Chapter 1

My mother hated me, her adopted daughter. She pulled some strings and sent me to a strict reform school designed to "correct my character."

She said my grandfather, Donald, had spoiled me into a selfish brat, and that I needed my morals beaten into shape.

On the night I finally escaped that hellhole, I called her. My voice was trembling, begging.

"Mom, please. I’m your real daughter. Chloe and Richard are trying to kill me. Please, just get me out of here."

Her voice on the other end was freezing cold.

"It seems you still haven't cured your habit of lying. If you want to die, go ahead."

Not long after, Chloe got accepted into her dream college. To celebrate, my mother sent someone to fetch me so I could attend the party.

Her reasoning was, "After a year in that place, she must have learned her lesson. As long as she behaves, I’ll keep supporting her until she’s eighteen."

Later, she saw the DNA test results. She broke down, desperately searching for me, begging to make amends.

But what can we do, Mom? I’m already dead.