When I was finally rescued after fifteen years of being trafficked, I discovered I was the long-lost true heiress of a top-tier billionaire family. My mother was incredibly emotional as she came to take me home. But I caught her secretly exchanging glances with my brother. And my brother, tightly holding the hand of their timid, "pure-hearted" fake heiress daughter, looked at me with open hostility. I smiled. I am a demon raised in a land that eats people and spits out their bones. By bringing me back, they’ve just invited the devil through the front door. 1. When my mother, Sylvia Sterling, arrived, a female police officer was holding me in her arms, comforting me. My body was shaking violently. Every inch of skin exposed outside the blanket was covered in dark purple and sickening green bruises. According to the officer, I was the true heiress of the Sterling family, a top-tier billionaire dynasty in New York. Coming home this time meant my suffering was finally over. From now on, no one would ever be able to bully me again. When Sylvia first saw me, she looked genuinely heartbroken. She crouched down to my eye level, her hands trembling as she touched my head. "Are you... are you Avery Sterling?" I couldn't blame her for not recognizing me. I was incredibly ugly right now. And she was incredibly beautiful. Even in her mid-forties, she was impeccably maintained. Her face was exquisite, her aura gentle and elegant, and she even smelled of expensive perfume. This was the mother I had no memory of. I stared at her blankly, my eyes clear and pitiful. After a long moment, I hesitantly nodded. The police officer chimed in appropriately, "Little Avery has suffered unimaginable abuse out there. When we found her, she had two snakes wrapped around her neck, and those animals had stripped her naked and hung her..." At those words, Sylvia uncontrollably pulled me into a tight embrace, her voice trembling. "My poor baby, you've suffered so much. It's okay now that you're back. I will never let anyone bully you again." Naturally, I didn't believe a word she said. Because I saw her subtly exchange a look with the boy standing behind her when she walked in. That boy was also beautiful, dressed in immaculate, expensive clothes. With his left hand, he was holding a soft, delicate-looking girl. Both of them were glaring at me with raw hostility. As if my return was something filthy and disgusting. I buried my face into Sylvia's neck, letting a massive, chilling smile spread across my face. 2. After I went missing at age five, the Sterling family adopted a girl and named her Chloe Sterling. I also had a twin brother named Carter. But in this moment, Carter looked like a pristine, arrogant little prince, while I looked like I had lost half my life. I actually quite liked him. If my long-lost, dear brother Carter hadn't looked at me with such disdain and spoken so cruelly, I really could have liked him. "Mom, she's too dirty. Shouldn't we send her to get washed up first? The carpets at home are imported from France." Sylvia shot Carter a reproachful look and told him not to say such things. The only thing she didn't do was deny it. She didn't say I wasn't dirty. Chloe tugged at Carter's hand. "Brother, you shouldn't say that. It will make my sister sad." Carter scoffed. "Just telling the truth." I twitched the corner of my mouth, looking at Chloe's feigned kindness and the smugness she couldn't quite hide. This kind of trick... Was way too amateur. I grabbed Sylvia's hand, nuzzling against her palm, and said devoutly, "I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't want to be so dirty either." No one knew how I had survived countless days and nights in that unimaginably brutal hellhole. Only absolute submission, combined with a fast, precise, and ruthless understanding of the human heart, gave you a slight chance to live like a human being. Those who have never been to hell have no idea what a demon even looks like. A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye, landing perfectly in Sylvia's palm. Sylvia's heart instantly ached. She hugged me tightly and scolded Carter, "This is your sister! How can you speak like that?" Carter glared at me, but he stopped his cruel remarks. Chloe was different. Her entire demeanor screamed that she felt threatened, and she stared at me intently. I didn't care. As if suddenly remembering something, I asked out of the blue, "By the way, which orphanage was Chloe adopted from?" Sylvia was caught off guard. "After you went missing, we found her passed out under our car." Oh. I see. 3. Chloe really was wicked. On my very first day back, she couldn't wait to burst into my room to mark her territory. "Avery, in the fifteen years you were gone, I have completely secured the love of Mom, Dad, and Carter! Right now, you are the extra one here!" She was haughty and arrogant. I just casually sipped my tea. "Oh." Apparently, this was top-tier Darjeeling tea, but to me, it tasted no different from the stagnant water in the dungeon. Seeing that I was completely unfazed, Chloe grew furious. She grabbed a heavy bedside lamp and swung it at my head. More than a decade of living as a spoiled rich girl had made her reckless and entitled. I let out a soft chuckle and didn't fight back. Not only did I not fight back, but I also went with her momentum, slamming my own head into the wall to finish the job. Under her utterly bewildered gaze, I began to scream bloody murder. When Sylvia and Carter rushed into the room, this is what they saw: The room was a mess. Blood was pouring from a gash on my head. Aside from the screaming, I wasn't even crying; I was just trembling violently in sheer terror. And Chloe was completely frozen in shock. When she finally snapped out of it, she started screaming too. "No! I didn't do anything! She clearly could have dodged it! I just threw the lamp, she was the one who went crazy and slammed her own head into the wall..." But I acted so terrified that I shrank into the corner. Like a dog that had suffered massive trauma. Sylvia hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to pick me up and treat my wound. While comforting me, she shot a look of deep disappointment at Chloe. "Chloe, she is your older sister. Why would she... slam her own head into the wall? And the wound is so severe." I smiled with deep satisfaction. Carter looked at me with fury. He stubbornly grabbed Chloe's hand. "I can't believe my sister, who's been missing for so many years, turned out to be this kind of person. This is truly vicious. Anyway, I don't believe Chloe would ever do something like this." With that, he pulled Chloe away without looking back. Sylvia applied iodine to my wound, speaking softly. "Chloe has always been a filial, obedient, and kind child. We adopted her, we watched her grow up clearly and plainly. She is your sister too..." I cut her off. "You don't believe me, do you?" She froze. I said, "Because she grew up right under your nose, you trust her. But I wanted to grow up by your and Dad's side too..." She panicked. "No, Avery, that's not what I meant..." Seeing her panic made me very happy. But I still deliberately pushed her out of the room, acting heartbroken, saying I wanted to be alone. I didn't care in the slightest whether they genuinely liked me or not. My only target in coming back was Chloe. After all, if it weren't for this "good sister" of mine, I wouldn't have been trafficked overseas. Chloe, you personally sent me into a monster's den. Tell me, how are you going to handle a demon's revenge? 4. After that night, out of guilt, Sylvia constantly bought me piles and piles of clothes. Whatever toys or luxuries Chloe had, I got exactly the same. It seemed she wanted to aggressively compensate for the fifteen years of love I had missed. Probably having been warned, Carter didn't bother me, avoiding me entirely. He just went out drinking with his rich frat-boy friends, publicly declaring that in his heart, Chloe was the only sister he would ever have. I didn't care. I just focused on my skincare routine and meticulously nursing my body back to health. That place was so bloody and brutal that the doctors said even if I fully healed, I would be left with many savage, permanent scars. I didn't care. I simply bided my time, waiting for the right moment to strike at Chloe. But what I didn't expect... Was that Chloe was so ruthless to herself. She left behind a dramatic suicide note: "You all think I hurt my sister, none of you believe me! But I really didn't do it! I truly love my Dad, Mom, and Carter so much. Please don't stop loving me just because my sister is back..." That night, she locked herself in the bathroom crying and attempted suicide. Luckily, the maid found her in time, and she was rushed to the hospital and revived. I heard her blood dyed the entire bathroom floor red. Carter, eyes bloodshot, charged at me like a madman and slapped me hard across the face. "You bitch! This is all your fault! You framed Chloe! If it weren't for you, why would she feel so wronged that she tried to kill herself?! If anything happens to my sister, I'll make you pay with your life!" Why didn't she die? I ground my teeth, which were aching from the slap. Sylvia also clearly stopped believing me. The way she looked at me was full of disappointment. "Avery, haven't we been good enough to you? When you came back to the Sterling family, we welcomed you so warmly and wanted to make up for everything. I never imagined your heart could be so vicious. Did staying in that place for too long corrupt you?" Chloe lay in her hospital bed, staring at me provocatively and weakly, like a proud peacock. Her eyes clearly said: Avery, do you see? While you were gone, all your love became mine. I remembered when I was five years old, the first time I met Chloe. I was wearing a princess dress, feeling superior as my mom carried me out of a boutique. Chloe was covered in dirt, staring at me from a dark alley corner. My mom didn't like me playing with "those kinds of people." So I distracted my mom, clutching my pocket money, wanting to give it to Chloe. But I never expected that this one "saintly" act would result in me being trafficked for fifteen years. And Chloe, the cuckoo in the nest, got to enjoy everything that belonged to me. She was a demon too. I smiled and said earnestly, "It won't happen again. I'm sorry." Sylvia sighed, pulled me into a hug, and said earnestly, "You and your sister are both pieces of my heart. I hope you two can get along from now on." I nodded obediently. That very afternoon, I went to a seafood market and bought a large bag of live eels. I was going to dump them into Chloe's bathtub. Doesn't she like committing suicide in the bathtub? Chloe was terrified out of her mind. Screaming bloody murder, she scrambled out of the bathroom stark naked and threw herself into Carter's arms. Carter, while enjoying the view, didn't forget to yell at me, "Avery, are you insane?!" I blinked innocently. Chloe was trembling uncontrollably, sobbing hysterically. "My sister put snakes in my bathtub..." Hearing the commotion, Sylvia rushed over and slapped me without hesitation. "You truly have no upbringing! What you're doing is illegal! Who gave you the right to do this? Did your very soul rot away in that pile of corpses?!" Her eyes were filled with profound disappointment. I looked at her and said, "They aren't snakes." How could they be snakes? You can't just buy live snakes at a fresh seafood market. Even I understood that basic fact. But Chloe had jumped up, snatched the bag of eels from my hands, dumped them into the bathroom herself, and tried to lock me inside to "dance with the snakes." I was stronger than her. She failed to lock the door, which is why she started screaming so loudly. My dear mother and dear brother, why don't you actually look inside the bathroom first? But Sylvia refused to listen, turning her head to softly coax and comfort Chloe. I stepped forward, slapped Chloe hard across the face, and then, remembering the slap Carter gave me at the hospital, I slapped Chloe again. Everyone froze, including Chloe. Her face visibly swelled up in seconds. After surviving out there all these years, my strength and angle were perfect. I hit much harder and better than a soft guy like Carter. It must have hurt like hell. I bared my teeth and grinned. Chloe burst into a loud wail. Her eyes clearly held deep hatred for me, but since Carter and Sylvia were there, she didn't dare say a word. She just shrank weakly into Carter's embrace. Sylvia's face was livid. "You're crazy! You're a lunatic!" She grabbed me by the collar. "I'm sending you to the police station! I'll let the cops teach you how to be a decent human being!" I didn't resist. I even voluntarily got into the car. Before getting in, I looked back at Carter. "By the way, she's stark naked. Even though I never went to school, I know men and women should keep their distance. You two aren't trying to—" I grinned and spat out two words that made Carter's face turn purple with rage. Sylvia almost slapped me again. Sylvia meant what she said. She dragged me into the precinct, declaring I had thrown snakes into her daughter's bathtub and demanded to press charges. The female officer who had brought me back last time saw me and looked surprised. "Why are you here?" I pressed my lips together and didn't say a word. The officer looked at Sylvia with sudden realization and explained, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but throwing snakes does not constitute a crime. Especially between sisters, the victim would have to come to the station to press charges herself. And even then, we could at most mediate. We can't do anything more." Sylvia was furious. "Is this how you do your jobs?!" The officer looked at me, choosing her words carefully. "Is there a misunderstanding? When I brought this little one back, she was very well-behaved." Ultimately, Sylvia angrily abandoned me at the station and left by herself. The officer spoke to me gently, "What's wrong? Are you not getting along with your family?" I stubbornly shook my head. The officer had been very good to me. When I was rescued, my body wouldn't stop shaking. She was the one who took off her police jacket and wrapped it around me. She was the one who noticed the obscure injuries on my feet and told me: "Sweetheart, you're back now. You have to live a good life. All those things in the past are over. You have family, you will have friends, and you have a brand-new future." A future? Did I really possess such a thing? Back then, looking at her confident smile, I actually felt a spark of hope. I thought maybe, just maybe, there was a tiny chance my family wouldn't despise me for what I had become. But it was only a tiny chance. I didn't want the officer to know I was miserable. Her eyes reddened, and she softly hummed an "Mhm." Then she looked at me, a bit puzzled. "Did you not tell them that it was because of your help that we dismantled the trafficking ring?" I shook my head. "The reward money hasn't come through yet. I can't tell them." She laughed, and I smiled too. 5. Nobody came to pick me up, but I knew how to call an Uber. Relying on my excellent memory, I made it home smoothly. Carter was in the living room. Seeing me walk in, he gave me a nasty look, his tone aggressive. "Chloe and I are not blood-related. I love her, and I'm going to marry her. I hope you keep your filthy mouth shut from now on." He thought for a moment, then added, "Chloe cried for a long time because of you." His eyes seemed full of reproach. I sneered. "I don't see her crying to death, do I?" I expected Carter to start screaming at me again, but surprisingly, he just looked at me hesitantly. When I grew impatient and started walking upstairs, Carter called out to me. "Hey. I know they were eels in the bathtub. I went and looked. Why didn't you say anything?" I stopped, turning around with an amused smile. "What would happen if I did?" Carter thought about it and said awkwardly, "Chloe and I have lived together for fifteen years. I can't live without her. She is so kind-hearted. She must have just been terrified, which is why she didn't look closely to see if they were eels or..." "That's exactly why I didn't say anything." I rolled my eyes and turned to leave without looking back. This was also the reason why I didn't immediately tell Sylvia that the daughter she had raised for fifteen years was the primary culprit who caused our separation. From the moment I saw Carter carefully holding her hand at the police station, I knew. I was very good at avoiding and reducing meaningless arguments. Carter choked on his words, staring at me without saying another sentence. I didn't shy away; I just let him look. When I was captive, I was locked in a cage, being a perfectly "good" girl while enduring the stares of countless men. Why would I be afraid of him? Chloe came skipping down the stairs, her eyes still red like a rabbit's. She shot me a hostile glare, then linked her arm through Carter's. Hearing the commotion, Sylvia came downstairs. Seeing me, she made no effort to hide her displeasure. "If you do something this outrageous again, I won't just drop you at the police station." Alright. I nodded, acting very obedient to show I understood. Perhaps my attitude was acceptable, because Sylvia's voice softened a few degrees. "I know you're rotten to the core, but people can change. Take some time to get your GED, or find an entry-level position at your father's company. We don't raise freeloaders in the Sterling family. Your brother and sister will both be entering management after they graduate." She looked at me with mockery, as if she felt I had struck the lottery. I chuckled softly. I didn't tell her that even in that hellhole where I was just struggling to survive, I never forgot to study. Because my mom once told me that kids who study hard are good kids. I thought that when I came back, my mom wouldn't despise me if I knew nothing. Whatever. Chloe spoke up smugly, "Mom, my sister came back and we haven't even had a welcome-home party for her. Shouldn't we throw a banquet for her, at least to officially announce her identity to everyone?" Sylvia looked slightly repulsed. I knew Sylvia felt I was an embarrassment. A person with my background wasn't fit for high society. I also knew exactly what Chloe was scheming. She just wanted everyone to see how ignorant and vulgar I was compared to her, the refined heiress of so many years. She wanted everyone to formally compare us, to make everyone think I was worthless. In the short time I had been back, she blindly convinced herself that if we stood side-by-side, she would easily outshine me. Unable to resist Chloe's relentless whining and acting cute, Sylvia reluctantly agreed. I had no say in the matter throughout the entire conversation. Look, how hilarious. It was supposedly a banquet for me, the main character, yet the decision-making power rested entirely with Chloe. I chuckled softly and didn't object. A hearty laugh came from behind me. I turned around, and the moment I saw him, I knew it was my father, Richard Sterling. He wore a tailored suit but exuded a bloated, greasy aura of wealth. He looked me up and down, his eyes filled with satisfaction and approval. Because of long-term starvation and malnutrition, my arms and legs were incredibly thin. Even though my body was covered in scars and bruises, it was easy to see that my natural skin tone was pale and delicate. With a little nourishment, I would definitely be a beauty. After all, even when I was covered in filth, many men looked at me with sheer, greedy lust. He said, "Pick a good date for the banquet. I'll attend personally and introduce you to everyone." His eyes crinkled into a smile. Makes sense. For an illiterate billionaire's daughter who happens to be pretty, her only practical use was an arranged marriage. I smiled innocently. "Okay!" Even Sylvia looked at me with pity, but she didn't stop him. I lowered my head, hiding the look in my eyes. 6. Perhaps because I was about to have "utility value" at the banquet, Sylvia took very good care of me in the following weeks. She hired top international doctors to treat me quickly. The doctor said, "The young lady's body has suffered severe, chronic depletion. I can only do my best to rehabilitate her." For a whole month, neither Chloe nor Carter appeared in front of me. I recovered very well during this time, actively undergoing treatment. The only thing was a long, prominent scar on my back that couldn't be completely erased. Sylvia felt a bit of pity, but also a bit of resignation. "With your personality, you definitely suffered a lot of bullying out there." What she didn't know was, if it wasn't for this personality, I would be dead. The banquet arrived as scheduled. I wore an expensive gown. Carter appeared in front of me for the first time in a month. His face softened a bit as he said, "You can take my arm, if you feel awkward." I gave a fake smile. "No thanks, I'm fine on my own." Chloe was thrilled. While Sylvia wasn't looking, she deliberately leaned close to my ear. "I heard that all those men are in their fifties. Sister, you better choose carefully. Oh, by the way, I also heard a few of them are so twisted they've already had several wives die on them." She sighed in mock pity. "But for you, this is already a great destination. After all... I highly doubt you came back from that place 'clean.'" I looked at her expressionlessly. "What is your point?" She hissed viciously, "Your dad, mom, and brother are all mine. Can't you see that yet? If you know what's good for you, pack up and get out." Oh. I overestimated Chloe. She kept playing the same old, repetitive games. Once at the banquet, I realized Chloe hadn't exaggerated. Richard enthusiastically led one pot-bellied, middle-aged man after another in front of me, introducing them with great patience. "Avery, this is the Chairman of Wang Corp, in real estate." "This is the young master of the Liu family. Although they aren't top-tier billionaires, every single one of them is a promising rising star..." Meanwhile, Chloe stood among her group of socialite friends, watching the show, giggling and pointing at my every expression. I just nodded blankly, showing no favor toward any man, nor putting up any resistance. All the men flattered me and tried to make conversation, but faced with my awkward, introverted silence, they could only laugh uncomfortably. After a while, Richard grew exhausted. He couldn't help but reprimand me a bit: "Can't you give me some face? You're acting like a block of wood. Nobody likes a girl who acts like this." I looked him straight in the eye. "I don't know how." He froze. It was true. I had never attended a banquet, and I had never faced so many people at once. How could I know how to act? When I was little, I was Richard's precious jewel. My memory of this father stopped at him putting me on his shoulders and lifting me high in the air. He said he could pluck the stars from the sky for me. But now, I was just the ladder he was using to reach for more stars. After fifteen years, I had absolutely no familial love for him left in my eyes. I sighed inwardly. Richard seemed to want to say something, but Carter stepped forward in time, grabbing my hand. "I'll take her to rest on the side for a bit. Even I can't handle this much networking." Seeing us acting like supportive siblings, Richard's expression softened for a moment, and he reluctantly nodded. Once we walked away, I pulled my hand out of Carter's. He said, "Why aren't you thanking me?" I walked over to a chair and sat down, casually grabbing a bottle of cider and taking small sips. "Does an unsolicited intervention count as help?" Call me heartless, call me whatever you want. After all— If I were to feel grateful to him now, wouldn't my next actions be biting the hand that feeds me?
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