Chapter 3

The living room fell silent.

Lauren took a deep breath and softened her tone: "Mary, what did you see? Don't be afraid. Tell me."

Mary hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:

"Yesterday afternoon, I saw Georgina go to the mall carrying an LV bag."

Andrew's expression darkened instantly.

I didn't understand why Mary would say such a thing and hastily denied it: "I didn't!"

Mary pretended to look troubled as she continued:

"Stop lying. You didn't just buy a bag—you also went to an upscale restaurant. One meal there costs over a thousand dollars!"

She pulled out her phone and showed it to the adoptive parents.

"Look, my friend took this photo. It's a bit blurry, but you can tell it's Georgina."

The moment I saw the photo, I felt all the blood in my body turn cold.

The "me" in the photo was actually sitting in an upscale restaurant eating.

On the table sat elegant dishes and steak.

I rushed over, wanting to see the photo clearly: "That's not me! Yesterday I..."

"Enough!" Andrew roared, slamming the phone down hard on the table.

"Georgina, the evidence is right here. What else do you have to say?"

He pointed at me and cursed:

"You took that ten thousand dollars to buy luxury goods and treat people to expensive meals! Do you think we're idiots?"

"This is your true character! Greedy, vain, and a pathological liar!"

"It's not like that..."

I shook my head grievously, tears flowing uncontrollably.

I looked at Mary. She met my gaze and actually smiled thoughtfully.

In that moment, it was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head.

A disturbing suspicion suddenly formed in my heart.

"You won't admit it, will you?" Lauren trembled with rage.

"Fine! I'll see where you hid everything!"

They rushed into my room.

I stood frozen in place, chilled to the bone, listening to the sounds of them ransacking the room.

Before long, Lauren emerged holding an LV shopping bag.

"Tell me what this is!" She shrieked, violently throwing the bag on the floor.

I stared blankly at the unfamiliar bag on the ground, my mind completely blank.

"That's not mine..." I murmured.

"Not yours? Did it grow legs and walk into your closet by itself?" Andrew laughed bitterly in his fury.

"It was at the very bottom of your clothing drawer, covered with clothes!"

"Georgina, you've really opened my eyes!"

I looked at Mary in disbelief.

Belatedly realizing that she had done all of this.

My heart felt like a knife had been plunged into it, twisting viciously, leaving the wound mangled and bloody.

"You put it there... didn't you?" I asked Mary, trembling.

Mary's eyes immediately reddened, and she looked at the adoptive parents with an aggrieved expression.

"How can you say that about me? I tried to help you, and you're accusing me..."

"Georgina!"

Lauren completely exploded. She rushed up to me and slapped me across the face.

My cheek burned with pain, my ears ringing.

I covered my face, utterly heartbroken.

"Get out!"

Lauren pointed at the door, her voice full of disgust:

"Take your filthy things and get out of my house! From now on, we only recognize Mary as our child!"

I staggered as they shoved me toward the door.

The door slammed shut.

I had been completely abandoned by them.