My mom is a low-level "pick-me girl." She stole her cousin Sienna's "life-saver" credit to get close to my dad, Sebastian Sterling, and then drugged him to have me. When she found out Dad was entering an arranged marriage, she panicked and prepared to cause trouble. To ensure we didn't get discarded, I decided to take matters into my own hands. She staged a fall down the stairs to frame the fiancée, Zoe. I rushed into Mom's arms and rolled down with her, crying: "I accidentally slipped! Mom fell trying to protect me!" Dad was heartbroken, and the Sterling family softened towards Mom. But Mom wouldn't give up. She drugged Zoe and hired thugs. I pushed Mom into the room, knocked everyone out with gas, and beat them up. When Dad arrived, he saw Mom bruised and battered, "protecting" Zoe. Zoe was so moved she canceled the engagement and had her family adopt Mom as a goddaughter. Dad, feeling guilty and moved, fought his family, citing the "life-saving grace"—claiming he would have died without Mom. The Sterlings finally agreed to let Mom in. Mom wept with joy. But just as the engagement party was being prepared, Dad grabbed her wrist, eyes red. "Vivian! Sienna told me she was the one who saved me! Why did you lie?!" I frowned. Impossible! Didn't my mom's cousin die in a trafficking ring long ago? Chapter 1 Mom panicked completely, helpless. I rushed forward and pushed Dad. "Bad Daddy! Don't bully Mommy!" I hugged Mom, "accidentally" pulling her collar, revealing a prominent butterfly tattoo on her shoulder. Dad saw the tattoo and frowned. He remembered when his savior dragged him out of the car, her shoulder was cut by broken glass. Right in that spot. His tone softened. "I will have this investigated. I won't wrong you." He left with tight lips. Mom turned pale, muttering. "Isn't she dead? How did she come back?" I was confused too. A year ago, Grandpa took Mom and me to the police station to identify the body. The deceased was indeed Cousin Sienna. The blow was huge. Grandpa even did multiple DNA tests for his niece, all confirming it. How could she come back from the dead? Mom forced herself to comfort me to sleep. I closed my eyes, waiting until Mom fell asleep before sneaking into the basement. There, I kept samples of Cousin Sienna's remains and biological materials! I took out a tooth I secretly kept and sent it to the lab for another test. I recalled Mom's journey. The moment I transmigrated here, I knew Mom was a manipulative "pick-me," but a clumsy one. Six years ago, she approached Dad claiming to be his savior. Then she drugged him and got pregnant with me. Dad didn't say much. He let her have the child and paid child support, but nothing more. A year ago, Cousin Sienna blackmailed Mom with the truth about the accident. I learned then that Mom stole the credit! I was about to intervene. But Sienna acted possessed. She only extorted $20,000 from Mom and ran off with a college boy. The next news was the police notification to claim her body. Police said the boy was a trafficker. Sienna realized it, tried to save herself, and was killed. Mom felt guilty. For the past year, she compensated Great-Aunt's family heavily. The DNA result came back quickly. I read it three times. The body claimed was Sienna, Mom's biological cousin! I sighed in relief but was puzzled. Sienna didn't know Dad before she died. So who was the "Sienna" Dad mentioned? And she knew about the life-saving grace! I went back to bed. Just then, Mom's phone buzzed. I opened it and saw a blatant provocation. A photo of a woman's back in Dad's arms. Caption: [Vivian, you stole my credit and tried to marry into the Sterling family! I won't let you succeed!] [The position of Mrs. Sterling belongs to me!] Chapter 2 I deleted the message and put the phone back. Mom is a low-level player. If she saw this, she'd lose her mind and do something stupid. Early the next morning, Zoe banged on our door. "Vivian! Do you know there's a woman around Sebastian?" "Quick! I'll take you to tear her apart!" Mom turned pale. "What's her name?" Zoe gulped down some tea and slammed a file on the table. I peeked. Name: Sienna. Background, career, even elementary school grades—all detailed. It was exactly Cousin Sienna's life resume! Just missing the "death" part. Included were photos of her intimate with Dad. One showed a clear face. It was Sienna's face. Identical. How is this possible?! Mom and I rubbed our eyes simultaneously. Mom pinched my cheek. "Ouch!" I hissed. Mom snapped back to reality. "Not a dream! It's really her!" A dead person, walking among the living! Zoe saw our strange expressions. "What's wrong?" Mom smiled bitterly. "She's my cousin." She didn't mention Sienna died. Maybe she wasn't sure herself if the death was faked. "What?" Zoe was shocked. Then she gritted her teeth. "Rabbits don't eat grass near their burrow! Your cousin is too much!" "Let's go! They are on Fifth Avenue right now. I'll take you to destroy that couple!" Zoe grabbed me and Mom, rushing to Fifth Avenue. Since Mom "saved" her, Zoe adored Mom. She broke off her engagement, made her family adopt Mom, and tried to set Mom up with Dad. The Zoe family was generous too, offering 5% shares as dowry if they married. Mom felt guilty, but being a "pick-me," she let Zoe stay oblivious. Now, they were besties. Dragged to the mall, Zoe wanted to storm the plastic surgery clinic where they were. But Mom froze. She saw the woman inside! Identical to the dead Sienna! Mom gripped Zoe's arm, trembling with fear. Zoe stopped, confused. Just then, Dad left with the woman. The woman seemed to sense something, looked back at us, and smirked coldly. Mom's phone buzzed again. [Vivian, wait for me to expose your true face!] Mom turned white and almost collapsed. Zoe put me down to support her. I used the chance to run into the clinic. "Sister, that lady just now was so pretty! Is she getting work done?" The receptionist laughed. "No! She came to treat an old scar on her shoulder!" My heart sank. "She's so beautiful! In your expert opinion, has she had plastic surgery?" Chapter 3 The receptionist paused, then smiled. "No! She's all natural. I think she's gorgeous too!" My heart hit rock bottom. Natural face! I thought maybe someone got surgery to look like Sienna. But the truth hit hard! I saw it clearly. Except for the short hair, it was definitely Sienna's face! While I was dazed, Zoe and Mom found me. Mom hugged me, trembling. Zoe patted her chest. "Oh my god, you scared me. Your mom thought you were kidnapped." I apologized. I knew Mom wasn't scared of kidnappers. She was scared "Cousin Sienna" would hurt me. I was Mom's biggest bargaining chip. For the next few days, Mom was a nervous wreck. Zoe didn't come either. One gloomy day. I was contacting a PI. He sent photos of "Sienna" and Dad. They went to the accident site and checked surveillance footage. I frowned. I wondered what they found. After all, the person who pulled Dad out of the smoking car wasn't Mom. Before I could reply, Knock knock knock. I opened the door to see Zoe's grim face. She dropped a file without her usual loudness. "Vivian, was my kidnapping your doing?" Mom didn't expect this exposure now. She blinked nervously. "What?" Her hands shook holding the file. I looked too. Evidence: Mom's calls and transfers to the middleman. I spoke up. "Auntie Zoe, why investigate this now?" Zoe frowned, ignoring me, shouting at Mom. "Vivian, speak!" Mom trembled. I patted her hand. Just then, the door opened. Dad walked in, voice cold. "Coincidence. I also want to hear if she did it." Mom's legs gave out. She collapsed on the sofa. I ran to hug Dad's leg. "Daddy, what are you asking?" "Are you interrogating Mommy? But on TV, they need witnesses and evidence. Where are yours?" Dad picked me up, eyes cold. "Oh? Mia thinks I wronged Mommy?" I pouted. "Just different from TV!" Zoe took a deep breath. "Vivian, I didn't believe you were this kind of person either!" "Since Mia said so, I don't want misunderstandings. I'll find the witness. Hope you don't disappoint me!" Dad smiled coldly. "Tomorrow. Bring them to the Estate. I have something related to Vivian too. Let's settle it together!" Zoe nodded and left. Dad put me down heartlessly and left too. Mom collapsed, closing her eyes in despair. I pocketed a few chestnut hairs I grabbed from Dad's shoulder. Mom, don't worry. I'm here! That night, the DNA test between the hair and Great-Aunt arrived. I opened it confidently but froze. [Biological Parent-Child Relationship Confirmed]. Chapter 4 I blinked hard. Is she really Great-Aunt's child? Impossible! I asked Mom seriously: "Did Great-Aunt only have one daughter?" Mom looked half-dead but answered. "Yes. She was injured during birth, could only have one." I was confused. If that person is Sienna, who died? I pondered this all night until Dad took us to the Estate. The atmosphere was tense. Grandpa and Grandma sat in the main seats. Beside them, the Zoe parents. On the other side, Zoe, Dad, and Sienna. Two strangers stood below. A three-way trial. Seeing us, Sienna looked provoked and smirked. Victory flag. Zoe spoke first. "Vivian, I treated you like a sister. What did I do wrong to you?" Mom squeezed my hand, silent. I wasn't panicked. I studied Sienna. Her eyelashes curved just like Cousin Sienna. Is she really Sienna? Did someone else die a year ago? What about the DNA tests on the body? While I spaced out, Dad spoke. "These two. One is the thug leader who tried to assault Zoe. The other is a witness to my accident." Mom's face paled with every word. Until Sienna spoke. "Cousin, do you remember who saved Sebastian back then?" Mom lost all strength, gasping like a dying fish. I let go of Mom's hand and ran to Sienna. Left, right. "Auntie? Is it you? Didn't you die a year ago?" Sienna's mouth twitched. "I did die. Now I'm alive." "Surprised?" I opened my mouth in shock. So brazen! Who is she! Dad pushed me away coldly. "Mia, behave if you don't want to be kicked out!" Grandma sighed and picked me up. Sitting on Grandma's lap, I stared at Sienna's ear. Flash! I finally knew who she was! Zoe lost patience. "Vivian, confess or I'll show all evidence! Speak!" Mom was bloodless. Bit her lip, silent. Zoe pointed at the thug. "You say it!" The thug stuttered. "She... she did transfer me money..."
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