Mom and Dad shot a dissatisfied glance at the still-locked bathroom door. They slammed the apple pie they'd brought back onto the shoe cabinet.

Dad snapped at the door, "To think that Izzy was kind enough to want to bring you some apple pie. Meanwhile, look at you! You're still trying to hog her bathtub, refusing to come out."

Izzy looked up at Dad and said sweetly, "Just let Mellie soak for a little longer, Uncle James. The bathtub can keep the water warm for 24 hours anyway. It also has a massage feature. Even if she stays in there overnight, it's not a big deal."

Dad gently tapped her nose. "You keep putting up with her spoiled ways."

He and Mom went back to their bedroom. I soon heard them snoring in there.

Izzy crept out of her bedroom. She took the apple pie from the shoe cabinet and came over to the bathroom door.

Unlike the sweet tone she had when she spoke to Mom and Dad, she sounded a lot sharper and haughtier now.

"Melanie, don't think anyone will pity you just because you stayed quiet. This is just a little warning for you. If you dare set your sights on my things again, you won't be getting away with something as simple as being locked in the bathroom next time."

She raised the apple pie and continued, "Go on, then. Beg me, and I'll let you out."

The bathroom remained completely quiet, which seemed to have angered Izzy. She threw down the apple pie and stomped on it until it became a pile of mush.

The sweet, buttery smell wafted in the air.

Floating in the air, I watched as Izzy walked away. I would never be setting my sights on her things again. She could even have my parents to herself now. Surely she'd be happy now, right?

…

The next morning, Mom and Dad came out of the bedroom, yawning. They noticed that the bathroom door was still firmly shut.

Mom began to look worried and knocked on the door.

"Mellie, haven't you been soaking in the bathtub long enough now?"

Frowning, Dad searched for the key to open the door.

Izzy ran over and tugged on Mom's sleeve.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Louise. It's all because of me. Mellie wouldn't be throwing a tantrum if I hadn't moved in with you guys. Last night, after you went to sleep, I saw Mellie come out of the bathroom. She stomped on the apple pie and left it by the door, saying she wouldn't eat anything I brought back.

"Uncle James, Aunt Louise, am I really that hateful?"

Izzy plopped down beside the mashed apple pie and started crying loudly.

Hearing that, Dad pounded on the bathroom door with all his strength. The loud bang made me shudder.

"Melanie Spencer! You've gone too far. How can you be so mean and cruel?"

Izzy tearfully hugged Dad, saying, "Don't be mad at Mellie, Uncle James. It's my fault. I'm just an outsider who's trying to force my way into your family. It's all my fault for trying too hard to be loved as well."

Her words reminded Mom and Dad of what they'd said yesterday, and Mom immediately pulled Izzy into a hug. "Come, Izzy. Let's get your name changed today."

The three of them got dressed and left the apartment with Dad and Mom each holding one of Izzy's hands. It looked as if she were their daughter instead.

Out of Mom and Dad's sight, Izzy shot a smug, taunting smile toward the bathroom.

It was much later in the afternoon when they finally came back.

Izzy rushed to the bathroom door, proudly holding two newly updated birth certificates. "From this day onward, my name is Izzy Spencer, you're now Melanie Kramer!"

I couldn't believe it. I rushed over to Izzy and stared at the birth certificates. She was telling the truth.

She'd taken the Spencer last name, which matched Mom's and Dad's, while I had the last name of Kramer—the only one in the family with that name.

It felt like a million needles were stabbing me in the heart. Bloody tears streamed down my face.

Mom rubbed her forehead and glanced at the closed bathroom door. "Mellie, when will you ever be as sensible as Izzy?"

Dad was extremely displeased as well. "It's all your fault for spoiling her rotten, Louise. Instead of learning how to behave herself, a little girl like her spends all her time trying to compete with Izzy for attention."

He shouted at the bathroom, "I'm giving you one last chance, Melanie. Come out now, and we'll change your name back. If you don't come out, then you'll be Melanie Kramer for the rest of your life!"

At that moment, a loud clang rang out in the bathroom. The showerhead had fallen. But to Mom and Dad, it was me deliberately defying them.

Dad slammed his hand on the table and pointed at the bathroom, ranting to Mom, "Look at her! She stayed inside the bathroom all day long just to hog the bathtub, and now she's throwing a tantrum just because of a few words I said!

"Don't anyone try to stop me today. I'm going to teach her a proper lesson!"

Izzy's eyes flashed with smug delight. She quickly handed Dad the key that had dropped into the trash can yesterday. The door unlocked with a click.

Dad was just about to enter the bathroom when the doorbell rang, so he withdrew his hand.

Two smiling women were at the door. The older woman introduced herself first.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Yvonne Graham, and this is my colleague, Christine Porter. We're social workers from Child Protective Services, and we've come to check on Izzy's living situation."

Mom and Dad quickly escorted them into the apartment. Mom brought over some water for them, while Izzy stood obediently beside her.

The women examined Izzy from head to toe, looking very pleased with what they saw.

"I can tell you two have taken very good care of Izzy," Ms. Graham said. "This is just a routine visit, so don't worry about it. Izzy, I'm going to ask you a few questions, okay?"

Izzy nodded cooperatively.

"How has it been for you, living with the Spencers? Has anyone been mean to you?"

Izzy shook her head. "Uncle James and Aunt Louise take very good care of me. No one is mean to me."

After asking a few more questions, Ms. Graham turned to Mom and Dad with an approving look.

"We've visited many families in similar situations. You two are one of the few who truly treat the child as their own."

Ms. Graham made a few notes in her notebook, giving Mom and Dad a glowing review.

"Thank you for your time," she said before she and Ms. Porter stood up to leave.

All of a sudden, Izzy choked out a sob and said, "Ms. Graham, can you please talk to my younger cousin, Melanie, for me? She always treats me like I'm her enemy. I just want us to get along peacefully."

Ms. Graham frowned at Mom and Dad.

Mom's smile stiffened, and she quickly explained, "Children always compete for attention. It's just normal—"

Ms. Graham cut her off, saying, "Children's behavior must never be brushed off or taken lightly. What seems like a minor issue could easily end up ruining both children's lives."

She crouched down beside Izzy and said softly, "Where's your cousin, Izzy? Take me to her, okay?"

Sniffling, Izzy led Ms. Graham to the bathroom door. "Mellie has stayed inside the bathroom an entire day just to hog the bathtub."

However, the moment Ms. Graham heard that, her expression froze. She flung the door open, and her notebook clattered onto the floor as she cried out in shock.