Eight years ago, my parents' adopted daughter—my younger sister, Victoria Sterling—stabbed someone.

With my parents' help, Victoria successfully pinned the entire crime on me.

The victim's family blocked our doorway, holding a blood-written note, screaming for me to pay with my life.

My parents and brother knelt before me, begging: "Victoria is still young; she can't go to prison... You're the older sister. Please, take the fall for her."

I refused, I fought back, and I tried desperately to prove my innocence.

But the very next day, they put me into the police car with their own hands.

Once the news spread, my direct admission to a prestigious university was revoked.

And my fiancé, the immensely powerful business elite Sebastian Thorne, arranged everything.

He pulled strings to ensure I had nowhere to run.

Before I went to prison, he made a final promise:

"Emily Sterling, just endure these eight years. When you get out, I will marry you."

...

Eight years later.

"Emily, go out there, turn over a new leaf, and start fresh. Don't make the same mistakes again."

Taking a tattered cloth bag from the prison guard, I numbly climbed into a battered, worn-out van.

Afraid my public appearance might ruin Victoria's piano recital, they had sent a random, beat-up van to pick me up.

All of New York City was cheering for the genius pianist, while no one remembered me—the woman wrongfully imprisoned for eight years.

We reached the city center, and the van jerked to a halt.

I saw the cold-faced man sitting in the limited-edition Rolls-Royce—my fiancé, Sebastian.

His voice was flat, purely transactional: "You've suffered enough. I promised you before, and I will still marry you."

My face remained expressionless as I gave a slight nod and got into the car.

I saw my reflection in the window—a gaunt face with a scar running right across it.

Sebastian froze for a moment when he saw it. "Emily, how did you..."

Before Sebastian could finish, a ringtone interrupted him.

The screen read: "Frederick Sterling." My biological brother.

I looked at the name and felt absolutely nothing.

"Emily, I'm sorry. Something happened to Victoria."

Frederick's voice was strained. "That accident six months ago left Victoria with PTSD. She became unstable again after hearing the news of your return today. Your parents and brother are already at the hospital. I need to go immediately."

Watching him hurriedly start the engine, I simply knew my place and got out of the car.

Sebastian paused, his hand on the ignition.

He rolled down the window and looked at my ruined face.

"I'll have someone take you back to the Sterling family. And for your face... I'll find you a famous plastic surgeon."

I had spent eight years in prison, enduring eight years of cold stares and abuse.

Thousands of tormented days and nights affirmed one truth: They didn't love me at all.

I no longer had any expectations, nor did I want to marry Sebastian.

Twenty years ago, I was accidentally abducted while visiting my grandmother in the countryside with my parents.

My parents were grief-stricken.

Three years later, they adopted an abandoned girl from the same village and named her "Victoria"—a name carefully chosen to echo mine.

When I was found at fourteen, no one cared about me; they only insisted I cherish my younger sister.

Eight years ago, they even pushed me out to take the blame, claiming I was a "rustic bumpkin" with no artistic talent, and that I deserved to have my direct admission revoked.

They all turned a blind eye to me, Sebastian included.

Compared to Victoria, it seemed as though I were the one who had been adopted.

We soon arrived at the Sterling residence.

The servants had long since been replaced; they regarded me with cold indifference, their eyes brimming with undisguised mockery.

To them, an unloved daughter like me was hardly a precious young mistress.

"Miss," the servant informed me, "the incident eight years ago caused quite a stir. The Master and Madam want you to stay in the storage room; don't go out and bring shame upon the Sterling family."

I didn't blame them, as they didn't know the truth, though I found their snobbish behavior laughable.

As for the Sterlings, I had severed ties with them long ago.

I spent eight years in prison for Victoria, yet they took it for granted, refusing to relinquish their control even now.

"Understood," I replied.

I pushed open the door to the storage room, revealing a space choked with dust and clutter.

But I had no strength left to clean, so I simply collapsed onto the bed.

In just a few short hours, I was jerked awake by nightmares several times.

Half-asleep, I heard the cursing voice of my biological brother, Frederick, coming from outside.

"Why did she have to come back? She’s a jinx. As soon as she returns, Victoria falls ill. If I’d known, I would have let her rot in prison and never come out."

My mother sighed but offered no comment.

But my father argued: "After all, she is still a Sterling. If the media snaps a picture of her on the streets, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Sterling family?"

My brother threw up his hands: "I don't care! You have to get rid of her regardless. Victoria's health is what matters most!"

Every other word out of his mouth was "Victoria," as if he had completely forgotten that I was his biological sister.

My mother sealed my fate with a single sentence:

"When Victoria comes back, make her stay in the storage room and not come out, so she doesn't upset Victoria."

Even though I no longer had any expectations of them, hearing those words still sent a sharp pain through my heart.

Suddenly, my phone pinged. It was Dean Sylvia Pierce from the Sculpture Department at Cambridge University.

"Emily, how have you been? I've waited for you for eight years. I truly hope you still remember me."

Faced with Dean Sylvia, whom I regarded as a mother, the tears I had held back for eight years instantly broke free and streamed down my face.

I had met Dean Sylvia during a volunteer event at the state-run orphanage. This young dean admired my sculpture work greatly. Seeing me work my way through school pained her, and she treated me like her own child.

When I previously received direct admission to Cambridge University, Dean Sylvia wanted to take me under her wing and have me study under her guidance.

Unfortunately, I lost my eligibility before I could even enroll, and was sent to prison by them for eight years.

To my astonishment, Dean Sylvia had never believed the reports from back then. She was even the first person to care about me after my release.

She still treated me as her child.

Without any hesitation, I immediately messaged Dean Sylvia back, telling her I was willing to continue my studies with her.

"Rest assured, Emily. Your talent is unparalleled. As long as you are willing, you will always be welcome here."

"In half a month, I will come to pick you up personally. I'm going to make you shine in the world of sculpture!"

The grievances suffered over these eight years were released in that moment, and my tears seemed endless.

Half a month...

I counted silently in my heart.

I just had to hold on for another half month, and then I could escape this cold, heartless place forever.

In half a month, I could begin a brand new life...

The next day, I was jerked awake by a loud commotion.

Having not slept all night, I endured a splitting headache and pushed open my door.

The house was extravagantly decked out for a party.

Victoria sat on the sofa in an haute couture gown, a limited-edition brooch pinned to her chest, basking in everyone's adoration.

Mom, Dad, my brother, and my fiancé were all gathered around her, celebrating.

My brother carefully brought out a cake.

"Happy discharge day! I stayed up all night making this just for you. I hope you like it."

Everyone else cheered too: "Happy discharge, Victoria!"

Victoria smiled sweetly.

"A cake made by my big brother is definitely the best! Thank you all for bringing me home. Did everyone prepare discharge gifts for me too?"

My mom smiled dotingly: "My Victoria is so smart!"

She took out a discontinued diamond watch and put it on Victoria's wrist herself.

The others also took out their gifts one by one.

"Victoria, this is the final work of Sylvia. I had to pull a lot of strings to buy it. I hope you like this sculpture!"

Sebastian presented the gift with a look of deep affection.

Victoria's eyes were filled with happiness.

Just then, she spotted me hiding in the corner.

"Sis, I was hospitalized yesterday so I couldn't go pick you up. Please don't be mad, okay?"

Sebastian glanced at me: "You're Emily's sister; Emily certainly wouldn't be angry with you."

"Emily, come over here. Let's celebrate Victoria's discharge together!"

Looking at the triumphant Victoria, I was momentarily speechless.

"Hmph, as expected of someone raised in the countryside. No manners at all. Your sister gets out of the hospital and you don't even know to say congratulations!"

My mom rolled her eyes. But they had forgotten that today was also my birthday.

Mom and Dad had adopted Victoria precisely because she shared my birthday.

"It's okay, Mom," Victoria immediately put on a pitiful look. "I don't blame Sister. After all, she took the fall for my crime. I have no right to blame her."

"Sister, could you give me a gift too?

Let's consider it a peace offering to bury the hatchet."

"Sister, I want Sebastian. Please let me have him."

Her provocation was blatant, yet no one felt it was wrong; they were all staring at me.

"No."

Faced with such a disgusting person, I couldn't bring myself to sound kind.

In an instant, her eyes misted over with tears.

"I'm sorry, Sister. I was just joking with you. I apologize, I'm sorry."

My mom glared at me and stroked her head with heartache: "Victoria, don't be sad. Emily has always been this selfish and stingy. Don't worry, you are Mom's best, most precious daughter."

My dad, my brother, and Sebastian also took turns praising her in various ways.

Sebastian even turned his head to reprimand me.

"Victoria was just joking; do you have to make such a big deal out of it?"

"Emily, you really disappoint me!"

What a "Mom's best, most precious daughter."

Looking at the family united in their crusade against me, I smiled sarcastically, feeling there was no longer any need to be sad.

"I haven't been in touch with the outside world for eight years. I'm going out for a walk."

After saying that, I turned and left.

My dad suddenly threw a face mask at me: "Cover up tight. Don't embarrass the Sterling family."

I smiled a self-mocking smile, but I covered my face anyway.

Just half a month. Only half a month until I can meet Director Sylvia.

Just half a month and I will be reborn. I can endure this; I will not allow anything to go wrong.

After leaving the Sterling family home, I took a bus to the inner-city village.

As a high school dropout with a criminal record, the only job I could find here was as a waitress.

Although the work environment was filthy and chaotic, and I even had to deal with bad-tempered customers, at least it provided room and board.

At the Sterling family home, there was never a meal for me.

Since I returned to the Sterling family at fourteen, they had given me a grand total of 800 yuan.

Even when I asked for tuition fees, they would just furrow their brows.

"People from the village are just selfish and greedy; all they know is how to beg for money."

After that, I never asked again.

Over the years, I fought to do any dirty, hard, or exhausting work I could find.

Just to pay my tuition, just to survive and have a full stomach.

Sebastian used to be my light.

He would fight thugs for me, secretly take me out for good food, and find every way possible to slip me money.

The look in his eyes when he looked at me was always filled with tenderness and heartache.

So I trusted him unconditionally, to the point that when I learned he was critically ill, I gave him one of my kidneys without a second thought.

I had two kidneys anyway; as long as I could save him, nothing else mattered...

But when he used his connections to ensure I got a heavy prison sentence, conspiring with the Sterlings to shield Victoria, we were over.

Just ten more days, and I would never have to see them again, and no one would ever hurt me again...

In the days that followed, I worked numbly as a waitress in the inner-city village.

Until I heard the news on TV about the engagement between Ms. Sterling and a prominent figure. I stared at the TV in disbelief.

The Sterlings and the Thornes were old family friends.

I had been betrothed to Sebastian since childhood, and they hadn't reneged even after I went missing.

They even promised that the engagement would stand once I was found.

Thinking about it now, I shouldn't have believed in the love they showed me all these years.

That night, the moment I pushed open the doors to the Sterling home, I saw all of them looking at me with solemn faces.

My mother told me in a tone that brooked no argument:

"Victoria was traumatized in the previous accident, and only Sebastian can heal her.

Give up the engagement, and I'll find you a better man later."

My father nodded in agreement.

"As the older sister, you need to learn to yield to your younger sister, do you understand?

Stop trying to fight with your sister over every little thing; be a little more generous."

Was Sebastian some kind of object? I gave a bitter, desolate smile.

Whether it was my room, my schoolbag, or my favorite kitten... everything would eventually be handed over to Victoria, often just to satisfy a passing whim of hers.

I will always remember how that kitten played happily with me, and the chilling image of it dying tragically under Victoria's car.

I looked at Sebastian, who was silent on the side, and asked softly: "Is that what you think too?"

He glanced at me with a guilty look: "For the sake of Victoria's safety, this is the only way.

Emily, you won't mind, right?"

"You've all made the decision already anyway; you're just notifying me, aren't you?"

Expressionless, I wanted to return to that filthy, messy storage room that was uniquely mine.

But my brother angrily blocked my way.

"Emily!

How can you be so petty? Victoria is sick. Besides, you've been to prison; you don't deserve Sebastian at all."

"Emily," Sebastian grabbed my hand. "I never said you weren't good enough for me. I just need to stay with Victoria for a while. Once she's stable, we'll get married, okay?"

"After all, she donated a kidney to save me back then. I can't just ignore that. Don't overthink this..."

It felt like I'd been bludgeoned over the head. I was so dizzy I could barely stand.

It was my kidney. I was the one who donated it. How did Victoria get the credit?

I stared straight into his eyes. "Are you sure she was the one who gave you that kidney, and not me?"

My words cut through the silence, sharp and jarring.

My father slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Emily, what is that supposed to mean?

Everyone knows the truth, yet you still want to steal the credit from your own sister!"

"How could the Sterling family produce a pathological liar like you!"

I knew my father didn't believe me, but seeing the disappointment in Sebastian's eyes, I suddenly felt like none of it mattered anymore.

I didn't explain. I just turned around and walked back to the storage room alone.

It didn't matter. Just five more days. Sylvia was coming to take me away. I would always be Sylvia's proudest child.

The next day, my brother came to the food truck where I worked and slapped a credit card onto the table.

"The PIN is the day Victoria was brought home—the very same day you went missing.

You should remember that." Seeing I didn't take it, he shoved it into my hand.

"Your face—go get it fixed immediately. Don't embarrass us at Victoria's wedding."

"Also, the family has sent you living expenses every month all these years. There's no need to play the victim just to get our attention."

I laughed out loud at the audacity.

"Money? How come I never received any? If I had money, why would I degrade myself doing the filthiest jobs all these years?"

My brother froze, a trace of suspicion flashing across his face, but he quickly dismissed it. "Don't try to scam me for sympathy."

With that, he left in disgust.

Victoria and Sebastian's wedding was set for the day before Sylvia was coming to pick me up.

Victoria deliberately organized a gathering of friends.

The food truck was closed that day, and before I could leave to avoid them, a crowd swarmed in.

"Emily, you're here too?"

That group of high-and-mighty young heirs and heiresses surrounded the soon-to-be-weds, calling out mockingly when they saw me.

"Didn't you used to follow Sebastian around like a puppy back then? Did you know early on he'd be your brother-in-law and wanted to suck up to him in advance?"

"Since that's the case, Sebastian just lost a game. How about a sweet farewell kiss?"

Every word they spoke treated me like a toy for their amusement; I just hoped Sebastian would let me go.

"But I'll get jealous!"

Victoria shook Sebastian's arm, pouting as she spoke.

"Then let Victoria kiss him for her! Hahahaha..."

In the crowd, Sebastian's gaze seemed to land on me. Expressionless, I silently walked away.

The people around cheered and jumped for joy; I knew they were kissing passionately.

I was grateful Sebastian didn't humiliate me.

They were having a great time; even from the storage room on the second floor, I could hear the waves of cheering from below.

"I think Victoria and Sebastian are the true perfect couple."

"Of course. When Victoria ran into those thugs before, Sebastian played the hero and saved the beauty."

"Right! And later, to thank him, Victoria carved a sculpture for him that won a gold medal."

"There's something even bigger—Victoria donated a kidney to Sebastian!"

...

What were they talking about?

When I was found and brought back years ago, I was timid and harassed by thugs every day. The person Sebastian protected was me.

The one who carved the sculpture for him and won the award was me.

The one who donated a kidney to save him was also me...

When did this become the sweet shared history of Sebastian and Victoria?

"Emily, don't worry. From now on, I'll always protect you."

"Emily, your carving is amazing. I'm so touched!"

"Emily, we'll be together forever!"

"Emily, I love you."

"Emily..."

The 16-year-old Sebastian who said he would love and protect me forever was gone.

He disgusted me even more than the thugs who bullied me back then. I couldn't forgive him, just as I couldn't help loving him in the past.

That night, the sky over New York City was filled with drones spelling out the words "I Love You."

It was something Sebastian did for Victoria.

My phone received a text message from Sebastian.

"Emily, Victoria saved me, but the one in my heart has always been you. Wait for me, okay?"

I deleted the text. Tomorrow, I'll be free...

I returned to the storage room and changed into my most decent outfit—the tracksuit I wore when I was first brought home. I didn't want to look shabby when I went to see Director Sylvia.

Sitting at the desk, I dug out my yellowed diary.

August 5, 2012. I finally escaped and managed to call the police. Mom and Dad brought me home, and now I have a brother and a sister. I don't have to live in fear anymore. Brother gave me a beautiful notebook, and I'm going to keep writing in it.

December 28, 2012. Sister came back and said she didn't want to share a room with me. Dad told me to stay in the storage room for a couple of days while they fix up a new room for me. It's okay. I understand her. I'll be even nicer to her so she accepts me.

February 25, 2013. I wanted to go to school, but Dad said all I do is ask for money. I went to work, but the boss cheated me.

...

The last page was from August 2017, the week before I was given a harsh prison sentence. It contained only one sentence.

"They don't love me at all!"

I took a deep breath, picked up my pen, and wrote my final entry.

"July 29, 2025."

"Mom, Dad, I'm leaving. Just consider me dead."

"I've never understood—since you don't love me and already had another daughter, why did you look for me? Why bring me home?"

"Am I actually your own flesh and blood? In the past eight years, did you ever think of me or worry about me for even a single second?"

"Why did you give birth to me?"

"Frederick, my biological brother."

"I never used the money in the card. It's right there in the drawer."

"I don't know if you still remember, but I am the sister who actually shares your blood."

"But it doesn't matter. I'm leaving. I don't care anymore."

The final words were for Sebastian.

"Sebastian, I finally don't love you anymore."

"I can't love the stranger you've become. Just like you told me when you were sixteen: if the grown-up you ever bullied me, I shouldn't forgive you. The person you are now is not you, and I don't love you anymore."

"I wish you and Victoria a happy marriage."

"Goodbye forever."

Finally, I placed the card, my medical report from when I was imprisoned, and the photo on the desk.

The medical report clearly stated that I was missing a kidney, and the photo showed the ugly scar on my side.

After doing all this, I received a message from Director Sylvia.

I hurried downstairs and, without hesitation, ran toward my new life.