It turned out to be the handwritten manuscript I created at the beginning, even the few lines of lyrics that I deleted are exactly the same.

Eugenia burst into tears and talked about the original intention of her creation.

She actually knew exactly what I was thinking and even told me all my creative ideas.

I looked at her in horror, but could only utter a few low hoarse sounds.

How could she know so much? Impossible!

But no one gave me any more chances and the reporters urged me to produce evidence.

I flipped through my phone desperately, only to find that all the drafts of my creations that were originally stored in it were gone.

In despair, my parents and brother waved away the reporters.

My mother hugged me and cried, “Are all the bodyguards you stationed at the door dead?! Don’t let them in like this!”

“Janette, I'm sorry. It's all our fault for not keeping a close eye on them and letting them in. We will immediately ask Deon to block the news they got.

“It doesn’t matter who wrote this song; you’re still our good daughter.”

Despair and bitterness twisted in my chest.

Really? Then why did you destroy me for Eugenia?

Why did you let me be tormented and my reputation shattered?

But after achieving their goal, they still acted out these hypocritical family ties. Wasn't it disgusting?

A feeling of distress surged in my chest and I spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Janette!”

“Sister!”

Before everything was completely dark, I heard my parents and brother calling for a doctor in panic.

“Even if her vocal cords are replaced, speaking will be a struggle and singing is out of the question. The injuries to her fingers and legs have been left untreated for too long—I fear there will be lasting aftereffects.”

My parents roared angrily, “No matter how much it costs, you must do your best to cure her.”

My brother also shouted, “Yes, treat her according to the standards you said before, doc.”

He hugged me tightly and the warmth from his chest made me shiver all over.

Was the standard he mentioned before to replace my vocal cords with a dog's, so that I could never play the piano again or stand up?

I wanted to laugh, but I passed out anyway.

When I woke up again, it was already the day of the award ceremony.

My fingers and lower limbs were bandaged and my throat was wrapped in gauze.

My mother squeezed my palms tightly, her eyes blurred with tears as she asked, “Janette, are you awake? The doctor said you will get better soon, don't be afraid.”

The phone next to her was broadcasting the live video of the award ceremony.

In the picture, Eugenia, dressed in gorgeous clothes, was holding my father and brother's hands, with a sweet smile.

Seeing my depressed expression, my mother quickly turned off her phone and wiped away my tears as she asked, “Are you hungry? The doctor said you can only eat liquid food these days. Should I buy you some porridge?”

I nodded and after she left, I opened my phone to watch the live broadcast.

In the picture, facing various questions from reporters, my father and brother firmly defended Eugenia and protected her behind them.

When I heard them asking her about plagiarism, they just glossed over the issue and issued a statement on my behalf to quit the circle.

Eugenia stood on the stage and sang the song I composed, "The Moon Under the Sea,” as if she was really the mermaid singing under the sea, so beautiful.

My heart ached when the judges awarded her the award. It was clearly my work, but none of them believed me.

In her acceptance speech, Eugenia actually mentioned that my father helped her polish the lyrics of the song and my father acknowledged it with a smile.

He personally presented the award to Eugenia and praised her as his pride.

I bit my lips tightly and tears fell.

The lyrics of this song, which clearly talked about my time in the orphanage, became their achievement.

Even my brother told the media seriously, “Ten years ago, our family went out to sea for fun. I went surfing but encountered a tsunami. 

“In the critical moment of life and death, it was Eugenia who jumped down and saved me at all costs. She gave me her life jacket to wear and was almost swept away by the waves.

“Eugenia gave me a second life. As a brother, I will protect her at all costs. Let her be the happiest mermaid princess and sing freely.”

I laughed until tears came out. Eugenia could not swim at all, how could she save you?

I gave you my life jacket and I was swept by the huge amount of water and hit the reef. My back was covered in blood and I almost died. And it turned out to be Eugenia's credit?

I wiped away my tears and tremblingly sent a message to a number I had not seen for a long time. [Does your promise from that year still count?]

The other party replied immediately, [Of course. You are a pearl that shouldn’t be tainted by their cruelty. I’ve seen the recent news—they framed and hurt you, all for the sake of that adopted daughter. There’s no reason for you to stay with them. Just tell me, what do you want me to do?]

I clumsily tapped out a few lines with my palm and the door of the ward was pushed open.

When my mother saw the words on my screen, her face changed drastically.

“Janette, who are you messaging? Where are you going in three days?”

I closed the interface, took out the calendar and showed it to her.

There were words marked inside, [My birthday.]

My mother breathed a sigh of relief and touched my head with loving eyes.

“Sure, sure, wherever you want to go, we will go with you,” she said.

I typed in an address, which turned out to be the beach where my family went on vacation ten years ago.

Since everything started there, let's end it there.

Three days later, my whole family chartered a cruise ship at the seaside to celebrate my and Eugenia’s birthdays together.

In the ten years since I was found, Eugenia was more like the only protagonist in every birthday party.

Eugenia was spoiled by my parents and loved by my brother since she was a child. She knew how to act coquettishly and show weakness to everyone to win favor.

But I grew up in an orphanage and my personality was reserved and not likable. 

This time was no exception.

She deliberately asked someone to make the cake two meters high, then looked at me in the wheelchair with a guilty look on her face and said, “Sister, I am sorry! I forgot that you can't cut the cake with me anymore."

My parents and brother quickly comforted me, saying that it was not her fault and that they would let her do the cutting on my behalf this year.

Amid everyone's blessings, Eugenia proudly cut the giant cake. She even cut my doll in half out of mischief.

When she handed it to me, she leaned over and whispered in my ear, “See? Your parents and brother like me more. If you dare to compete with me again, I will make you suffer the same fate as this doll.”

In the following time, everyone surrounded Eugenia to congratulate her on her achievement, secretly casting contemptuous glances and speculations at me.

My parents and brother were greeting their friends and when they realized that I had embarrassed them, my brother came over.

“The sea breeze is strong at night, Janette, how about I push you inside to rest?”

Before he could put his hand on my wheelchair, he was stopped by Eugenia.

“Brother, go greet your friends. I will take my sister back to her room!”

I wanted to refuse, but no sound came out.

In the end, Eugenia pushed me to a room at the corner.

There was smoke inside and a dozen masked men were staring at us with unfriendly expressions.

Eugenia pushed me between them and smiled sinisterly before she sneered, “Janette, don't think you can turn things around by playing the victim. You will never be able to defeat me.

“You do not know yet, do you? My brother asked the doctor to replace your vocal cords with those of a dog, haha.

“From now on, even if you want to sing, you can only sing woof woof woof.”

Eugenia imitated the barking of a dog, which made the big men laugh.

Looking at the obscene light in their eyes, I trembled all over, thinking of the torture I had suffered before.

[I will give you whatever you want. I will be leaving soon. From now on, you will be the only lady in the Hendrix Family.]

I typed these words tremblingly, but Eugenia laughed even more crazily after seeing them clearly.

“Leave? And where would you go in such a miserable state? I only trust myself. That’s why I want to watch our whole family despise you.”

After saying that, she slapped my phone away. 

Then, she tore her dress to pieces and ruffled my hair.  

The next second, the big men rushed over and pressed her to the ground.

“Help!” Eugenia screamed and cried and the door was soon kicked open.

My brother, parents and others rushed in.

Seeing me sitting calmly in a wheelchair, unharmed, while Eugenia was pinned to the ground by masked men, wailing and struggling, my brother’s eyes burned with fury.

“Stop it now!”