Chapter 1

The day my biological parents brought me home, I thought I finally had a family.

That very night, their adopted daughter, Chloe, woke up sobbing, claiming she’d had a nightmare about being abandoned. My parents rushed to her side, leaving me completely alone in a cold, dusty room just converted from a walk-in storage closet.

I sat there on the edge of the bed until dawn.

The next day, they had promised to take me to City Hall to officially change my last name and update my records.

Then Chloe called. With a trembling voice, she asked, Mom, Dad... are you going to throw me away now

Without hesitation, my parents abandoned me on the steps of City Hall. They didn’t even look back as they sped off to comfort her.

I quietly folded up the name-change petition and shoved it deep into my backpack.

On the third day, our high school held a college prep rally for seniors. My parents walked into the classroom with Chloe and me trailing behind.

When the senior guidance counselor asked whose parents they were, Chloe glanced at them with tear-filled eyes.

My mother instantly reached out and took Chloe's hand.

I looked straight at the counselor and said, Mr. and Mrs. Miller are just my charitable sponsors.

Both of my parents froze.

Helen’s hand was still resting on Chloe’s shoulder. When the word sponsors left my lips, her fingers visibly twitched.

David stood beside her. His lips parted, ready to offer an explanation, but Chloe beat him to it.

Her voice was sickly sweet. Ms. Hayes, Maya is staying with us for now. My parents are covering her tuition and living expenses, right, Dad

Under Chloe’s gaze, David glanced at me.

He quickly averted his eyes and nodded to the counselor. Yes. Maya is a low-income student our family is sponsoring.

Helen’s hand slid off Chloe’s shoulder. Her mouth moved slightly, but in the end, she didn't say a word to correct him.

Ms. Hayes, a woman in her forties, looked at me with open pity.

She gently patted my shoulder. Maya, opportunities like this don't come easy. A girl from your background making it this far on charity needs to show gratitude. Study hard for your finals and college exams. Make your sponsors proud, okay

I will, I said.

As soon as those words left my mouth, David’s shoulders slumped. Helen turned her face away, refusing to meet my gaze.

Right. From now on, they weren't Mom and Dad.

They were Mr. and Mrs. Miller.

Chloe linked her arm through Helen’s and added sweetly, Don't worry, Ms. Hayes. We'll make sure Maya focuses entirely on her studies without any distractions.

Ms. Hayes smiled, nodded, and turned to greet other parents.

When the assembly ended, we returned home.

The moment we walked through the front door, David snapped at me like an executive scolding an incompetent intern. Maya! What was that supposed to mean back there with your counselor

I stared directly into his eyes. If I hadn’t said that, you would’ve had to explain why my last name is Vance while yours is Miller. And if I'm your real daughter, who is Chloe Besides, when Chloe called you my sponsors, neither of you denied it, did you

That shut him up instantly.

I... I just didn't want the counselor asking awkward questions, Chloe whimpered, her eyes already brimming with tears.

Helen immediately rushed to her side. It's okay, sweetheart. It’s only for senior year.

She turned to glare at me. Maya, you brought this on yourself. Chloe was only trying to smooth things over for you. Stop being so ungrateful.

Right. Got it, I muttered indifferently.

I turned to head upstairs, but Chloe’s voice piped up behind me.

So... maybe we should hold off on changing her last name, too Otherwise, how will we explain it to the school...