, it would be a lie to say I wasn't touched at all. But only a little. Revenge? I can take it myself later. Suffering? It's all in the past. The car stopped. Standing before the "Jade Palace No. 1" I had only heard about in gossip at banquets. For the first time, I felt the extreme gap in this world so directly. I lowered my eyes. I'm a little tempted. I am one of the heirs to this boundless wealth and power. "Sir, Madam, you're back." The butler led the servants out to greet us. Seeing me surrounded, he hesitated. "This is the Second Miss. Take good care of her from now on." Father said as he led me inside. The surrounding servants bowed and said yes. As soon as I entered the hall, I looked up and saw the girl standing by the stairs. The girl I swapped lives with for eighteen years. 4 She was beautiful. Exquisitely noble, raised on money and power. Now she looked like a broken doll, eyes red and swollen. The moment she saw us enter, tears fell like pearls. Truly pitiful and lovable. Her voice trembled as she pointed at me. "Mom, Dad, are the rumors outside true? Are you abandoning me now that you brought her back?" Hearing this, Father frowned and scolded. "Bella, no manners. This is your sister's home. Of course we bring her back." Bella looked incredulous. "Dad, you yelled at me?" Then she turned and ran upstairs, shouting with a sob. "Fine, I'm not biological anyway! I'll leave now! I won't be an eyesore!" Father opened his mouth but said nothing, grunting and heading to the study. My brother looked at me apologetically. "Bella is spoiled. Grace, don't mind her. I'll go check on her." Then he ran to comfort Bella. Seeing Mom looking back anxiously, I spoke sensibly. "Mom, go comfort Sister too." Mom paused. "Grace, you're a good child. Mom will go check, be right back." She turned and hugged me, then went to comfort Bella too. The family that was just fussing over me instantly surrounded another girl. Leaving me standing alone in the hall. Worthy of the golden branch and jade leaf pampered for eighteen years. Deep feelings, hard to let go. I understand. I lowered my head. Does it matter? No hope, no disappointment? But my heart was uncomfortable. The butler stepped forward. "Second Miss, your room is this way. Let me show you." "Thanks." The mother who said she'd be "right back" didn't show up all afternoon. I didn't have the mind to think about this family affection for now. I couldn't pin my future life on these relatives. So at dinner, seeing only Father at the table, I ate quietly without throwing a tantrum. After eating, I spoke. "Dad, can I get a tutor? The SATs are in a month." "I'm afraid I won't adapt if I go to school now. can I study at home with a tutor?" Father was stunned, then nodded. "Just tell Butler Li. He'll arrange it." "Good child, ask for whatever you need. If Dad isn't here, find Butler Li." I smiled shyly. "Thank you, Dad." Seeing my obedience, Father sighed in relief, patted my shoulder hesitantly, and went to the study. After washing up with the maid's help, just as I was about to lie down, there was a knock. Opening the door, it was Mom. "Grace, Bella has a bad temper. Please bear with her." "You just arrived. Want to take a walk with Mom, get familiar?" I nodded and went out in my pajamas. Bella was still standing at the stairs, eyes still red, but I saw the smugness and provocation in her eyes clearly. I nodded and smiled at her. "Sister came out too?" Mom turned to look. "Why are you out? Go back to sleep. Your eyes are swollen like walnuts." Bella quickly composed herself, smiled obediently, and went back to her room. The night breeze blew gently, bringing a hint of coolness. Jade Palace No. 1 lived up to its name. "Grace, Mom wants to discuss something with you."
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