Chapter 1

After my sister Mary and I were adopted, our adoptive parents gave us a test.

They each gave us ten thousand dollars in spending money.

Mary couldn't bear to spend a single cent and returned it all.

But I pocketed all the money and blew through it in one night.

From then on, I was labeled a gold digger.

"You don't deserve to be our child. Get back to where you belong!"

I was thrown out of the house and died in an accident while working odd jobs.

It wasn't until the orphanage director realized he couldn't reach me and hurriedly came to explain:

"Georgina used all that money to pay for my medical treatment!"

After hearing the director's words, my adoptive parents froze in place with no reaction.

It took them a long while to come to their senses, and they laughed dismissively:

"Quite the performance, working together like that."

"Even in death, she can't rest in peace. Still trying to deceive us?"

My adoptive mother, Lauren, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"That child is deeply scheming. Ten thousand dollars—she spent it just like that. Now she's found some old man to make up stories, thinking we'll fall for it?"

The director was at a loss, his eyes red-rimmed as he explained:

"Georgina isn't that kind of child. At the orphanage, she never fought with anyone over anything. Whatever good things she had, she always gave to Mary first."

"She was so frugal. She'd use her pencils until she could barely hold them before she'd throw them away..."

"Shut up!" Lauren irritably cut him off.

She didn't want to hear any more of this nonsense. She strode into the living room and came out carrying a garbage bag.

"You're just in time to take the clothes she didn't get to take with her and throw them out. Having them in the house is bad luck!"

The garbage bag couldn't handle the weight and tore open with a big gash.

The clothes inside spilled all over the floor, dirty and patched.

The director opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end only let out a deep sigh.

He realized that no matter what he explained, they wouldn't believe it.

He could only gather up my old clothes and stagger toward the elevator.

My soul floated in the air, watching everything in silence.

Tears silently streamed down my face.

Although I had known all along that they showed undisguised care and favoritism toward Mary.

But until this moment, feeling so directly that they didn't even care that I was missing, that they misunderstood me so deeply.

I still couldn't control the pain in my heart.

Only then did Mary unhurriedly step forward, taking Lauren's arm:

"Don't be too upset. The director is probably just so grief-stricken that he's talking nonsense."

"Maybe Georgina really did have her reasons. I just hope she's okay."

Lauren affectionately stroked her hair:

"It's all right, Mary. Don't think about it anymore. She's just bad by nature. We won't think about her anymore."

"From now on, you're our only child."

"Okay!" Mary's lips curved up as she nodded triumphantly.

The adoptive parents took her hand and went to eat. The table was covered with dishes she loved.

Mary contentedly enjoyed her parents' doting, glancing toward my empty room.

"What a shame," she said thoughtfully.

"One test ended up dragging out so many things and even hurt Georgina..."