At my coming-of-age party, Dad told me to choose one of the three boys I had grown up with to marry into the family.

The first to step back was my childhood friend, the boy who had grown up with me in the orphanage. The second was the bodyguard’s son, who had once taken three knife wounds for me. He shook his head without hesitation.

As for the man I was supposed to marry through a family alliance, the same man who had held me just yesterday and promised he would never marry anyone but me, he looked at me with open ridicule.

“Mr. Deen, isn’t this a bit too much? Everyone knows Emma was kidnapped for more than ten years. Those kidnappers were insane. Who knows what they might’ve done? I’m not about to marry damaged goods. If you’re really serious about an alliance, why not marry your other daughter, Isabella, to me instead? Someone like Emma is only suited for men who live in the shadows.”

He glanced around the room, then pulled a boy from the corner—a quiet young man who had been standing there with his head lowered. Together with the other two, he laughed as they shoved me straight into the boy’s arms.

“What a perfect match!” one of them jeered. “The used goods and a bastard son!”

What was supposed to be a grand ceremony to choose my husband turned into a public humiliation for me alone.

Later, they told me the reason they had done it was all part of a little game with Isabella.

“As long as Bella is happy, we can honor our promises to you afterward.”

They all assumed I would do what I had always done before—swallow the humiliation and shamelessly continue following them around. However, this time, I didn’t want to humiliate myself anymore, because I was indeed getting married, and the groom was the very man they pushed into my arms earlier that night.

As for Isabella and their little game, I wasn’t playing along anymore.

After the party ended, I had just returned home when Isabella Deen hurried over. There was a trace of mockery in her eyes.

“Why did you leave so quickly, Emma? Was it because of that little joke they played on you? Did it make you feel embarrassed? Ah, it’s really my fault. The three of them just spoil me too much. That’s why they went along with a joke like that. Please don’t take it to heart, okay?”

I didn’t say a word.

When I was first brought back to the Deen family, that was when I learned about this so-called “younger sister.” After I was kidnapped all those years ago, my mother fell into deep depression. She barely ate or slept, and eventually she passed away. The very next day after her funeral, Dad brought home a woman and her daughter.

That daughter was Isabella, and the woman was her mother, Regina Hendricks. Maybe from the very beginning, her place in Dad’s heart had surpassed mine, the daughter who had been kidnapped and lost for over a decade.

Just then, three figures hurried over. The moment Liam Collins saw Isabella, he quickened his steps, his voice filled with concern.

“Why are you standing out here? It’s chilly, and you’ll catch a cold. Here, put on my jacket first.”

Tim Ward pulled a small pink hand warmer out of his suit pocket and handed it to her.

“Take this. Don’t let your hands freeze.”

Meanwhile, George Raynor was holding a cup of tea.

“You’re always cold. I made this myself just for you. The temperature should be perfect now.”

I stood to the side, like an outsider who had accidentally stepped into their little world of four. Just as I was about to quietly leave, Isabella suddenly spoke again. Her voice carried a trace of grievance.

“Emma is still angry with me. I’m really not in the mood to drink whatever tea you have.”

George immediately shot me a cold glance and said, “Why are you still standing there? Because of you, Bella is so upset that she can’t even eat. Go make something for her before she goes hungry.”

Tim nodded right away. “Didn’t you spend all those years cooking in that traffickers’ den? Go on then.”

Liam frowned and let out a sigh. “Bella, stop being childish. Even if you’re getting married, you’re Bella’s sister. You should be taking care of her.”

I finally raised my head and looked at them.

Liam was someone I had known since the orphanage. Back then, I was small and frail, and the other children often bullied me. One day, when a few older kids cornered me, he stood in front of me with a stick taller than he was, stubbornly blocking them.

He had said, “Em, no matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be by your side.”

But after meeting Isabella, the first thing he said to me was, “Both of you are daughters of the Deen family. How is it that you’re so much worse than your sister?”

As for George, the heir to a famous medical family, even if Isabella only caught a small cold or fever, he would panic and carry her straight to the hospital.

As for Tim, he was even more outrageous. If Isabella so much as sneezed, he would immediately drag people over to uproot the flowers I had planted with my own hands.

“I told you that these flowers would trigger Bella’s allergies. It’s a good thing we uprooted them all.”

I had always known they treated Isabella well, but I never thought they would humiliate me right in front of so many reporters and media cameras.

Isabella covered her mouth as she laughed softly. “Come on, Emma, don’t be angry. Even if the guys don’t want to marry you, if you’re willing to marry some CEO or businessman, Dad would definitely agree. I think Mr. Keller, whose wife just died, is pretty good. Sure, he’s older, but older men know how to take care of people. Don’t you think?”

I calmly shook my head. “No need. I already have someone I’m in love with.”

The group froze for a moment. Then, they burst into laughter.

Liam laughed the loudest. “Someone you’re in love with? Emma, someone who grew up in an orphanage like you thinks you have the right to talk about love?”

Tim waved his hand dismissively and said, “Hey, don’t be mean. Maybe it’s some street punk or some delinquent. With her background, trash like that is probably the only thing she can match with.”

George looked at me with open mockery. “Emma, even if I’m not marrying you, there’s no need for you to degrade yourself like that. How about this? I'll let you into my home and take you as my mistress. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll even keep you around. What do you think?”

I looked at them quietly, but inside, my heart had gone cold. The three men who once swore they loved me were now tearing my heart to pieces.

Just then, a sedan pulled up at the entrance, and Dad stepped out. He didn’t even look at me. Instead, he walked straight toward Isabella. His voice was gentle, a far cry from the ruthless and decisive Mr. Deen everyone knew.

“Bella, the housekeeper told me that you’ve got your eye on a seaside house. I’ve had my assistant buy it. After dinner, I’ll take you to see it. You can decide how you’d like it done up.”

Isabella cheered and threw herself into his arms. “Dad, you’re the best!”

He smiled and tapped her lightly on the forehead.

“Oh, you cheeky little thing.”

I stood to the side like an unnecessary decoration.

As the father and daughter walked away together, Isabella suddenly spoke up again. “Oh, right, Dad. Emma said she’s in love with someone and that today's arrangement was all your doing.”

Dad paused. Then, he shot me a cold glance.

“Your value,” he said, “is to be married off as part of a family alliance, whether you like it or not.”

Liam let out a mocking laugh. “Exactly. When has someone from a wealthy family ever been allowed to choose their own marriage?”

He had forgotten that he wasn’t born into a wealthy family. If it weren’t for me, he’d probably still be tightening screws on an assembly line in some factory.

Perhaps noticing that my expression had fallen, Dad’s tone softened slightly. “Em, don’t be upset. Even though you can’t compare to Bella, as your father, I wouldn’t let you marry just anyone. What do you think about Mr. Jackson from today’s party? He just turned forty and finalized his divorce last month. He doesn’t even have a son yet. You marrying him would be perfect. You could give him an heir. Once you give birth to a son, you’ll have wealth and luxury for the rest of your life.”

I bit down on my lip. At that moment, I realized that they no longer looked upon me as a person.

Isabella wrapped her arm around Dad’s and asked, “Dad, weren’t we going to see the house? Let’s go.”

Dad nodded immediately and turned to leave with her. Before walking away, he even added a final instruction.

“Emma, don’t come with us. Bella says you always smell unpleasant. We don’t want you dirtying the new house.”

Three days later, it was my grandmother’s eightieth birthday, and the housekeeper had delivered a brand-new evening dress to my room. I didn’t think much of it, assuming Grandma had prepared it for me. However, the moment I arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall, Isabella rushed over excitedly and dragged me into the garden beside the hall.

“What are you doing wearing my dress? This was custom-made for me by an overseas designer whom Dad specially hired. What makes you think you can wear it first?”

“Are you planning to use Grandma’s birthday banquet to announce to everyone that you’re Dad’s real daughter?” Isabella snapped.

I let out a small laugh. “But I am his real daughter. Aren’t I?”

Isabella froze for a moment. Then, her face twisted with anger. She lunged forward and grabbed my collar, yanking hard.

“Emma, you’re nothing but a filthy slut! Today, I’ll make sure you understand who actually runs this house!”

She clapped her hands sharply, and the servants nearby immediately walked over.

“Strip her!” Isabella ordered. “I want her kneeling here naked for the entire day. I’d like to see if she’ll ever take my clothes again!”

The servants in the house always followed whoever held the most power. They all knew that I, the so-called real daughter of the Deens, had no status here at all. So, they surrounded me and reached for my dress.

I stepped back. “Today is Grandma’s birthday banquet. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out about this?”

Isabella only sneered, looking pleased with herself. “You’re still counting on that old hag to protect you? She’s practically in the grave already. You think she scares me?”

She waved her hand and added, “Do it. Strip her clothes off and throw her outside. Make her kneel at the gate!”

I struggled desperately, but there were too many of them. My evening gown was torn apart piece by piece. Then, they grabbed my hair and dragged me out of the estate, forcing me down onto my knees on the ground outside.

Guests attending the birthday banquet came and went past the gate. Many pointed at me and whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t that Mr. Deen’s daughter who just came back? Why is she out here?”

“Everyone knows she was picked up from the streets. Who knows what she’s been through… Serves her right.”

I knelt there on the street, teeth clenched, and lips pressed tightly together. Just then, a servant carrying the kitchen trash passed by me. As he walked past, he suddenly slipped. The bucket tipped over, and filthy kitchen slop splashed all over me, from head to toe.

People nearby covered their noses and quickly stepped away, while I remained kneeling there. At that moment, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I should never have come back.

I took a shaky breath. The tears I had been holding back for so long finally fell. My body was starting to give out, but just as I was about to collapse, I saw George walking quickly toward me.

Clinging to the last shred of hope, I reached out to him.

“George, I don’t feel well… Please…”

However, he immediately covered his nose in disgust and stepped aside to avoid me.

“Move, move,” he said. “Bella isn’t feeling well. I need to check on her. You’re covered in germs. I don’t want you to infect her.”

My heart turned cold.

When I had first returned home, and he learned that I was supposed to marry him, George had once treated me gently. He had taken me to the beach and the amusement parks. Those had been the most carefree days of my life. Back then, I thought he was someone I could trust for the rest of my life, but somewhere along the way, everything changed.

Time passed, second by second. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, a powerful kick struck my back and knocked me to the ground. When I saw Liam standing there with a cold expression, my eyes widened.

“Why?” I asked.

“Do you have to ask?” he sneered. “I thought you were just morally corrupt. I didn’t expect you to be so disgusting.”

He grabbed a garden hose from a nearby servant and sprayed me off briefly. Then, he dragged me straight into the banquet hall.

Grandma wasn’t there. Instead, Dad was sitting in the main seat. His eyes were burning with anger as he stared at me.

“Speak, whose b*st*rd child are you?” he barked.

I lifted my head, shock and confusion written all over my face.

“Whose daughter am I? Don’t you know that better than anyone?”

Dad’s face remained cold as he gestured to the servants, who dragged in a ragged old man with messy hair.

“You, tell her.”

The old man trembled slightly before stammering out his words. “Mr. Deen, this really isn’t my fault. Back then, Mrs. Deen got drunk and climbed into my bed herself. Afterward, she even paid me hush money…”

The room instantly erupted in shocked whispers, but the old man kept talking.

“Mrs. Deen was afraid the truth would come out, so she staged that kidnapping herself. She told me to keep the girl with me first, and when she grew up, she’d marry my son. But this girl had ideas of her own. When she was ten, she ran away! I never thought she’d run all the way back here to claim her family…”