When my biological parents found me, I was setting up my fortune-telling stall on the street side. "Don't marry within three years, or you'll ruin your luck," I told a customer. They didn't seem to expect this to be my profession. They just stood there in a row, silent, until my brother, Julian, scoffed. I glanced at him and said, "No charge if it's not accurate. Want a reading, sir?" My mother's tears fell instantly. "Child, I'm your mother. Come home with us." I looked at them, and four words floated into my mind: "Dark aura, impending doom." 1 I packed up my folding table, compass, pen, and yellow paper, stuffing them into the small cart beside me. "I need to go home and pack my things. It's messy inside, so wait out here." Mom insisted on following me, so the rest had to tag along. The four of them followed me into the dirty alley. Rats scurried past occasionally, and I heard retching sounds from behind. "Can people actually live here?" I stopped and turned back. "Sure. I've lived here for over ten years." Julian's face changed colors. I ignored him and kept walking until I reached a small red door. I pushed it open. The furnishings were simple: a stove, a table, and an old electric fan. I opened the door to the side room and started packing my clothes from the wardrobe. Julian covered his nose. "Why bring these rags? We'll buy you new ones at home." Before I could speak, a crowd of neighbors burst into the room, surrounding the Sterling family. "You must be Mia's family. You have to treat her well; she's suffered a lot." "You look rich. Why did it take you so long to find Mia?" "Heard you have an adopted daughter at home. Wonder how she'll treat Mia?" I had no parents; these neighbors and my Master raised me. They were happy I was leaving but also reluctant to see me go. Auntie May started stuffing things into my arms. "These are clothes we bought for you. Don't wear the old ones; you need new clothes for your new home." Soon, my arms were full of bags. The corner of a bag accidentally brushed Mom. She flinched as if repulsed, then, seeing my gaze, awkwardly tried to help me carry them. I said no need, and she didn't insist. The others probably thought the bags were dirty and made no move to help. My neighbors helped me move the luggage to the car. I hugged my small yellow bag and sat in the back seat. Julian frowned. "You're not bringing these unlucky things home, are you? There's no space for this junk." Mom slapped him hard. "Is that how you talk to your sister?" I looked up at them. "Then I won't go back." I reached for the door handle. Julian froze, seemingly surprised, and opened his mouth but said nothing. It was my older brother, Lucas, who spoke. "Julian, apologize." Julian reluctantly muttered, "Sorry." In the car, Mom started asking how I had been living, saying I had suffered all these years. The term "biological parents" was foreign to me. I didn't even have adoptive parents. When traffickers almost broke my arm, it was Master who rammed into them and snatched me back. I answered whatever Mom asked, but the atmosphere was weird. I looked at Chloe, who was sobbing non-stop. "Is this person also a Sterling child?" Seeing my gaze, Julian said angrily, "You just came back and you want to kick Chloe out! Even if you're back, we won't send Chloe away!" Lucas explained, "Chloe has lived with us for so long; we have feelings for her. We'll treat you as family too, but please don't target Chloe." Chloe's eyes were red. "Sorry, sister. I didn't know about any of this. If you don't want to see me, I can move out." My gaze swept across their faces. "I didn't say anything, did I? I just asked if she was a Sterling child." They realized they had overreacted. Mom hurriedly smoothed things over. "Chloe is the child who was switched with you back then. Mia, you're the older sister now, and Chloe is your younger sister." I lacked the water element in my horoscope, so Master named me Mia (meaning "ocean" or "water"). I nodded and said nothing more. Chloe's sobbing annoyed me, so I closed my eyes to rest. After a bumpy ride, we arrived at the Sterling mansion. When we got out, no one helped me with my luggage. The four of them walked into the house before realizing they had left me behind. Mom ran back out. Our eyes met. I ignored her and walked straight in. Seeing me walk in alone, their faces didn't look good. Julian, who had been wiping Chloe's tears, crumpled the tissue in his hand. Lucas scolded the maids. "Miss just came back, why didn't anyone help her with her luggage?" I watched him shift the blame. "No need. I can carry it myself." Mom looked even more guilty. "Mia, your room isn't ready yet. You'll have to stay on the first floor for now." I nodded and asked, "Do the three of them live on the second floor?" Julian scoffed. "Just got back and already eyeing the second floor." Chloe hurriedly pulled him. "Sister, Julian is immature. He just grew up with me and feels close. If you want, I can give you my room on the second floor." I shook my head. "No need. I don't want to live where you've lived. It affects my luck." I ignored their reactions and went to my room. At dinner, the maid called me out. They were already seated, leaving a spot next to Chloe for me. Chloe called me "Sister" sweetly. I looked at her. Her mother was the one who switched us. If not for Master, I would have died long ago. With these feelings, I couldn't smile at her. Chloe looked awkwardly at her bowl, her eyes reddening. Lucas looked at me. "Mia, Chloe is calling you." I didn't stop eating. The spoon in my left hand fell into the bowl. "I heard her. Just didn't want to answer." Hearing the clatter, Lucas frowned. "Where are your manners? Is this how your Master and those people taught you?" They can say whatever about me, but not about Auntie May and the others. "Who are 'those people'? You make me eat at the same table as a thief and ask about my manners?" Hearing this, Chloe's tears fell into her rice. Julian couldn't stand seeing her cry. "What's with your attitude! Chloe knew you were coming back and bought you lots of gifts!" "Gifts?" I put down my chopsticks. "You weren't the one switched. You weren't the one thrown in a trash can. You don't know how cold it is to wear a thin shirt in winter. While I was wandering the streets, people tried to break my arm to make me a disabled beggar." I rolled up my sleeve, revealing several obvious scars on my arm, some deeply indented. It was clear the spoon fell because of my arm injury. Lucas's face changed, but he swallowed his apology. Mom was shocked; she didn't expect my life to have been so hard. Dad couldn't hide his grief. "Mia, let Lucas take you for a checkup tomorrow." I shook my head. "No need. Master took me to see a doctor. This arm can move, but can't do much else. So sorry, brother. When I was little, I only cared about eating and surviving. No one taught me manners, only how to live. I don't deserve to sit at the same table with you. I'm full, you guys continue." Lucas stood up. "It was my fault for misunderstanding you. Sorry." I turned back. "What if I said, this house can only have one of us?" Julian clearly wanted to argue but shut up remembering the scars on my arm. Mom became mute. Dad said seriously, "We raised her for over ten years. If we send her away just because we found our biological daughter, what will outsiders think of the Sterling family? Mia, I hope you can get along with Chloe." I looked at the family one last time. "What if you had to choose?" No one answered. I left feeling bored. The next day, I woke up hungry. I hadn't even had a full meal on my first day here. I put on the new clothes Auntie May bought me: bright green with a cat print. When I went out, the family was up. Julian's shocked gaze hadn't left my clothes since I emerged. He stifled a laugh. "What are you wearing?" I tugged at my clothes. "New, no patches, unworn. What's wrong?" Julian stopped laughing, thinking of my past, and awkwardly picked up his phone. Lucas handed me a glass of milk. I sipped it slowly. Mom called me to eat. I looked and shook my head. "I'm allergic to eggs." Mom looked awkwardly at the egg noodles on the table and hurriedly asked the maid to cook a new bowl. After eating the noodles, my hunger subsided. After breakfast, Mom gave me ten thousand dollars to buy clothes. Perhaps because of earlier, Julian volunteered to take me. Chloe froze. "Julian, aren't you going with me to pick up the jewelry I ordered today?" Julian said "Ah," looked between us, and walked to my side. "Sorry, Chloe. Mia has no friends here. Ask your bestie to go with you." Julian went to get the car, leaving Chloe and me at the door. 2 She had a manicure, nails sparkling in the light. "Sister, want to get one too?" Then she looked at my hands with disdain. "Forget it. Some people aren't born to eat rich people's food. Right, sister?" I just looked at her without answering. Creeped out by my stare, she muttered "bad luck" and left in the driver's car. Julian drove over. Seeing me still standing there, he unexpectedly got out and opened the door for me. I sat in and raised my right hand. "I still have one usable hand." He scratched his head. "Who cares. I was afraid you'd scratch my car." The mall was huge. I had never seen such a big place. I stared at the entrance a bit too long, and Julian pushed me impatiently. "Stop looking, let's go." Halfway through, he left, leaving me alone in a store. I picked a few cheap clothes, paid, and went next door to buy some plus-size clothes for Auntie May and the others. Thinking about it, I used the remaining money to buy a gift for everyone in the Sterling family. I waited at the mall entrance until 2 PM, but Julian didn't return. I bought a three-dollar bun from a nearby convenience store to fill my stomach. At 5 PM, a call finally came through. It was a strange number, but I picked up. It was Mom. "Mia, Chloe hurt her leg and is in the hospital. Take a taxi back yourself." I said "Okay" and hung up. I didn't have enough money for a taxi to the Sterling mansion, so I asked the driver to stop and walked back. Hungry and thirsty, I arrived home. Everyone was there, even Dad who was usually busy working. Seeing me, Chloe smiled apologetically. "Sorry, sister. Julian couldn't pick you up because of me. I told Mom and Dad not to come, but they insisted. Luckily it's just a sprain, or they would have worried." I looked at her foot wrapped in thin gauze. Chloe popped a grape into her mouth. "Tired from walking all day, sister? Sit down and have some grapes." The maid took my bags and exclaimed, "These must be gifts for the Master and Madam! Oh, and for the young masters and miss." They seemed surprised. Mom came over, took the bags, and took things out one by one. Chloe looked sullen but forced a smile. "Probably nothing for me. It's okay, it's expected that sister doesn't like me." Mom took everything out. Five items, exactly. Chloe's smile froze. Mom seemed to realize something. She laid out everything I bought: cheap clothes, plus-size ones definitely not for me, plus the gifts. Mom paused and asked, "Mia, how did you get back?" As if to confirm her guess, the maid pointed at my foot. "Miss's foot is bleeding!" I looked back. The skin on my heel was rubbed raw, staining the white sock blood red. Julian jumped up to get the first aid kit. Lucas helped me sit on the sofa and carefully took off my shoe. But the sock was stuck to my flesh. I ignored him and tore the sock off my skin. Lucas frowned; Mom gasped and covered her mouth. Blood dripped down, forming a small pool on the floor. Chloe's face changed colors. The maid hurriedly brought a towel for my foot. Julian carefully dabbed iodine on the wound. I snatched it and poured it directly on the wound, wrapping it haphazardly with gauze because my left hand was clumsy. Mom couldn't watch. "Get a doctor for Mia quickly." Lucas grabbed my hand. "Stop wrapping, wait for the doctor." I finished wrapping, ignored everyone, said "No need, I'm tired," and went back to my room. 3 I was woken by knocking. Faintly, I heard, "Did she faint? Kick the door down!" It was Mom's voice. I limped over to open the door. Mom stood outside, followed by a doctor in a white coat. "Mia, come eat. Let the doctor look at your foot." The atmosphere in the living room was serious. The argument hadn't ended when I arrived. Chloe's eyes were red. It turned out Dad had scolded her. Julian, unusually, didn't defend his sister. Seeing me, he stood up hurriedly, at a loss for words. "Are you okay?" I didn't answer and let the doctor bandage my foot. After dinner, Julian followed me around. If I wanted to watch TV but couldn't work the remote, he helped me. If I moved, he put fruit in my hand. After I ate the fourth orange, another peeled one was extended to me. I glanced at Julian. "Eat it yourself." Julian awkwardly retracted his hand. "Um..." "I..." Our voices overlapped. I looked at him. "You first." Julian put the orange in my hand anyway and said, "Sorry about today. I didn't mean to leave you at the mall. I went to the pharmacy, but Chloe called saying she was hurt and wouldn't say how bad. At the hospital, I found out it was just a sprain, but she insisted I stay. I couldn't leave her alone." Thinking of leaving me at the mall, he blushed and said, "Sorry." He seemed to be waiting for my reaction. "I won't forgive you." His head lowered further. "But I don't blame you either. You asked Mom to call me, right?" He nodded hesitantly. He was the only one in the family who had asked for my number. A few days later, my foot healed. Mom transferred money to me again, saying she'd accompany me shopping. I shook my head. "Let Julian go with me." Julian jumped up from the sofa. "I'll go with sister!" Ignoring Chloe's green face, he ran to the garage. Lucas said, "I'll go too. He's young and unreliable." Chloe cried out, "Who will go with me for my checkup today? My foot still hurts." Mom noticed her other daughter. "Chloe, Mom will go with you." Chloe stomped her foot angrily. "I don't want to! I want brothers to go with me!" She realized Mom's face had darkened. Lucas didn't look happy either. "Your foot looks fine. No need for a checkup. If you must go, let the driver take you." Chloe cried, but no one comforted her this time. I refused Mom and Lucas, only taking Julian. In the car, Julian hummed happily. at a red light, he pulled something from his pocket. "Here, sister. Scar removal cream. I got it from the hospital specially. It's a private formula from an expert, very expensive!" I didn't expect this. Struggling internally, I asked, "Do you have money?" Julian nodded. "Yeah. If you need money, ask Mom and Dad. I don't have much. Why, trouble?" I shook my head. "No. How much do you have? Can you give me twenty thousand?" Julian paused, then took out his phone to transfer money without hesitation. I stopped him, rubbing the text on the cream tube. "Julian, when did you get your driver's license?" Surprised by the topic change, he answered obediently, "This March." I nodded and asked, "Are you going hiking with friends this Saturday?" He was shocked. "How did you know? I haven't told the family." I looked at him. "Don't go." Julian said "Ah" and asked, "Why? We already planned it." I said again, "I also know it's four of you. Don't go." Julian was even more surprised but, seeing my serious expression, reluctantly agreed. "Okay." I nodded. "You can transfer the money now." He transferred it reluctantly this time. He only cheered up when I bought him a bracelet. 4 Back home, he happily helped me organize my purchases. Chloe walked over with a plate of cut apples. "Julian, tired? Have some fruit." Julian ate a piece and stabbed one for me. "Thanks, Chloe." Chloe stood there. I saw a band-aid on her left index finger and understood immediately. But Julian didn't notice. She put down the plate and glared at me. I ignored her and ate the apple. Chloe noticed the cheap bracelet on Julian's wrist. "Where did you get that cheap thing? Aren't you afraid of getting dirty?" The bracelet was indeed cheap, but it had a good meaning: safety and protection. I didn't tell Julian the price, and he didn't ask, putting it on next to his expensive watch without disdain. Chloe grabbed his hand. "Careful, it might scratch the watch I gave you." She tried to take it off. Julian pulled away. "Mia bought this for me. It's definitely not cheap." Chloe looked at me provocatively. "Is it?" I smiled frankly. "It wasn't expensive. A few hundred bucks." Chloe looked at the bracelet with disdain and reached for it again. Julian protected it. "I'll wear it even if it's cheap. Don't worry, Chloe. Mia wouldn't harm me." Chloe looked at me angrily, as if complaining I stole her brother. But he was my brother to begin with. At dinner, Chloe brought up Julian's hiking trip. "Julian, can I come? One more person won't matter." I knew Chloe wanted to butt in because she saw Julian and me getting close. Mom put a piece of braised pork in my bowl. "Take Mia too." Chloe frowned but quickly recovered. "But the car only seats five. No room for Mia." I shook my head. "No need. I'm not going. Julian isn't going either." Julian nodded. "Right, I have something else to do Saturday. Not going hiking. Chloe, if you want to go, I'll tell them." Chloe said "Ah" and looked at me, forcing a smile. "Why not? Didn't you plan it last week?" Julian said carelessly, "Just don't want to." Chloe sensed my involvement and sneered. "Did Mia use her fortune-telling stuff to predict some bad omen for you?" Dad frowned, speaking up at the dinner table for the first time. "Is that true, Mia?" I nodded. Their expressions grew serious. Mom was unusually stern. "Mia, don't mention these things at home. We don't believe in this. Julian, go if you want to. Don't believe in bad omens." Julian looked at me worriedly. "Okay. But you wronged Mia. She didn't calculate those things." I interrupted Julian. "I did. If Julian goes out this Saturday, there will be a bloody disaster." Dad slammed his chopsticks on the table. "Mention this again and get out!" Dad was breathing heavily with anger. Lucas patted his back. Mom started crying. Julian put down his bowl and wiped Mom's tears. Chloe leaned close to Mom, but her eyes were on me, full of triumphant malice. In this atmosphere, I spoke calmly. "Is it because of the little sister who died at five?" Silence fell. Dad's face turned iron blue, and he threw a plate at me. "Since you know, why give Julian readings? People like you killed Lily!" Mom sobbed continuously. "Mia, throw those things away, okay?" Lucas signaled me to go throw the stuff away immediately. I didn't move. Chloe said angrily, "You know how much these things hurt the family, yet you still play tricks and fool Julian!" Julian raised his hand tentatively. "Um, I didn't tell Mia about this." They didn't say it, naturally assuming Julian told me.
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