They Told Everyone I Was Adopted, I Was Their Real Daughter Chapter 03
That night, Dad knocked on my door. He handed me a necklace. “Gia, your sister was wrong today. Don’t hold it against her—she’s had a hard life. This is my apology.”
A Chanel box. He pressed it into my palm.
There was a time when I had their love too. Then Zoe came back. And everything—everything—had to make way for her. Including me.
The scales tipped further every day. One time, Zoe came home and demanded to be the family’s only daughter. Threatened to starve herself if she didn’t get her way. After that, to outsiders, I went from biological daughter to adopted.
I took the necklace. “Thank you, Dad. Don’t forget my security clearance tomorrow.”
“Dad! Come down! Look at my new bag!” Zoe’s voice rang from downstairs. Dad answered and hurried off without a second glance.
I stood there, holding the necklace.
Her social media post popped up on my phone.
Zoe: [The necklace was just a freebie.]
My luggage was almost packed. Three shirts. Two pairs of pants. A sweatshirt. A jacket. The model fragments. That was everything I owned.
The next morning, I came upstairs after breakfast. Zoe was in my room, holding the necklace, sneering. When she saw me, she yelled, “You stole my stuff!”
I blinked. “Dad gave that to me last night. Ask him yourself.”
Mom heard the noise and rushed over, ready to scold. “How could you steal from your sister?”
“I didn’t steal it. Dad gave it to me.”
Of course, Dad had already left for the morning.
Mom frowned. “You’re just jealous of your sister. Apologize. Now.” Before I could react, she opened my drawer and grabbed the five thousand dollars from my wallet. “This will be compensation.”
That was my summer savings—unloading trucks at a convenience store. I lunged for it. Zoe held on tight. Mom shoved me back.
“You ungrateful brat! You think you’re part of this family? You’re adopted!”
I froze.
Zoe snatched the money.
Dad happened to come upstairs. He heard everything. He glared at Mom. “Don’t say things like that in front of the kids.” Then, to Zoe: “I gave her that necklace. Give the money back.”
Zoe scoffed and threw the bills at me. “This is nothing. It wouldn’t even buy me a pair of sunglasses. Keep it.”
Dad sighed, still unwilling to scold her. He turned to me. “Gia, your sister doesn’t know better. Forgive her this once. Zoe, apologize to your sister.”
“No!”
Zoe slammed into my shoulder and ran downstairs. Mom followed.
Dad bent down and gathered the scattered bills, one by one, and placed them on the table.
I looked at him, my voice hoarse. “Dad… am I really your biological daughter?” I almost wanted him to say no. Then at least I could accept that they didn’t love me. It would make sense.
He frowned. “Of course you are. Your mother just speaks her mind. Don’t take it so hard.”
Downstairs, Zoe’s wounded sobs rose. Dad hurried down.
