Chapter 2

I was stunned.

My parents had just finished paying the medical bills and rushed into the room, visibly angry. My dad yelled, “Jimmy Lawson! Who told you to say that to her?”

Could it really be true?

The man who had never liked me, who had always called me worthless, was actually my real father? I couldn’t believe it.

I turned to my mom, Nancy. “Is this true?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn’t speak.

Dad looked at her, then she sighed and said, “Alexa, when your Aunt Patricia was pregnant with you, a tarot reader said it would be a boy. But when you were born, they didn’t want to keep you because you were a girl. Your mom and I couldn’t bear to see you abandoned, so we took you in and raised you as our own daughter.”

Dad’s voice broke as he grabbed my hand, “Alexa, we’ve always loved you like our own. We always will.”

Seeing the fear and worry in their eyes, I felt a deep ache in my heart. I held both of their hands tightly and said, “Mom, Dad, no matter what, you’ll always be my parents.”

Jimmy, clearly annoyed by our emotional display, cut in, “Now that Alexa knows the truth, she should come back to our family. She and her brother can support each other. Let’s go ahead and change her family records now.”

Seeing how anxious my parents looked, I was furious.

When I needed help for school or struggled with money, where were they then? They didn’t say a word about taking me back then.

They didn’t want me because I was a girl, but now that I’m successful, they want me to help their son? No way.

“My parents are right here. They’re the only family I have,” I said, glaring at Jimmy.

Jimmy’s face turned red with anger. “You ungrateful child! I’m your father, and you won’t even acknowledge me?”

Turning to my parents, he sneered, “Did you two put her up to this? I’m her real dad. She’s supposed to take care of me when I’m old. Her money, her house—they belong to us. You can forget about keeping her! You’re just jealous because you can’t have your own kids and now you want to steal mine!”

Standing in front of my parents, I said coldly, “You didn’t want me back then, and you didn’t raise me. You have no claim on me now or in the future.”

“You ungrateful brat!”

Jimmy raised his hand to strike me, but my dad grabbed him.

“Touch my daughter and see what happens.”

My dad, who had always kept in great shape, towered over Jimmy, making him look small and weak in comparison. Jimmy hesitated for a moment, then backed down.

With a huff, Dad grabbed my mom and me, and we left the hospital.

Back home, the three of us sat on the couch, leaning against each other.

“Alexa, you’re all that matters to us,” my dad whispered.

Mom nodded, hugging me tight. “I’m just worried Jimmy won’t give up so easily. Your grandma called earlier and said Kaylee’s threatening to get rid of the baby unless we give them your house. I refused, but I’m worried Jimmy will cause trouble.”

I felt uneasy too. I knew Jimmy’s family—there was no way they’d give up after failing to get the house.

But I didn’t want my parents to worry, so I reassured them.

I thought they’d wait a while before making their next move, but the very next morning, while I was still half asleep, my bedroom door was kicked open.

Pain shot through my head as I was dragged out of bed by my hair.

“You ungrateful little brat! Not only do you refuse to acknowledge your real father, but you’re giving away your house to someone else? You worthless good-for-nothing, I’m going to kill you!”

I opened my eyes to find my grandmother, Evelyn Mitchell, slapping my face, while Tyler yanked my hair from behind.

My parents had just returned from grocery shopping. When they saw what was happening, my dad’s face turned red with rage. He grabbed a water pitcher from the table and smashed it over Tyler’s head.

Tyler crumpled to the floor, and my grandmother froze in shock.

Dad rushed over to hold me. “Alexa, are you okay?”

I shook my head, too stunned to speak.

How could they value a house more than family?

My grandmother called Jimmy, and within minutes, Jimmy, Kaylee, the paramedics, and the police all arrived.

Jimmy glared at us. “If anything happens to my son, I’ll make sure you all end up in jail!”

My dad was taken into custody, while my mom begged Jimmy at the hospital.

“Jimmy, please, let my husband go. He’s been good to you all these years.”

Jimmy sneered. “If you want me to drop the charges, give me Alexa’s house. Then I’ll write a letter of forgiveness.”

My mom refused, “That’s Alexa’s house. We’re not giving it to you.”

Jimmy’s expression darkened. “No house, no deal.”

I stepped forward and said, “I’ll give you $50,000.”

Though my dad was acting in self-defense, there was a chance the court would rule it excessive, which could leave a stain on his record. I wasn’t worried about spending the money, but my dad was a teacher—he couldn’t afford a criminal record.

Jimmy turned away. “I told you, no house, no deal.”

I laughed bitterly. “Fine, take it to court. I have money to hire the best lawyer. You broke into our home, Tyler attacked me first, and Kaylee smashed my bracelet. Let’s see who comes out on top.”

With that, I took my mom home.

But later that day, I made an excuse to return to the hospital alone.

Standing outside the hospital room, I overheard Jimmy talking to Kaylee’s doctor.

“Jimmy, forging medical records is illegal. I already took a big risk faking that miscarriage, and now you want me to fake your son’s injury? If we get caught, we’re both going to jail.”

Fake medical records? They were planning even more devious schemes against us.