Chapter 4

Lucas's birthday arrived shortly after.

I was forced into a ridiculous, oversized bear costume, relegated to a corner of the ballroom as an amusement for the guests.

Suffocating and lightheaded, I slipped the heavy mascot head off just to catch my breath.

The moment my face emerged, I locked eyes with Lucas.

He was walking past with a slice of cake. The second he saw me, he shouted:

"Dad! Mom! The monster is trying to steal my birthday cake!"

Mom pushed through the crowd, seized my arm, and dragged me into the center of the glittering hall.

Dozens of cold, mocking, and curious stares pinned me down.

"Allowing you under my roof is mercy enough! How dare you steal food at Lucas's party?!"

Mom's voice shook with rage, her hand raised to strike.

"I didn't..."

I gasped, swaying on my feet as dark spots danced in my vision.

"Still talking back?!"

Julian stepped forward. Towering over me, he didn't raise a hand. Instead, he reached over to a passing waiter's silver tray and picked up a slice of rich chocolate cake.

A slice I had only dared admire from afar, barely even letting myself inhale its sweet aroma.

Then, his hand descended, slowly and deliberately grinding the cake into my face.

Muffled chuckles rippled through the guests. A few even lifted their phones to record.

Lucas clapped gleefully. "Awesome, Dad! That's how you teach her a lesson!"

"Get out! Get the hell out of here! Stop disgusting everyone!"

Mom pointed toward the exit, her voice shrill.

Terrified of another blow, I scrambled on all fours toward the grand staircase.

Still unsatisfied, Lucas chased after me, kicking at my back and legs as I fled.

"Don't run, monster! You haven't apologized to me yet!"

Panicked, I didn't see the top step.

His foot slammed into the back of my knee. My balance gave out, and I tumbled down the steep stairs. Lucas lost his footing too, tumbling right behind me.

Darkness rushed over my vision. The last thing I heard before passing out was Mom's bloodcurdling scream.

Tragically, it wasn't for me.

Then, everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a sterile hospital bed, every inch of my body screaming in pain.

Mom sat beside the adjoining bed, clutching Lucas's limp hand, her eyes swollen and raw from crying.

A doctor stood nearby with a grim expression.

"Mr. and Mrs. Vance, your son's condition is critical. He requires an emergency blood transfusion immediately. However, his blood type is extremely rare. Our blood bank has no matching units, and neither of yours match his..."

Julian stood against the wall, his face dark as a thundercloud.

Just then, a nurse carrying a chart approached and whispered to the doctor:

"Doctor, we just ran the labs on the young girl. Her blood type matches the boy's perfectly."

Julian snapped his head around, staring at me in utter disbelief.

He strode over to my bedside, scanning my face before glancing frantically at the clipboard in the nurse's hands, his voice unsteady:

"What did you say? Her blood type matches Lucas's?"

The nurse nodded. Julian barked at the physician,

"Hurry! Run a full crossmatch! Confirm if they are an exact match!"

The medical team scrambled into motion. Julian stood frozen, muttering under his breath:

"That's impossible... Lucas's blood type is extraordinarily rare. Even I'm not a match. How could she..."

He hurried after the doctors toward the lab.

Only Mom and I remained in the room. She didn't spare me a single glance, keeping both hands clutched tightly around Lucas's fingers.

About thirty minutes later, Julian walked back in. He moved like a hollow shell, his steps staggering.

Seeing him, Mom shot up and asked desperately:

"Well? Is she not a match? I knew that monster was completely useless! If anything happens to Lucas, I'll tear her apart!"

Julian cut her off, his voice hoarse and broken. "Stop it, Evelyn."

He looked at Mom, then turned his gaze toward me. After a suffocating silence, he forced the words past his lips:

"She's not a monster... She's our biological daughter."