My father hated me.

He said I was just like my mother—full of lies, manipulative and vicious, disgusting to look at.

So, he brought back his old flame’s daughter and treated her like a priceless treasure, giving her everything.

On my eighteenth birthday, with a bald head from chemotherapy, I leaned weakly against the window, watching the city’s fireworks spelling out a father’s love for his daughter.

“Happy birthday to my precious daughter, Sophia Carter.”

I was his daughter, but my name was Emily Carter.

Emily, the extra one.

Lowering my head, I opened my phone and sent him one last message.

“Dad, I’m sick. I’m dying soon. Could you come see me one last time?”

All my desperate hope was answered with his cold, heartless reply.

“Let me know after you’re dead.”

Through blurred tears, I let out a long sigh.

I died on my eighteenth birthday.

But the billionaire father who had never seen me, who had only ever despised me, went insane.

On TV, the news broadcast showed the city’s richest man spending a fortune to rent out New York’s most luxurious hotel for his daughter’s college celebration party.

On the screen, a pretty young girl in a custom-made gown, her styled hair crowned with a sparkling princess tiara, clung to the arm of a successful middle-aged man. Surrounded by admirers, she smiled as if she were the happiest girl in the world.

“Hey, beggar, no panhandling here. Get out.”

Holding a thermos in my hands, I hadn’t even looked away from the hotel lobby’s TV before I was shoved back two steps.

Clutching the frayed hem of my worn shirt, I lifted my head to the scowling security guard and quietly corrected him, “Sir, I’m not a beggar. I came to find someone.”

“Find who?”

I pointed at the man on the TV, pleading earnestly. “Could you please just tell him I’m here? I only want to give him something, then I’ll leave. It won’t take long.”

The guard glanced at the screen, then scoffed. “Do you know who that is? Richard Carter, chairman of Carter Corporation and the city’s richest man. Tonight, he rented the hotel to host his daughter’s celebration. No outsiders are allowed near. Who do you think you are, to ask to see him?”

I lowered my head. I wanted to say he was my father.

But with my calloused hands, torn sneakers, and faded white T-shirt, I would only embarrass him.

Forcing a smile, I said, “Sir, I don’t need to go in. Could you just deliver this for me? It’s Homemade Herbal Soup I made myself. He’s been so busy, drinking too much coffee and skipping meals. I found a retired doctor to get the recipe…”

I pulled all the coins from my pocket and handed them to him. “Please, take this and give it to him.”

The guard stared at the handful of nickels and dimes, speechless.

“This is New York’s top five-star hotel. We can’t just let any stray dogs or cats in.”

Sophia Carter stood nearby, arms crossed, towering over me.

True to her name, in the spotlight of her father’s love she shone like a radiant jewel.

Even when she yanked the thermos out of my hands, no one dared stop her.

She shook it slightly, her gaze filled with disdain. “I’ll take this. But you don’t belong here. Go back to wherever you came from.”

I refused to step back. “That soup is for my dad.”

The next second, Sophia’s eyes suddenly reddened. She clutched the thermos to her chest and collapsed to the floor.

A furious shout rang out, followed by the sharp sting of a slap across my face.

My left ear buzzed, and the world fell into terrifying silence.

“Dad, it’s okay. I know my sister didn’t mean to snatch the soup I made for you. She just wants your attention. Please don’t be mad at her.”

Dizzy and reeling, I tried to explain, but the words died on my lips when those familiar, cold eyes fell on me.

“You’re that low, huh? You have to steal everything from Sophia? Do you think I can’t feed you or clothe you?”

I looked up at the face so similar to mine, pale and weakly murmuring, “Dad, it wasn’t like that. The soup was from me. I only wanted to—”

Richard cut me off impatiently, turning to the guard. “Who brought the soup?”

The guard swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Sophia and me before lowering his head. “Miss Sophia told me to take it up. This young lady just tried to grab it.”

Richard sneered, disgust clear in his eyes. “Just like your mother—you make me sick.”

He gave me a once-over, his impatience deepening. “Always pretending. You love playing the pauper? Fine. Starting this month, not a single cent from me. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.”

I lowered my head, my fingers icy cold.

He didn’t even know—I hadn’t received a penny of support from him in eight years.

Richard left with Sophia, and as they brushed past me, Sophia deliberately slammed into my shoulder.

Her lips moved, but she didn’t realize my left ear was already deaf.

I opened the door to my tiny rented apartment, where a yellow dog wagged his tail and bounded toward me.

“Lucky, I saw Dad today.”

I crouched down, ruffling his fur, and pulled a piece of ham from my pocket to feed him.

He wouldn’t eat. Instead, he leaned against me, licking my face anxiously.

“I’m not hurt. I was just so happy I tripped. Don’t worry.” Leaning against him, I counted softly on my fingers. “This month, I’ve seen Dad three times—twice on TV, and once today.”

I picked up the family photo from the table.

A tall father, a gentle mother, and me, perched on his shoulders.

We were smiling, so happy.

Holding the photo to my chest, I whispered, “Lucky, Dad must love me, right? He gave me you, and you’re the best. He’s just too busy.”

“I wonder if he drank the soup. I simmered it for so long.”

Lucky curled at my feet, whining softly in response.

I stood and hurried to the stove. “Forget it. He always forgets when he’s busy. I’ll just make another pot.”

The flame flared up, and a drop of blood fell into the pot.

Lucky barked frantically, running to the table and dragging over my bag of medicine, circling me nonstop.

I patted his head, blowing my nose with a tissue, forcing a smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll take it now.”

On the table lay a hospital report, pinned beneath a wish list.

Swallowing a handful of bitter pills, I looked down at the list.

1.Eat a meal with Dad.

2.Take a photo with Dad.

3.Celebrate a birthday with Dad.

The phone rang. Ms. Wilson’s joyful voice came through:

“Emily, congratulations! You got into the Ivy League. Your acceptance letter has arrived at the school. You can pick it up tomorrow.”

My eyes sparkled with excitement. Hugging Lucky, I kissed him again and again.

“Lucky, I got into the Ivy League! Dad promised me—if I got in, he’d have a meal with me.”

Trembling, I texted Dad.

Within half a minute, he replied.

It was the name of a restaurant.

Overjoyed, I quickly cleaned the blood from my face and rushed out.

But the one waiting for me wasn’t Dad.

It was Sophia, with a gang of thugs behind her.

“I told you—use my dad’s name and Emily comes running, like a stupid dog every time.”

I should have known. Such a quick reply couldn’t have been from Dad.

But what if—just maybe—it really was him?

I couldn’t miss even the tiniest chance.

I shut my eyes, pointing at the nearby surveillance camera. “Aren’t you afraid of the law?”

Sophia laughed like she’d heard a joke. “You really think I’d be here without Dad knowing? Emily, you’re just like your name—extra, useless trash. Your mom seduced a man and died in a Car Accident. Dad can’t even look at you without disgust. No one will ever love you.”

Tears burned my eyes. I yanked her hair, screaming, “My mom wasn’t like that! Don’t you dare insult her!”

“What are you waiting for? Pull her off me!”

The thugs swarmed me, fists and kicks raining down. My face and nose bled, but I refused to let go.

My mother had saved a man from a mismatched marriage and wasted her life for him, yet never regretted it.

The liar wasn’t my mom.

It wasn’t me.

It was Sophia and her mother.

They killed my mom and smeared her name!

Someone swung a baseball bat, striking my head.

A roar filled my skull, my knees buckled, and I collapsed.

Sophia grabbed my hair, slapping me twice across the face.

Her ugly, twisted face—Dad had probably never seen it like this.

But I had, countless times.

She raised her foot to kick me again, when suddenly, a terrified scream rang out.

Then chaos erupted.

“Where did this crazy dog come from? Kill it!”

A familiar warmth pressed against my face. Through blood-soaked eyes, I saw Lucky, standing in front of me with fierce determination.

Baring his teeth, he lunged at Sophia.

Sophia froze. She remembered—Lucky was the puppy Dad had once given her, the one she’d scorned and thrown away to me.

I didn’t know how such a timid dog had crossed half the city to find me. I wanted to shout for him to run.

But brakes screeched at the alley’s entrance, followed by heavy footsteps.

When Sophia saw Richard, she burst into tears, “Dad, help me! She’s letting her dog kill me!”

Two trained bodyguards rushed forward with clubs.

I struggled to rise but was pinned to the ground, forced to watch as Lucky was beaten down again and again.

His blood stained the ground, yet he still tried to crawl toward me, eyes wet and pleading.

Sophia hid in Richard’s arms, crying out in fear. “Dad, he’s still trying to bite me. I’m scared.”

Richard patted her back soothingly, then personally snatched a club from a bodyguard’s hand.

“Dad, no! Please don’t—”

In the eight years he had abandoned me, I hadn’t cried when I was starving and digging through trash, or freezing on a park bench, or bullied by Sophia’s lies.

But now, I couldn’t stop.

I sobbed until my voice broke.