My father loved my mother to the point of obsession, but she died because of me. Later, he adopted another daughter. The adopted daughter looked exactly like my mother. On our sixteenth birthday... He treated his adopted daughter like a beloved princess, while his guests mistook me for the maid's daughter. Right then, my phone rang. "Happy birthday, baby! It's been so long, Mommy missed you so much!" Me: ! My mother had returned. 1 When Chloe's guests ordered me to wash her car, my father, Arthur Davis, happened to return from an outing. His assistant, trailing behind him, presented a priceless crystal castle to Chloe. Immediately, Chloe's classmates gasped in awe. Their envy was palpable. Then, I heard Arthur's voice, filled with indulgence and affection: "A castle for my princess. Happy birthday, my one and only little princess." His only princess. I rolled those words around in my mind, a bitter taste spreading through my chest. Today wasn't just Chloe's birthday. It was mine, too. But, just like every other year, I received nothing. Because in Arthur's eyes, I was a sinner. I didn't deserve a birthday. Because I killed my mother. 2 Ten years ago today, my mother was in a fatal car accident while going out to buy the strawberry cake I was crying for. She left us forever. From that day on, Arthur hated me with every fiber of his being. At her funeral, he announced to everyone, "Harper Davis is no longer my daughter." I crouched on the ground, blinking my red, swollen eyes at him, completely lost and confused. I was too young then to understand his cruelty. Only as I grew older did I realize how absolute that rejection was. Later. His company went public, and his net worth skyrocketed. After becoming a wealthy CEO, he adopted Chloe. From then on... He only loved Chloe. Chloe lived in the master suite of our mansion; I lived in the maid's quarters. Chloe was chauffeured to school; I took the public bus. Chloe's closet overflowed with new designer clothes; I wore whatever she discarded. Chloe lived like royalty. I lived like a live-in servant. It was true, though. I was a servant with no parents. 3 But I wanted to be a princess, too. I remembered Arthur promising me that when I was little. Back then, my mother was still alive. Arthur's company was just starting out, and our family of three was crammed into a tiny, two-bedroom apartment. To support him, my mother secretly transferred the holiday money my grandfather gave me into Arthur's account. "Harper and I don't need much. Don't worry," she would always coax him. I loved to parrot her words. "Daddy, don't worry! Harper will give you all her allowance..." Before I could even finish, Arthur broke down. He pulled us close, pressing his face between ours. Soon, scalding drops fell onto my chubby cheeks. They tickled. Looking back, those must have been his tears. Before I turned ten, he would constantly tell me: "When Daddy becomes successful and makes lots of money, my Harper will be a princess. How does that sound?" ... See? He promised. But he broke his promise. As I was lost in thought... A snobbish, polite voice interrupted me: "Excuse me, maid girl? Why aren't you washing the car? Do you think just because I'm Chloe's classmate, you can ignore me?" Chloe went to an elite private school. Her classmates were all rich kids, naturally acting high and mighty. But. I wasn't a maid. I glared at her, about to snap back. But the next second... Arthur's cold voice cut through the air, directed at me. "Why aren't you going?" Why aren't you going? Hearing those words felt like taking a sledgehammer to the chest. How could I forget? In Arthur's eyes, I was just a maid. "Right away." 4 Arthur had made it clear: if I ever displeased him, he would cut off my tuition and living expenses. But. I had promised my mother I would get into the best university. I couldn't break my promise to her. So. As long as Arthur kept paying my tuition, I would endure anything. I bit my lip gently and turned around. Then. A soft voice called out from behind me: "Daddy, why don't we let Harper blow out the candles with me? It's her birthday today, too. She was actually really looking forward to it. Yesterday, she even snuck into my closet and tried on my evening gown..." I frowned. I turned around to say I hadn't done any such thing. But a wave of disgusted murmurs erupted: "Oh my god, a maid actually dared to wear her employer's dress?" "Chloe, did you get that dress dry-cleaned?" "Unbelievable." "So she's a thief, too." 5 Hearing those whispers, I almost charged over and shoved Chloe's face into the cake. I wanted her dead. I admit it. Last night. When she was showing off her new dress, I was envious. But that was it. Just envious. I never stole anything... I am not a thief. My eyes turned red with fury, but I didn't dare move an inch. Because. Arthur seemed to anticipate my reaction and stepped protectively in front of Chloe. He glared at me, his face dark with fury. Disgust. Hatred. Coldness. "How could she give birth to a daughter like you? Apologize. Or you're expelled tomorrow." Threatening me again. Hah. "How could she marry a husband like you?" I shot back. The moment the words left my mouth. Arthur's face turned completely black. I had never seen him look so terrifying. 6 Slap— A resounding slap echoed through the living room. Arthur had ignored me for a decade, but this was the first time he ever struck me. Within seconds. My right cheek swelled up painfully. I was furious and heartbroken. But. What could I do? I was only sixteen. I only had this father in name. A father who... Ignored me. Hated me. Threatened me. Hit me. It was true. He didn't love me. Not even a little bit. Meanwhile. Chloe, acting as if she had accidentally caused a scene with her "good intentions," rushed over to play peacemaker. "Daddy, it's normal for girls to like pretty dresses! I didn't mean to get her in trouble." Then what did she mean? Whatever. I had already been hit. Nothing else mattered now. So. Slap. Slap. Slap. I slapped Chloe three times in rapid succession. "That's the price for framing me." 7 After I hit her, Chloe crumbled like a fragile flower. "Harper Davis!" Seeing Chloe looking so disheveled, Arthur's face filled with distress. He helped her up himself. He comforted her softly: "Does it hurt? Daddy will call the doctor right now." Chloe covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's okay, Daddy. Don't blame Harper. Please... don't hit her again." Once she said that. Her classmates snapped out of their shock and began condemning her for being too "kind." They all urged Arthur to throw me out. Hah. Throw me out. It was ironic, and pathetic. I looked up, making eye contact with Arthur for the first time in years, and saw the absolute coldness in his eyes. His voice was devoid of any emotion. "Harper. I am sending you to an orphanage. Starting today, you will never set foot in this house again." An orphanage. I was perfectly fine with that. I was already an orphan anyway. Plus. I could still go to school if I lived there. It was miles better than staying near Arthur. ...A few moments later. Arthur's assistant escorted me out. I turned and walked away, head held high. I felt no attachment whatsoever. However. I hadn't taken two steps when the phone in my pocket suddenly rang. I didn't want to answer it at first. But the vibration pulsed steadily, like someone knocking on the door to my heart. Finally, I pulled it out. I glanced at the caller ID. Instantly. I froze. I couldn't believe it. I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. "Mom..." "It's Mom!" I stopped dead in my tracks. The assistant beside me rushed me, "Hurry up, Mr. Davis doesn't want to see you..." I ignored him. With trembling fingers, I answered the call. Even though I knew it was impossible. My mother was dead. It had been ten years. This number had never been active. Was it a cruel prank? But even so. My mother was dead. I answered, but didn't dare speak. I just stood there, mouth agape, frozen. Then, a voice came through the speaker. A painfully familiar voice— "Baby! Happy birthday! It's been so long! Mommy missed you so much!" Her voice, amplified by the phone's speaker, echoed throughout Arthur's living room. 8 My mother's voice was exactly as I remembered it. It hadn't changed at all. Like a warm cup of water. Comforting and soft. "Mom..." I burst into tears. Is it really you? Mom? Are you calling me from heaven? I gripped the phone tightly, my fingers trembling. In that moment, it was the most precious thing in the world to me. But the next second. My hand was empty. Arthur had snatched the phone away. "Give it back!" I ground my teeth in fury. Did I not even have the right to talk to my dead mother? She called me. Not him! I reached up to grab it, but Arthur was too tall. He shot me a cold look and ordered the assistant to pull me away. As our eyes met, I saw that his were red. Yet, when he spoke, his voice was perfectly calm. "Who is this? Why are you impersonating my late wife?" Me: ... Was he deaf? Could he not recognize her voice? Every instinct told me that this was my mother. Sure enough, a moment later. The voice snapped through the phone: "I am Eleanor Vance, your wife! Arthur Davis, didn't you used to say you'd recognize me even if I turned into the wind?! What is this? You can't even recognize my voice now? Have you forgotten me?! Fine, give my daughter back, we're getting a divorce!" It had been a very long time since anyone dared to speak to Arthur like that. His assistant trembled, terrified he was going to explode. Instead, Arthur's face visibly softened. When he spoke, he sounded like he was choking back sobs. "Eleanor. Is it really you? Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now." He looked overjoyed. A middle-aged man acting like an ecstatic boy. "And don't you dare say the word divorce! I will never divorce you!" Eleanor sighed in exasperation. "Make sure you bring our daughter. Our Harper must be so beautiful now." 9 Hearing that I was going to see my mother. I was delirious with joy. I wanted to sprint out the door right then and there. But as I turned. A hand yanked me back. I looked over my shoulder. It was Arthur. He stared at my face for a moment. "Let's go together." I paused, touching my right cheek. It was still swollen. My mother just said I must be so beautiful now. She was going to be disappointed. I wasn't beautiful at all right now. Arthur seemed to realize this too. He ordered a maid to take me upstairs to shower and change. I refused. "No need." Even if I wasn't pretty right now. I didn't want to lie to my mother. And I especially didn't want to lie to her with Arthur. I wanted her to know that my life had been miserable these past few years. I wanted her to know that Arthur had slapped me. Arthur was silent for a few seconds, but didn't force the issue. Before leaving, he glanced back at Chloe's guests and frowned. He ordered his staff to see them out. Instantly, Chloe's face turned a sickly shade of green. She walked over, looking pitiful, staring up at Arthur with wide, starry eyes. "Daddy, are you leaving? My mom is coming over soon. She said you have a weak stomach, so she made you a special dinner." Hearing that, I almost rolled my eyes. A special dinner. The mere sight of that mother-daughter duo was enough to make anyone sick. Chloe's mother had been in a coma from a car crash, which was why Arthur adopted Chloe. A few years later, her mother woke up. Instead of taking her daughter back, she constantly used "visiting Chloe" as an excuse to cozy up to Arthur. Arthur just gave a noncommittal "Hmm," grabbed the car keys from his assistant, and looked at me. "Let's go."
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