Uma had been working as a nanny in my house for twelve years, and she had done her job dutifully.

She mentioned that her daughter Cameron was the same age as me and that we were now classmates.

Uma had moved her over here because Cameron was an exceptional student.

Uma hoped to see her daughter excel and had even begged Jackson for a long time, showing him Cameron's report card.

Jackson, feeling sympathetic, had used his connections to transfer Cameron to my private high school.

He also arranged for Cameron to stay with us before the SATs so Uma could accompany her.

To please me, Uma had suggested that Cameron's excellent grades meant that we could look out for each other and work hard together.

However, Cameron had been consistently cold and sharp-tongued towards me since she arrived, but she was always sweet and accommodating around Jackson.

At this moment, in the living room, Jackson was engrossed in financial reports on the sofa.

Cameron walked over, handed Jackson a hot coffee, and cozied up next to him.

I watched this unfold from the side, arms crossed, enjoying the spectacle.

Jackson, feeling uncomfortable with the close proximity, instinctively shifted away.

"Cameron, don't sit so close, it's too hot," Jackson said.

Cameron looked a bit awkward, then shot me a discontented glance and muttered, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be studying at this hour?"

I raised an eyebrow. "It's my house, why should I report to you what I'm doing?"

Cameron looked embarrassed, then turned to Jackson. "Mr. Fox, I heard you're not just allergic to seafood but also can't handle spicy food?

"I've never been able to handle spicy food since I was a kid. Isn't it a bit of a coincidence, Mr. Fox?" Cameron persisted.

Jackson seemed puzzled but, adhering to his good manners, could only chuckle awkwardly.

Undeterred, Cameron continued, "Mr. Fox, your eyes and nose look quite a bit like mine. Don't you think we could pass for father and daughter?"

I suddenly understood.

Cameron was trying to get close to Jackson.

But the situation was extremely awkward.

Jackson, who was handsome when he was young, didn't resemble Cameron at all, who was tanned and skinny.

The traits she mentioned were quite common.

Jackson and Cameron didn't look alike in the slightest. Instead, Jackson and I resembled each other more closely.

Jackson probably sensed the slight and was growing irritated.

"You should be doing your homework now. Go on, I'm heading back to my study.

"Get some rest too, Megan," Jackson said kindly, patting my head.

I noticed Cameron's envious gaze.

Once he left, only Cameron and I were left in the living room.

I let out a scoff.

Cameron immediately dropped her pretense. "Megan, don't get too smug. It's obvious that I'm dad's real daughter.

"I realized the truth when my fake mom brought me here. Only Dad is still in the dark!

"I've let you steal everything from me all these years without making a fuss. But you better watch out—if you don't leave voluntarily, I'll make sure you regret it!"

I was taken aback by her outburst.

I thought, "Could this be some sort of delusion? How did she become a top student with such a mental state?"

I wasn't in the mood to play along. "You should see a therapist. Uma has worked hard to raise you. I'd hate to see her upset."

With that, I got up and left, leaving Cameron fuming in the living room.

I planned to tell Uma about this so she could address Cameron's issues.

However, considering Uma's situation, I decided not to tell her.

After all, we were in our senior year of high school, and maybe Cameron was just cracking under the pressure of studies.

I quickly pushed the incident to the back of my mind.

Little did I know, Cameron's antics only escalated from there.

Every day, I had a driver pick me up for school, and everyone at school knew about my family's status.

In this elite private school, most students came from affluent backgrounds, with connections among families.

Recently, Cameron started accompanying me to and from school, which puzzled everyone.

They asked, "Megan, are you and Cameron related?"

Before I could respond, the sharp-eared Cameron slammed the table and cursed, "Who's related to her? She's a fake!

"I'm enduring all this for the sake of SATs. After SATs, just wait. I'll make everyone know the injustices I've faced over the years and how you've shamelessly taken everything from me!"

She ranted, then broke down in tears at her desk, startling the whole class.

Everyone around us started to whisper among themselves, speculating about the relationship between her and me.

I was furious this time and grabbed her by the hair.

"There's a limit to your audacity. Slandering others carries legal consequences!"

But Cameron continued crying and even tried to hit me.

Could I tolerate this? I engaged in a scuffle with her, drawing the attention of the teacher.

After a scolding from the teacher, we were tasked with writing reflections to be signed by our parents.

That evening, Jackson happened to be at home.

Cameron immediately rushed into Jackson's arms, sobbing, "Mr. Fox, Megan bullied me!"

Jackson looked puzzled, glancing at me.

I gave him a knowing look, and he understood.

He thought, "My daughter bullying someone? Not being bullied is already a good thing."

With a reassuring pat on my shoulder, Jackson turned to Cameron.

She continued crying, her voice soft and pitiful.

"Mr. Fox, I never had a father to protect me since I was little.

"When I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity and envy towards Megan. I just wanted to call you 'Dad' quietly, and Megan hit me.

"I won't dare to do it again. Please, Mr. Fox, don't send me away, please?"

I thought, "What a distortion of truth."

But before I could speak, Uma seized the opportunity to intervene, quickly comforting Cameron and apologizing to me. "Ms. Fox, it's just that Cameron is naive and doesn't know any better. Please don't take it to heart. She lost her father at a young age, and with the stress of senior year, she may have unintentionally upset you.

"Mr. Fox, you can deduct more from my salary, or I can forgo this month's pay entirely. As long as Ms. Fox is appeased."

I narrowed my eyes, realizing I had underestimated Uma all these years.

Despite her usual meek demeanor, her words now clearly favored her daughter, subtly hinting at my supposedly unforgiving nature.

Uma's humble tone made me realize Jackson would likely give in.

After all, Uma had been diligent and loyal in our household for years, and Jackson wouldn't want to sever ties completely.

So, on the surface, he gave Uma some leeway.

I received the hint and smiled, saying, "Uma, forget about it. Cameron and I just had a disagreement, nothing serious."

Jackson also nodded.

"It's normal for kids to have conflicts, let's both take a step back. No more impulsive actions in the future."

As soon as these words left Jackson's mouth, Cameron probably thought he was siding with her, and a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes when she looked at me.

Little did she know, I was quietly scoffing at her ignorance of Jackson's true intentions.

That evening, Jackson called me to his study.

As my father, he trusted me. So he asked, "Did that girl say something at school that upset you?"

I smiled faintly, replying, "It's nothing, Dad, just a minor disagreement. I'll handle it."

Jackson smiled reassuringly, "I believe in you."

At that moment, Jackson was busy with a major project, and I knew he was overwhelmed. He had no time to meddle in our petty issues.

Revealing these trivial matters would only burden him.

Dealing with Cameron was a task I could handle alone.

So, I started investigating Cameron privately.

The private detective I hired found out about her past at a middle school in a small county.

Through various inquiries, he discovered that Cameron had a severe delusional disorder with a history of troubling incidents.

For instance, she once delusionally believed that the school heartthrob was in love with her and forced him to publicly admit it, tarnishing his reputation and leading to his withdrawal from school.

She also falsely claimed a familial relationship with the owner of a local convenience store, frequently stealing items and using the excuse of distant kinship to evade consequences.

After her reputation went down the drain, she started to fantasize that her desk mate was envious of her "beauty".

So, she teamed up with others to badmouth her deskmate. As a result, the deskmate suffered from a nervous breakdown and took a year off from school.

The evidence I uncovered left me shocked.

I wondered if Uma, who had worked in my household for years, was aware of her daughter's actions.

The next day, which happened to be a Saturday, I deliberately kept Uma occupied.

Cameron was busy pestering Jackson with questions while Uma was tending to the garden outside.

I discreetly installed a pinhole camera in Uma's bedroom and began eavesdropping.

By nightfall, everything seemed calm.

Cameron was serving coffee and water to Jackson, who initially hesitated but eventually accepted her help.

I felt displeased, my gaze turning cold.

Jackson immediately noticed and tried to reassure me.

"Kids from rural areas have had a tough upbringing. Look at her, all tanned and skinny with calloused hands.

"She's never learned proper manners. She told me she wants to be friends with you but is afraid you'll be harsh.

"Anyway, she'll stay with us until the SATs are over. Let's just be tolerant."

I smirked inwardly, thinking, "It seems that Cameron not only has a severe delusional disorder but also a manipulative personality.

Dad, if you truly knew her thoughts, you'd be shocked."

Cameron behaved obediently in front of Jackson, who now showed her some pity, making her feel superior.

That night, she barged into my room and sat down, crossing her legs.

"It's clear that Dad and I share a strong bond. In just a few days, he's already sensed our father-daughter connection.

"Megan, I don't know where you came from, but soon Jackson won't want you around. You should be grateful for my kindness, allowing you to stay in my house until the SATs are over!"