Chapter 5

Soon, Lucas’s birthday arrived.

I was ordered to wear a ridiculous bear mascot costume and stand in a corner, playing a cheerful character for the guests’ amusement.

I couldn’t endure it any longer. I secretly took off the costume head to catch my breath.

But the moment my face was revealed, I met Lucas’s eyes.

He was walking by with a small slice of cake. Seeing me, he immediately shrieked.

“Daddy! Mommy! The little monster is trying to steal my birthday cake!”

Mom rushed through the crowd, grabbed my arm, and dragged me to the center of the banquet hall.

Hundreds of eyes bore into me, filled with open disdain, morbid curiosity, and thinly veiled glee.

“My allowing you to live here is a monumental act of charity! And now you dare to steal at Lucas’s birthday party?!”

Mom’s voice trembled with rage. She raised her hand, ready to strike me.

“I didn’t…”

I weakly protested, my head spinning, barely able to stand.

“Still talking back?!”

Julian walked over. He gazed down at me with an air of cold, calculated superiority. Instead of hitting me, he reached out and took a slice of birthday cake from a passing waiter’s tray.

It was the cake I’d only dared to look at from afar, not even allowing myself to fully inhale its sweet scent.

Then, his hand slammed down, grinding the slice of cake into my face with deliberate, brutal cruelty.

A ripple of low chuckles spread through the guests. Some even pulled out their phones to take pictures.

Lucas clapped his hands, cheering. “Daddy’s so cool! That’s how you punish her!”

“Get out! Get out of here right now! Don’t you dare contaminate everyone’s sight any longer!”

Mom pointed to the door, her voice shrill.

I dared not stay, afraid they would hit me again. I scrambled away, half-crawling, half-stumbling towards the grand staircase.

But Lucas wasn’t satisfied. He chased after me, kicking my back and legs as he ran.

“Little monster, don’t run! You still haven’t apologized to me!”

I was only focused on running forward and didn’t notice the steps beneath my feet.

He kicked my knee, and my body swerved. I plummeted down the stairs, Lucas losing his balance and falling after me.

My vision went black. Before I lost consciousness, I heard Mom’s gut-wrenching shriek.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me.

Then, I completely lost awareness.

When I next opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed, my entire body aching.

Mom sat by the bed, clutching Lucas’s hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

The doctor stood nearby, his face grave.

“Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne, young Master Thorne’s condition isn’t good. He needs an emergency blood transfusion, but his blood type is incredibly rare, and our hospital’s blood bank doesn’t have a match. Neither of your blood types match either…”

Julian stood nearby, his face terrifyingly grim.

A nurse approached my bed, carrying my medical chart, and spoke softly to the doctor.

“Doctor, when we drew blood from this little girl earlier, we found her blood type is the same as Young Master Thorne’s.”

Julian spun around, his gaze snapping to me, as if he couldn’t believe it.

He strode quickly to my bedside, staring at my face, then at the chart in the nurse’s hand. His voice trembled slightly.

“What did you say? Her blood type is the same as Lucas’s?”

The nurse nodded. Julian immediately turned to the doctor.

“Quick! Have the doctors run more detailed tests! Confirm if it’s a perfect match!”

The doctors immediately got busy. Julian stood rooted to the spot, muttering to himself.

“Impossible… Lucas’s blood type is so rare, even mine doesn’t match. How could hers…?”

Then, he followed the doctor to the lab.

Only Mom and I were left in the room. Mom didn't even glance at me, merely holding Lucas’s hand tightly.

About half an hour later, Julian walked back in, looking utterly shell-shocked, his steps unsteady.

Mom saw him and immediately stood up, asking anxiously.

“Well? Is it not a match? I knew this monster would be useless! If anything happens to Lucas, I swear I won’t let her off the hook!”

Julian suddenly cut her off, his voice hoarse. “Stop, Eleanor.”

He looked at Mom, then at me, pausing for a few seconds before speaking with great difficulty.

“She’s not a monster… She’s our biological daughter.”