“It's also true that Audrey’s face was burned in that fire when she was a child. She is indeed not suitable to inherit the family business.”

When my dad heard this, he thought it was so true. He then smiled dotingly.

“Okay, my lovely daughter. I will immediately give you the money right away.”

Hearing this, my heart was already as if it was dead as ashes. I didn’t want to continue listening to their talks.

I went back to my room. I stayed up all night. All I could think about was the words my parents said in the restroom.

They probably had long forgotten how I got the scar on my face. When I was five years old, mom and dad locked me in the house while I was sleeping. They then accompanied Evelyn to the amusement park.

When they left the house, they forgot that water was still boiling on the gas stove. When the water dried up, it exploded and sparks splashed onto the curtains. It started a fire.

That day, I was woken up by the smoke and cowering alone on the balcony to ask for help. If my neighbours had not broken down the door to save me, I might have died in the fire. But my face was burned by the fire when I rushed out of the balcony, leaving scars and then many of my classmates laughed at me for being ugly.

But what made me sad was when my parents came home. They thought I was naughty and played with fire. They then beat me to death for having been frightened.

They didn't stop until the police investigated the scene and came to a conclusion.

After fifteen years, they still haven't given me an apology to this day. Nowadays, I didn't care anymore.

The next morning, I received a call from my boyfriend, Cornelius Holbrook.

“Hai, my love. I’m here.”

“You're just downstairs in my house?”

I hurriedly crawled out of the comforter, put on my clothes and went downstairs. Seeing Cornelius, my frozen heart finally felt a trace of warmth.

“It's New Year's Eve, my love. Why did you come over?”

Seeing me, Cornelius was also very happy. I led him into the house just in time to bump into Mom and Dad getting ready to go out.

But the moment they saw Cornelius Holbrook, they were both stunned at the same time.

My mom looked him up and down. She then asked in surprise, “My daughter, this is your classmate?”

I nodded to confess truthfully. “He is Cornelius Holbrook, my boyfriend.”

Cornelius was neither humble nor arrogant. He respectfully called out, “Uncle and Auntie, Happy New Year.”

When I was about to give Cornelius some water, I saw my mom mysteriously pulling my dad into the kitchen. While they weren't paying attention, I gently approached them.

“Marcello, that man is so handsome and he talks elegantly. How about introducing him to Evelyn?”

My father frowned after hearing this. “That's my daughter's boyfriend. How can you have such an idea?”

My mother was unimpressed. “The palms and backs of my hands are all flesh. Both of them are my daughters. It doesn't matter who he marries. Audrey’s body is not in good condition. Her face has a scar. She is not suitable for that young man. I think Evelyn has a good temperament and is pretty. The two of them are a good match on the contrary.”

My dad replied, “Anyway, I also like this man. If he wants to marry, he can only marry Evelyn.”

My dad was a bit embarrassed. When he walked out, I hurriedly pretended to fetch water and left. When I carried the water cup towards Cornelius, my hand holding the water cup kept trembling. I didn't know if it was because I was angry or because my heart was broken by my disappointment in them.

I couldn't figure out how my biological parents would snatch away their own daughter's boyfriend for a fake daughter, who was not related to me with no blood relationship.

At this moment, the only trace of warmth left in my heart shattered. I didn't want to stay at home any longer. I then took Cornelius's hand intending to go out to watch a movie.

But my mom stopped us on our way. She had a kind smile on her face and said, “Where are you going? Please, stay at home for lunch.”

I wanted to refuse, but Cornelius happily agreed because he wanted to get on good terms with my parents.

Today's lunch was especially different and special than usual. It was the richest I could remember.

During the meal, my dad offered to go out fishing with Cornelius. When I said I wanted to go out with him, my mom said, “Two big old men going fishing, Audrey. What are you doing to join in the fun? My daughter, you stay at home to help me, okay? It’s a New Year, our family and small relatives will also come over.”

I had no choice but to agree. At night, I received an emergency call from Cornelius.

“Audrey, quickly come and save me. I’m at Yellow Crown KTV303!”

I came to Yellow Crown KTV303 in a hurry. As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Cornelius being pressed by a group of people to pour alcohol. I pulled Cornelius behind me.

Meanwhile, Evelyn said to me in a weird tone, “So it's you, poor bastard, Audrey. What are you doing here? This kind of place is also for you to come?”

I didn't bother to pay attention to her. I only held Cornelius's hand and prepared to leave. But Evelyn's words made me freeze in place.

“My sister, do you know who came up with the idea to get Cornelius drunk and then cook him alive? It was mom and dad.”

The word “My sister” made everyone freeze in place. I was dressed in shabby rags. On the other hand, Evelyn was wearing expensive branded clothes. We were totally incompatible in terms of dressing and temperament. We also could never associate ourselves with each other. But at this moment, I have only incomparable anger and disappointment in my heart.

My biological parents surprisingly would do such a thing. Evelyn walked in front of me. She looked at me with a playful gaze.

“You ugly bastard, even Mom and Dad dislike you, why don't you go die? I'm high and mighty, Audrey. You're nothing but a loach in the ground. Do you dare to bet that if something happens to us at the same time, who will Mom and Dad care more about?”

I thought she was just talking, but I didn't expect that a group of black-clothed men would rush in the next moment. Evelyn was stunned at that time.

The men in black slapped me. “Who are you guys? Hurry up and get out of here!”

“Miss Evelyn, I'm not a dog that you can call around!”

The man in black had Evelyn and I put hoods on our hands. He took us down together and stuffed us into a van. They then allow Cornelius to go back and send a message to my parents.

After taking off the mask, I saw Evelyn's frightened face. We were both tied hand and foot to a chair at the same time. I looked at the surroundings. It was an abandoned construction site.

The robber wore a mask and sneered, “Evelyn Ainsworth, you bitch usually love showing off your wealth so much. We've been watching you for a long time.”

He then used his cell phone to shoot a video at us. He then dialled my parent's number.

“Mr. Marcello and Mrs. Arabella, both of your daughters are in our hands. If you know what’s good for you, transfer the ransom. Don't call the police or we will kill them.”

My parents saw the video. They stopped and no longer pretended.

My dad said in a trembling voice, “Don't hurt them! How much is the ransom? I'll give it to you.”

Without waiting for the robbers to speak, Evelyn burst into tears. “Dad! Mom! Quickly save me! I'm scared!”

I tried to shout, but my voice was eventually silenced by Evelyn's cries. The robber then gave the number.

“Five million dollars a person. I'll give you half an hour. No waiting after the time limit. Then what you'll see will only be two corpses!”

When my parents heard this, they were so scared that they were incoherent.

“Don't kill the girls. We will give it to you. But how are we going to find so much money at a time? Can you make an exception and let both of them for five million dollars?”

The robber sneered. His eyes glanced over Evelyn and me.

“Both of your daughters I've secretly paid attention to, Mr. Marcello. One is barbaric and bossy. She spends money like dirt on weekdays. The other one has a face like a poor girl and works hard at two jobs. You guys are really biased and partial, right?”

“So, five million dollars for one person.  You can only choose one, Mr. Marcello.”

Dad was in a difficult situation. It wasn't long before I heard Mom muttering something.

“Please, choose wisely, Marcello. The group's cash flow is not much. We can only take out five million. I think, let's save one first. I don’t think they dare to really kill the other girl.”

This sentence was light. Evelyn and I heard it at the same time. My heart surged with a hint of expectation. Evelyn immediately begged in fear.

“Dad and Mom, please save me! Save me first! You guys love me so much, right? You must save me first.”

The robbers didn't give my parents too much time to think about it. They started counting down.

“Three!”

“Two!”

As he counted down, the anticipation inside me grew stronger. I suddenly wanted to hear the choice from their own mouths.

I fantasized that as their biological daughter, they shouldn't abandon me.

The time came to the last second and Mom and Dad spoke in unison, “We chose Evelyn Ainsworth!”

The moment I heard the answer, my entire mind went blank as if I had been struck by lightning. The knot robber smiled meaningfully.

“Okay, hurry up and raise the funds. I'll give you half an hour.”

My parents agreed repeatedly. They then finally made a request.

“Can you let me talk to Audrey privately for a few minutes?”

Thinking that they wouldn't dare to play tricks with their two daughters on their hands, the robbers agreed.

The phone reached my ear. I wanted to call out “Mom and Dad”, but my throat felt like it was stuck and I couldn't get it out.

Dad's voice came through the microphone, “Audrey, don't be afraid. They don't dare to hurt you. When they get the money, they will return it to you and your sister, so you can go home safely.”

My mom also interrupted, “Your dad is right, Audrey. You have to be brave, okay? Your dad and I will definitely rescue you.”

My heart sobbed as I heard their comforting words. In their inner scales, Evelyn was the most important one.

In this gamble, I finally lost to Evelyn after all.

My parents were afraid Evelyn's life would be in danger. It made them not hesitate to give her the ransom, but used my life to bet that the robbers would not dare to kill me.

I choked and responded to them, “Dad and Mom, your kindness to your daughter's upbringing has been fulfilled in this life.”

Mom and Dad were completely flustered when they heard my words. “My daughter, what are you babbling about? You'll be fine.”

Without waiting for him to finish, I signalled the robber to take the phone away. He gave me a look. His eyes were full of sympathy.

Half an hour had come and gone. The robber confirmed that the ransom had been received. Evelyn covered her head. They then pushed her into the van to send it back, but I was left behind.

My parents confirmed that Evelyn was safe and were about to ask the robbers if I could be released as well. However, what they heard in the microphone was a deafening gunshot.