The Joyful Reunion

My father slowly reached out as if to touch my face. "You… You're…"

"Dad! I'm right here!" Susan's voice cut through the moment, her feet stomping in frustration behind me.

His eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time, he truly noticed Susan. Glancing between the two of us, he asked, "Which of you is Miranda's child?"

Susan's expression shifted, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground in a flood of tears.

"Mom, you left too soon! How am I supposed to survive on my own? Dad doesn't even want to acknowledge me! Even on your deathbed, you were still thinking about him!"

"What? Miranda is gone?"

The news hit him hard. His face fell, and shadows of sorrow clouded his eyes.

He let out a heavy sigh, lost in thought. "Get up, child. Please, get up. Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

He lifted Susan into his arms, their reunion unfolding with an emotional embrace before the grand mansion.

"I've spent my life struggling with Mom, barely scraping by. We'd have one meal and then go hungry. I always wanted to find you, but she wouldn't let me. Now that she's gone, I have no one left. Only then did she allow me to seek you out."

Gently, my father stroked Susan's hair. "You're here now, and that's what matters. From today on, anything you want, I will give to you."

Susan nestled into his embrace, a smug smile lighting up her face.

As I watched their joyful reunion, a sharp pang of unease twisted inside me.

After their emotional exchange, my father finally turned to me. "And who is this?"

Susan pointed at me. "Oh, this? This is the girl who came to apply for the housekeeper position. I only met her at the entrance."

A jolt ran through me.

Just like that, Susan had rewritten the story, pretending she didn't know me at all.

She began to cry again, her tears flowing like a seasoned actress. It was hard not to feel sympathy for her.

"I thought she was here to reunite with you too, Dad! I thought I wouldn't be your only daughter!" she sobbed, her voice trembling as if she were truly heartbroken.

Thomas couldn't bear to see his daughter in tears. He quickly stepped forward to comfort her. "You're my only daughter. I've only ever loved your mother. No one else matters—you're my one and only!"

As he spoke, he gently wiped Susan's tears with his sleeve.

"Don't cry, my precious girl. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I know these years have been tough for you and Miranda.

"Here's what I'll do: I'll buy you ten houses and give you a car. No more hard times for my little girl! Everything will be in your name!"

His words sent a thrill through me, but Susan beamed with uncontained joy.

I opened my mouth to tell my father the truth, but I hesitated. I remembered Susan's promise—she only needed one day to experience this life, and then she would return my father to me.

So, I swallowed my urge to speak.

"Dad, uh… Do you need a housekeeper at home?"

Susan shot me a look, silently pleading with my father not to keep me around.

My fists clenched tightly. I couldn't believe she was going back on her word.

My father turned to me, his gaze softening with an unexpected warmth.

Then, slowly shaking his head, he murmured, "It's… it's uncanny how much you look like her."

He then asked, "Are you married?"

I looked at him and shook my head.

"Then stay," he urged.

The moment he said that, Susan stumbled, her composure cracking for a second.

"Dad!" she protested, stamping her foot in frustration.

Thomas was puzzled, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

I shot a glare at Susan, gritting my teeth in silent anger.

The Wrenn Family

When Susan saw my expression, a trace of shame flashed in her eyes.

Then, she said, "It's fine, Dad. Let's go in."

Cheerfully, she wrapped her arms around my father's and skipped alongside him.

Trailing behind them and watching them together, I could only wish for tomorrow to come sooner so that Susan would return my father to me.

Once we entered the mansion, I was arranged to live with the servants.

I changed into a nanny's uniform and swept the fallen leaves in the yard. From there, I watched as Susan lounged by the pool, basking in the sun while enjoying a full-body massage.

At this point, my father had already gone out.

A surge of suspicion crept into my heart, and I couldn't hold back any longer. I grabbed the broom and stormed toward Susan.

"Susan! Why didn't you let me in earlier?"

At that moment, Susan was sitting on a lounge chair with sunglasses on while enjoying a foot massage.

When she saw me approaching, she quickly stood up and sent the servants away.

Removing her sunglasses, she hesitated briefly before speaking. "Are you being silly? I was helping you!"

I planted my hands on my hips and threw the broom at her feet. "Do you even remember what you said when we first came here?"

Susan gestured for me to sit and replied, "Come on, have a seat. Hear me out. I was doing it for your own good.

"Think about it. Do you really think he'd believe me if I told him I mistook him for my father and that you're his real daughter while you're here as a nanny?"

Her words left me speechless for a moment.

"Weren't you the one who said that you'd tell everything to my father? As long as you are honest, it's not that hard."

My trust in Susan started to waver.

My raised voice startled her, and she quickly hushed me. "I'll give you back everything when the time is right," she said.

…

The next morning, I woke to the sound of the housekeeper and cleaners gossiping.

"I heard Mr. Wrenn bought her ten houses and five cars, all under her name. They say her mom was Mr. Wrenn's first love, which is why he spoils her so much. Tomorrow, she's getting five villas!"

As soon as I heard this, I couldn't hold back any longer.

Susan wasn't stopping—she was becoming even more outrageous with her demands.

Fuming, I threw off the covers and rushed outside.

The moment I stepped into the yard, I spotted Susan draped in gold and jewels, admiring her brand-new car.

"Susan!" I shouted as I stormed toward her.

Immediately, the bodyguards around her stopped me.

"Cover her mouth," Susan quietly instructed one of the bodyguards.

Without hesitation, he complied, sealing my mouth with tape.

My eyes widened, and I glared at Susan.

"What's going on?" Thomas' voice sounded from behind.

Susan smiled brightly when she saw Thomas. "Dad!"

"Do you like the car I bought you?" he asked before noticing me standing there. "And what's with her?" he asked, turning to Susan.

Susan struck a pitiful pose and replied, "She scolded me, so I told the bodyguard to cover her mouth."

I stared at Susan and tried to speak, making muffled sounds.

"Take it off," Thomas ordered, his tone sharp.

The bodyguard approached me with a soft smile, carefully removing the tape from my mouth as though he feared hurting me.

Two-Faced

As the tape came off, I finally took in a breath of fresh air.

Behind Thomas, Susan frantically gestured for me to stay quiet.

"I am…" I began, but before I could finish, Susan rushed over, covering my mouth and pulling me aside.

"Dad, give me a moment. I need to have a chat with her."

Once we were out of sight, I shoved her away. She stumbled, falling to the ground.

"Susan, I trusted you too much! I'm going to tell my father the truth right now!"

With a loud thud, Susan dropped to her knees.

I was shocked by her reaction, not understanding what she was trying to do.

Susan clasped her hands and pleaded, "Please don't tell him the truth, Amber. I'm begging you.

"Thomas has already spent about 100 million on me. If you tell him now, I'll be guilty of fraud. For that much money, I'll be in prison for life!"

Her words left me stunned. I hadn't realized things had escalated to this extent.

"This is your fault. If you hadn't let my father buy you all this…"

"He bought it himself!" Susan crawled over to me, clutching my legs tightly. "Please, Amber. Don't say anything. I don't want to go to prison—I don't want to spend the rest of my life there."

I stared down at her, unsure of what to do. Was she genuinely afraid, or was this just another act?

"He's my father. Am I supposed to live the rest of my life cleaning up after him as a nanny?" I asked. The thought of it made me feel like I would be dishonoring my mother, who was watching from above.

"Just give me some time. I'll sort everything out. Please, for the sake of our friendship and the times I've helped you in the past, just help me this once."

In the end, I gave in.

Shortly after Susan left, my father found me.

"Come to my room tonight."

…

My father's words left me stunned.

'What does he mean by that?' I stood there, speechless.

Then, with an unsettling gentleness, he caressed my face and said, "You really look like her. Remember to wear something revealing when you come to my room tonight."

With that, he turned and walked away.

At that moment, my mind went completely blank.

'Oh, dear God! Not only did I not acknowledge my father, but I am also becoming his lover! What should I do?'

After he left, it took a few moments for me to fully regain my senses.

I had never imagined my father could be such a lecher.

When I returned to my dorm, the housekeeper immediately assigned me to clean the windows.

"Why is this newcomer so clueless? Can't she see there's work to be done?"

I recalled what Susan had said before taking my place. 'You're just pretending to be a nanny. I won't actually treat you like one.'

Yet, Susan hadn't lifted a finger to help me. Her true colors were beginning to show, but I still hesitated.

After all, this involved more than just betrayal—it involved someone's entire life.

Grabbing a rag, I went to wipe down the tables and chairs.

At that moment, I overheard a conversation from upstairs.

"Dad, I don't like that maid. Can you fire her?" Susan's voice was sharp, unmistakable.

"Susan, Amber hasn't done anything to you. Why do you keep insisting that I fire her?" Thomas asked.

In that split second, I felt my grip on the rag tighten.

'So that's how it is. Susan had always wanted me gone. She's been using my sympathy, trying to take my place all along,' I thought bitterly.