Chapter 1

1: 1

When the real daughter was brought home, I was already the family's darling.

Watching everyone shower me with affection, she put on a fragile expression, resentment in her eyes, and went into grab-everything mode.

My fifty-square-meter sunlit bedroom—she wanted it.

The recommendation spot Father had pulled to get me into a top Ivy League school—she wanted it.

Even the man I had chosen myself—Randolph Abbott, the crown prince of the New York elite circle—she wanted him too.

And she still had to play the wronged little victim:

"Sister, you already have so much. Randolph and I truly love each other. Please, just let me have him…"

When Mother looked ready to refuse her on my behalf again, everyone finally couldn't stand it.

"Ebony Sullivan, you fake, twenty years of Sophie Sullivan's life stolen isn't enough? Now you want to steal the man she loves too? Have you no shame at all!"

I listened to them accuse me, my eyes reddening, and I nodded.

"You're all right. Everything I have was my sister's to begin with. If she wants it, she can take it."

Sophie smiled, satisfied.

But what she didn't know was—

The family doting on me was fake. Harming me was the truth.

That sunlit bedroom sat on the most sinister cursed spot in the house.

The recommendation spot Father had arranged was nothing but a fall-guy setup, ready for when the school got shut down.

And even Randolph Abbott, the man everyone fought to marry, was a ruthless, twisted killer.

There wasn't a single normal person in the entire Sullivan family.

The pit I had struggled twenty years to escape and couldn't—

now someone had finally come to take my place in it.

…

When Sophie was brought home, everyone was gathered around singing me happy birthday.

The cake stood as tall as a person, with a cartoon doll of me on the very top.

Beside it were the words: May little Ebony always be happy.

Mother opened an exquisite gift box and fastened a glittering ruby necklace around my neck herself, her voice gentle:

"My little Ebony looks so beautiful today."

Father handed me a black pen stamped with a brand logo.

"Wishing you success in your studies and a bright future ahead."

My brother simply took my phone, added a contact, then handed it back with a wink.

"There—Randolph Abbott's number. Don't say I never did anything for you."

I tugged my lips into a coquettish smile and thanked them, but there wasn't a trace of a smile in my eyes.

Their acting had only gotten more polished over the years.

If I hadn't known the truth long ago, I might really have believed I was the beloved Sullivan daughter.

Footsteps came from behind me.

I turned around.

Sophie stood there, one hand dragging a battered suitcase, the other twisting at the washed-out hem of her shirt, her smile forced.

"Dad, Mom, big brother, I'm home."

Mother smiled and reached out to her.

"You came at just the right time. It's your sister's birthday today. Come have some cake."

Only then did Sophie seem to notice me.

She glanced at the couture embroidered dress I was wearing and spoke in a small voice:

"Sister looks so pretty. This dress must be expensive. Mom, Dad, do I look too shabby…"

"My clothes are so worn out they've lost their shape. Next to Sister I'm like an ugly duckling. I don't look anything like your real daughter…"

She lowered her head, her eyes rimmed red.

Every word was a hint that I was nothing but a fake, unworthy of anything so fine.

Mother was the first to smooth things over.

"Silly child, you've suffered all these years. I've got a whole closet of clothes ready for you. You can go upstairs later and take your time picking."

My brother picked up right where she left off.

"What little Ebony's wearing was custom-made just for her by a top designer. On anyone else it wouldn't sit right."

They defended me without the slightest hesitation.

Sophie's face flushed and paled by turns.

I watched it all without expression.

While she went to the bathroom, I quickly followed her in and locked the door behind us.

I looked her in the eye and said, one word at a time:

"Sophie, listen to what I'm about to tell you, and remember it well."

"Everything warm you just saw is an illusion. Every single person in this family is selfish and cold-blooded. To them, I'm nothing but a bargaining chip, a pawn."

"Now that you're back, they won't let you off either. The only thing we can do is join forces and leave this place, or staying will just get us picked clean down to the bone!"

"Do you understand?"

I said it all in one breath, watching every flicker on her face.

Sophie's expression went abruptly stiff.

She looked at me, silent for a moment, then asked calmly.

"Are you finished?"

I frowned. "You don't believe me?"

"I believe you," she said, nodding. "Now step out for a bit. I need to use the toilet."

I went out and waited for her by the sink.

Nothing about the Sullivan family had anything to do with her.

Until I made my own escape, I couldn't stand by and watch an innocent person step into the fire.

But just as I was lost in thought—

The bathroom door flew open and Sophie rushed out, sobbing.

She threw herself into Gail Henson's arms, her shoulders shaking with tears.

"I know I can't compare to Sister in any way, but Sister shouldn't threaten me like that…"

"Sister said there's not one normal person in this house, said she wanted to drive me out. Mom, Dad, I'm so scared…"

The noisy living room went silent in an instant.

But the next second, Mother only frowned lightly and soothed her.

"That's impossible. Little Ebony is the most considerate girl. You must have misheard."

My brother added, mild as ever.

"Throwing a fit the moment you get home? Little Ebony has the gentlest temperament. She would never say something like that to you. You've clearly misunderstood."

Sophie froze where she stood.

She couldn't believe the whole family would take my side to this extent.

And I stood off to the side, my heart going completely cold.

I had meant well, trying to warn her, trying to save her, and she'd turned around and slandered me.

Since she was so set on clinging to this fake warmth,

then I would stop meddling.