chapter 2

He and Wen Yanfeng took me to see the room they had prepared. I said I wanted to choose for myself, wandered around, and eventually entered Wen Yixuan’s room.

Ye Shi’e was holding her and soothing her gently.

“Don’t say such foolish things. You will always be my daughter. I will never make you leave.”

I pretended not to see them and inspected the room at my leisure.

Aside from the master bedroom, Wen Yixuan’s was the largest in the house.

“Dad, I’ll take this one. I like almost everything about it, though I’d like all the furniture replaced.”

At that, Wen Yixuan, who had only just calmed down, burst into tears again and threatened to leave.

Ye Shi’e tried to comfort her while telling me, “This is Yixuan’s room. Mom already prepared one for you. Let your brother show you.”

“I’ll take you there.” Wen Yanfeng reached for me.

I stepped back, avoiding his hand.

“I’ve seen it. It’s far smaller than this room, and I don’t want it.”

I regarded Ye Shi’e with distant, chilly eyes.

“Since when does an adopted daughter get the big room while the biological daughter gets the small one? Where in the world is that considered fair?”

“What adopted daughter? You and Yixuan are both my daughters. Mom knows you’re angry, but Yixuan is a victim too.” Ye Shi’e thought I was merely throwing a tantrum.

“I’m not a Wen. Let me go. I’ll make room for her.” Sobbing, Wen Yixuan tried to rush out, but Wen Yanfeng caught her.

“You will always be my sister. No one is driving you away.”

What a moving little drama. Their bonds ran so deep that I naturally became the villain.

“Mom and Yanfeng both call her a victim. For the past sixteen years, she lived in my home as a pampered heiress while I lived in hers like a beast of burden.”

“No, even that isn’t right. Her biological parents cared about her, or they would never have switched us. Even if our lives had never been exchanged, she would not have suffered the way I did.”

“They beat and cursed me whenever they pleased. I earned every cent of my own school fees. The only reason they let me study was because the more educated I became, the higher a bride price they could sell me for.”

“Thank heaven I finally came back to the Wen family. Otherwise, I don’t know how I would ever have escaped them.”

“Now I’m home, but you already love your fake daughter and want to keep her. The Wens are wealthy. She can still enjoy a life of comfort and luxury.”

A laugh escaped my throat.

“She benefited more than anyone, and yet you stand there and tell me she’s a victim.”

“Now my own mother and brother want me in the small room so she can keep the big one. I wouldn’t mind being that kind of victim myself.”

The mockery in my eyes was undisguised. No one across from me could answer.

Even Wen Yixuan fell silent.

I had no desire to look at them any longer. When I turned to Wen You’an, my expression softened at once.

“Dad, can you have all the furniture replaced within three hours?”

I showed my quills to everyone else, yet when I looked at him, there was always a hint of dependence in my eyes.

Because he was the one who held the power in the Wen family.

“Of course. Don’t worry. Dad will take care of everything,” Wen You’an agreed.

With enough money, the workers moved quickly.

Wen Yixuan, eyes red as Ye Shi’e and Wen Yanfeng murmured reassurances, moved into the room originally prepared for me.

Wen You’an felt guilty toward me, but he did not want turmoil in his home. He urged me to get along with Wen Yixuan.

Once he and I were alone in the living room, I slowly shed my armor of strength. Hurt entered my eyes, which shimmered with tears.

“Qiu, my good girl, Dad knows you’ve been wronged.”

I stubbornly wiped my tears away. “Dad, Mom and Yanfeng are so biased. They don’t care about me at all. I don’t like them.”

“From today on, you’re the only family I have.”

“Don’t be silly. Of course they care about you.” Wen You’an defended them, but the fleeting pleasure at the corners of his eyes betrayed how much my declaration secretly pleased him.

At dinner, Wen Yixuan locked herself in her room.

I ate calmly, without the slightest discomfort.

No matter how Ye Shi’e and Wen Yanfeng worried over and defended Wen Yixuan, I acted as if I heard nothing.

Only when Wen You’an spoke to me did I answer with a smile.

The dinner had been prepared to celebrate my return. It was lavish and delicious, and I nearly ate until I burst.

Ye Shi’e watched me with aching tenderness.

“Qiu, slow down. Eating too much at night is bad for your stomach.”

But then she remembered her other daughter, who was too heartbroken even to eat.

“Yixuan is a good girl. This has simply been a terrible shock, and she’s trapped herself in a dark place. Please don’t blame her.”

“Mom, stop.” Wen Yanfeng’s face hardened, his tone far from kind.

“She isn’t even listening to you. Why waste your breath?”

On that point, I agreed with him completely. I had no interest in Ye Shi’e.

Perhaps she felt guilty and intended to make it up to me someday, but between Wen Yixuan and me, her favorite would always be Wen Yixuan. And Wen Yixuan would never allow her to grow close to me without causing trouble.

Any love or dependence I might once have felt toward parents had long ago been beaten and cursed out of me by Wen Yixuan’s biological parents.

I never allowed myself to suffer a loss, and I had no intention of making my future harder than necessary. In this family, keeping a good relationship with Wen You’an alone would be enough.

“Dad, I’m finished. I’m going to my room.” I looked only at him.

Wen You’an took my behavior for a child’s sulking and reminded me, “Go to bed early. You have to report to your new school tomorrow.”

“All right.”

My attitude left Ye Shi’e looking wounded.

Wen Yanfeng, however, appeared furious.