In the end, it was my father’s slap that knocked me to the floor.

“Enough! You’re insane! I don’t even want to admit you’re my daughter!”

“This is my house—get out!”

Strangely, the moment those words left his mouth, my heart settled. A quiet, indescribable relief washed over me.

Maybe I’d been waiting for this all along.

Waiting for someone to sever this unnecessary tie.

I staggered to my feet. Sherilyn was already being pulled far away by my mother and brother, as if I were something filthy.

Their faces brimmed with disgust.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“Ha... hahahaha.”

Dragging my suitcase, I headed for the door.

“Wait!”

A hint of urgency colored my mother’s voice. She grabbed my arm.

“I honestly don’t know what kind of tantrum you’re throwing.”

“Your father has worked for years to get into a senior position. If he’s going to bring someone along, of course it’s going to be Sherilyn—she’s a prestigious university graduate. What would he bring you for? You’ve accomplished nothing.”

“We didn’t tell you ahead of time because we were busy. I’m sorry, alright? I’m your mother, apologizing to her own daughter. You hear me? I said I’m sorry.”

“Next time. Next time, we’ll take you too.”

Sherilyn came over, wearing an apologetic smile. “Uncle was just speaking out of anger, Celine. Don’t take it to heart.”

“He brought me because I’ve been to big events before and wouldn’t embarrass him.”

“You’re his real daughter—I’m not trying to take anything from you.”

“Come on, apologize to him, and let’s put this behind us.”

They were all looking at me.

Waiting for me to bow my head.

“No.”

“Me leaving is the best outcome for everyone.”

After my aunt passed away, my mother had brought Sherilyn into our home.

At first, my parents treated us more or less equally. But once Sherilyn’s academic talent began to shine, the balance tipped.

After every comparison, their gaze lingered less on me, more on her.

These were my parents—of course I fought for their attention. But what could a child do? Cry, shout, threaten...

It only made them despise me more, and said I was petty, selfish, lacking grace. I even wondered if I was really their child. They took me for a DNA test.

Even the brother I’d raised came to believe I didn’t deserve to be his sister, and said I was nothing more than a nanny.

Eventually, when they spoke of their “daughter,” they meant only Sherilyn.

Because she made them proud.

While I became invisible, she became their treasure.

For a few rare crumbs of praise, I took a job close to home so I could take care of my parents and brother.

And what did I get in return?

Nothing but exhaustion.

I was done fighting.

I pulled out a notebook and handed it to Sherilyn.

“Dad’s health isn’t great—make sure you take him to the hospital for a check-up every month.”

“I’ve written down all the house matters in here. Since they already see you as their real daughter, it’s no longer my place to care.”

I didn’t miss the flicker of triumph in her eyes.

Seeing it, my desire to speak further drained away.

“You know,” I said slowly, “you’re actually not a very good actress. You always say you won’t take my parents from me, but that’s all it is—words.”

“When someone truly leaves, they don’t waste their breath.”

Suddenly, something occurred to me. I walked back into my room and pulled out three gift boxes.

Opening the first, I revealed a gold bracelet.

I slid it onto my wrist—it was a little loose.

Well, I had bought it in my mother’s size.

I would get it altered later.

The second gift box held the newest iPhone.

Levi’s eyes lit up instantly, his hand shooting forward on reflex.

“This is for me, right? Give it to me.”

I stepped aside. “I have nothing to do with you anymore. If you want one, ask your other sister.”

His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out.

My father’s gift was a massage device.

I picked it up without hesitation.

No one had expected me to be so blunt, so unapologetic, or that I would still be set on leaving.

My mother stepped in front of me, blocking the door. My father’s face stayed cold and unreadable.

Sherilyn glanced from one person to another before picking up her phone. Her fingers tapped the screen a few times right in front of me.

A second later, my parents’ and brother’s phones all chimed at once.

They glanced at their screens, and the heavy atmosphere instantly loosened.

One message from Sherilyn, and all their phones lit up.

That wasn’t a coincidence.

They were chatting privately, right in front of me.

I’d known about it for a long time. The four of them had their own family group chat—without me.

Hilarious, wasn’t it?

The real, biological daughter of this family was excluded.

I had made a fuss about it before. My request was simple, just add me to the group.

Their solution?

They all went on a month-long vacation, blocked me on every form of contact, and left me alone in the house.

It was summer break during high school. They left me no money. Whenever someone called them on my behalf, the moment they heard it was about me, they’d hang up. No one could reach them.

By the time they came home from their fun, I’d spent half a month living on plain boiled noodles. My face had gone pale from malnutrition.

They didn’t ask how I survived the month.

They only asked if I had “learned my lesson.”

After that, I stopped asking about the group chat.

Now, my brother sat there replying to their messages, a smile playing at his lips, occasionally glancing at me with something almost smug.

Whenever they chatted in that group, I’d always try to wedge myself into the conversation or throw in some sarcastic remark—anything to remind them I existed.

But this time, I stayed calm.

When they saw I was still dragging my suitcase toward the door, Levi glanced at his phone and walked toward me with obvious impatience.

“Alright, fine, I shouldn’t have called you a country bumpkin.”

“Really sorry, okay?”

“Now you should apologize to Dad, right?”

I looked at him quietly. “Levi, you’re a real ungrateful little bastard.”

He clearly thought he was giving me an out, but I didn’t take it. His temper flared instantly.

“That’s enough! The whole family has apologized to you—what more do you want? You trying to drive us all to our graves?”

I slowly shook my head. “You’re in my way. Can you move?”

He froze, clearly not expecting that. “You do realize, Celine, that once you walk out that door, it won’t be easy to come back?”

I touched the swollen side of my face.

What he didn’t know was that I had already given up.

Affection you have to fight for wasn’t worth having.

Sherilyn stepped forward, tugging on my arm, her voice dripping with sincerity.

“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have treated your parents like mine just because I lost mine.”

“If my presence really bothers you, I’ll disappear and never show up in front of you again.”

Her words were humble, but her feet didn’t move an inch.

That pitiful act had everyone rushing to comfort her.

“Sis, how can you leave? If anyone should go, it’s her!” my brother declared.

Watching her fake display of selflessness, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Can you drop the act? If I leave, aren’t you the happiest one here?”

I yanked my arm free. She stumbled back, losing her balance, and fell straight onto the floor—right where shards of glass were scattered.

Blood trickled from her hand, and Levi instantly lost control.

He grabbed the glass of water from the table and smashed it over my head.

“You just can’t stand to see Sherilyn happy, can you? Were you trying to kill her?”

“If it weren’t for her kindness—her choosing to move out rather than argue with you—would you even have the right to stay in this house?”

My scalp burned as my mother seized a fistful of my hair. Her face had gone cold, all her pretense was gone.

Helpless in her grip, I endured several hard slaps before she dragged me into the bathroom.

A bucket of icy water crashed over me, making me shiver violently.

“You think you’re something? You’re not even worth one of Sherilyn’s fingers! If it weren’t for the blood ties, you wouldn’t deserve to stay here at all!”

Her fury made her face flush crimson, her words cutting without restraint—because I had crossed her bottom line.

Soaked and trembling, I stumbled back, fumbling for my phone.

“Hello? 911? Yes, I’ve been assaulted. I want to file a report. My address is—”

Before I could finish, Levi lunged at me, snatching the phone from my hands and smashing it to the ground.

“Are you insane? If you’re sick, go to a mental hospital! Why the hell are you calling the police?”

I locked my eyes on them.

My stare made Levi falter, just for a second.

My father stepped forward, clearly intending to hit me. I lifted my chin, showing my face.

“Go on—make it count. Tomorrow, everyone at your company will know their boss is a violent thug.”

The police arrived quickly.

One glance, and their seasoned eyes recognized a family dispute.

One of them tried to ease the tension.

“Whatever the problem is, can’t you talk it out without resorting to violence?”

My mother shot me a murderous glare, carefully shielding Sherilyn behind her.

“Officer, arrest her! I refuse to believe no one can control her!”

She was protecting Sherilyn down to the bone.

I insisted on pressing charges. The injuries on my body were all the proof I needed. But family cases were messy, even for the police.

When my mother tried to hurl another insult, an officer cut her off with a warning look.

“If this can’t be resolved privately,” the officer said, “then you’ll all need to come down to the station with us.”

“Absolutely not!” my mother blurted. “That would leave a stain on Sherilyn’s record! No way!”

My image-conscious father immediately echoed her. If they got taken in, who knew what kind of rumors would spread?

Nosy neighbors chimed in, saying I was in the wrong and urging me to settle the matter quietly.

“I can agree to a private settlement,” I said, pointing at my bruised face, “but I want compensation.”

My father, clearly reluctant, transferred me ten thousand dollars. It wasn’t much for him, but it was the point—I wanted him to choke on the gesture.

“And one more thing,” I added. “I want a formal letter of disownment.”

“From today on, I, Celine Howard, will have nothing to do with your family.”