chapter 1

Everyone said the Wen family’s youngest daughter had been pampered from birth, making her the happiest little heiress in all of Jingdu.

Every year on her birthday, companies throughout the Wen Group ran special events in celebration.

I, on the other hand, had parents who neither loved nor wanted me. My life held nothing but endless chores and endless beatings.

It was not until the Wen family’s lawyer came looking for me that I learned the truth: I was the Wen heiress.

The day I returned to the Wen residence, only a servant and a chauffeur came to collect me.

Still hopeful about my future, I stepped inside the palatial mansion.

Before I met the Wens, some secret part of me still yearned for a family’s love.

They were already waiting in the living room. I had looked up their pictures on my phone and knew how much we resembled one another, yet seeing them in person still gave me a small shock.

Wen Yixuan sat close beside my mother. Her softly curled hair was beautiful, her skin fair. Her eyes were puffy, as if she had just been crying.

When she looked at me, disgust and hatred flickered through their reddened depths.

Even though I had come home, my mother was still stroking her hand and murmuring comfort to her.

My family had raised her like a princess.

Meanwhile, I stood there in a white school uniform washed faintly yellow with age. The strap of my backpack had been mended four or five times, and my hands were covered in calluses.

“The resemblance is unmistakable. She’s my daughter, all right.” Wen You’an stepped forward and patted my head, his voice affectionate.

“Qiu, you’ve suffered so much.” Ye Shi’e pulled me into her arms, guilt filling her eyes.

“Now that you’re home, those hard days are behind you.”

Wen Yixuan could not stand the sight. She burst into tears.

“You’re a family again. I won’t stay here and get in your way.”

With that, she ran back to her room.

Ye Shi’e let go of me and hurried after her.

My older brother, Wen Yanfeng, looked equally worried as he said to me, “We’ve spoiled Yixuan since she was little. She can’t accept this yet, so try to be understanding.”

Her parents had switched our lives.

Yet now, because the girl who had benefited from it all could not cope, my family wanted me–the victim–to be understanding toward her.

What a joke.

Before I came back, Jiang Qi had asked me, “Once you have parents to protect you, do you think your temper will improve?”

At the time, I had told him I did not know.

Now the last trace of longing I had ever felt for a family was gone.

“Why should I be understanding?” I asked Wen Yanfeng.

He had not expected the question and was momentarily lost for words.

“What, exactly, am I supposed to understand? That she lived my life of wealth and privilege for sixteen years while I was beaten and cursed like an animal in her home?”

Shame flashed in Wen Yanfeng’s eyes, but he still instinctively defended her.

“What does any of that have to do with her? Yixuan knew nothing. She’s a victim too.”

I gave a cold laugh and let the subject drop.

“So you’ve already decided to let her stay?”

“Qiu, Dad understands how you feel, but you know what that family is like. I raised Yixuan. How could I have the heart to cast her into that hell?”

He was not wrong. Anyone would grow attached to a cat or dog after raising it for so many years, let alone a cherished daughter.

“All right, Dad. I understand. But I am your flesh and blood, while she is your adopted daughter. I don’t want our positions in this family confused.”

Wen Yanfeng immediately objected.

“You and Yixuan are both daughters of the Wen family. There is no distinction between biological and adopted. Yixuan has been guilty and miserable enough these past few days. If we announce to everyone that she’s adopted… She’s never suffered a real blow in her life. How could she take it?”

“She has never suffered a blow, while I grew up being beaten. So you think my life is worth less and I can take anything, is that it?” I stared straight into his eyes. Anger burned in mine, but my voice remained calm.

Wen Yanfeng frowned. “That isn’t what I meant.”

“I’ve already agreed to let her stay. Do you really take me for a turtle who’ll keep retreating into her shell every time you push?”

“I promise you,” Wen You’an said.

Wen Yanfeng tried to speak again, but one look from him silenced my brother.

He had already investigated the sixteen years of my life and knew exactly how badly I had suffered.

Hearing me tear open my own scars filled him with guilt.