I was the Campbell family's fake daughter.

After I turned 18, I was struck by a sudden illness that left me blind in one eye, with a limp, and riddled with sickness.

My parents and brother didn't mind and still treated me well.

That was until the real daughter, Ivy, returned, and everything changed.

Ivy was lively, gentle. Most importantly, she was perfectly healthy.

She openly claimed that I had stolen her identity as the Campbell family's true daughter for over 20 years.

She said I was sick because I didn't deserve the status I had taken.

My parents and brother, swayed by Ivy's words, began to look at me differently.

After I had a heart attack, they coldly kicked me out of the Campbell family.

But what they didn't know was, I was their lucky charm. All the illnesses I had were actually because I was bearing their bad luck for them!

Once I left, I slowly started to recover.

One by one, the Campbells began to go blind, limp, and fall sick.

1

After spending a month recovering at a mountain retreat, I returned home. The first thing I saw was Ivy, the real daughter who had shown up at my birthday party last month. She was happily taking photos with my dad, Jason, my mom, Sharon, and my brother, Dylan.

Ivy frowned when she saw me. "Why are you back? Just one month of recovery, and you're all better?"

Everyone looked awkward at the sound of her voice. Dylan walked over, slightly apologetic. "Naomi, you're back? Why didn't you tell me? I could've picked you up."

I could barely see out of one eye, but I glanced over at where they were taking photos. Dylan looked even more embarrassed. "Ivy mentioned she's never had a family photo before, so..."

I nodded slightly and said calmly, "I called you, but you didn't answer. Mom and Dad's phones were busy, so I had to come back on my own."

Dylan frowned. "Neither I nor Mom and Dad..."

Before he could finish, Ivy cut him off. "Naomi, are you blaming Dylan for that? That's a bit ridiculous, don't you think?

"I mean, last month, as soon as you found out you were the fake daughter and your real parents were dead, you coughed up blood and passed out right there. The whole family thought you were seriously ill, but look at you. You're back already and looking fine. Were you just pretending to get attention?"

Dylan cleared his throat, signaling Ivy to stop talking, but she had no intention of doing so. Her expression was even more disdainful as she looked at me. "Dylan, can't you see? She's faking it just to get more attention from you all. She's just pretending to be pitiful because we're taking family photos."

"That's ridiculous. We had her checked at the hospital. Mom, Dad, and I aren't fools!" Dylan said angrily.

Ivy rolled her eyes at me. "Dylan, you know everyone has their own fate, right? She's sick because she stole my spot. She doesn't deserve it. You should send her back to the gutter where she belongs, and maybe she'll get better!

"After all, trash belongs in the trash!"

2

Hearing this, Jason cleared his throat. "Ivy, did you forget what your etiquette teacher told you? You need to be polite. Naomi is your sister. How can you talk like that?"

Sharon nodded in agreement. "That's right, Ivy. Apologize to Naomi."

Ivy's expression softened a bit, but she still refused to apologize. "Mom, Dad, I'm just telling the truth! I'm saying this for Naomi's own good. How else could she be so sick all the time when she grew up with everything?"

"You said it yourself. Her right leg broke at home for no reason. Is she made of glass? Clearly, she's too weak to handle this kind of fortune."

Jason and Sharon remained silent. I lowered my head, feeling a tightness in my chest, unable to speak as my throat felt dry.

When I was sick before, Jason and Sharon were always worried. If I left to recover, they would call at least twice a day and visit every other day, even during storms.

But this month, not a single call from them, and no visits at all.

Maybe I looked too pitiful, and Jason finally snapped, "Enough! Just apologize! Or are you not even going to listen to me?"

Ivy frowned and reluctantly went inside, returning with a tray and a cup of warm water. "Naomi, I'm sorry. I didn't grow up with the same comforts, so no one taught me manners. Here, I'm offering you water, so forgive me."

She handed the water over with both hands. I sighed internally, just wanting to keep the peace. As I reached for the cup, Ivy gave a triumphant smirk and whispered, "You don't deserve it."

She let go of the cup, sending scalding water splashing everywhere. Most of it spilled onto my right leg, though a few drops hit her hand too.

3

Ivy let out a sharp scream, tears brimming in her eyes. "Naomi, why did you deliberately drop it? I sincerely apologized, so why did you burn me? Is it just because I'm healthy and Mom and Dad love me more?"

Jason and Sharon, along with Dylan, were startled by the commotion and rushed to Ivy's side. Sharon, full of concern, turned to me harshly. "Naomi, what's wrong with you? Did your hands stop working too? You couldn't even catch a cup of water?"

I shook my head, my voice hoarse. "It wasn't me. I hadn't even touched the cup yet. She let go herself and said I wasn't worthy. What kind of low trick is this? Do you think this is some palace drama?"

But no one seemed to believe me. Dylan glanced back at me, noticing my soaked right leg, and couldn't help but ask, "Naomi, are you burned too? Why didn't you say anything?"

I touched my thigh. Though I couldn't feel it, I knew it must be badly burned. Jason and Sharon's expressions changed slightly, as if they wanted to say something.

Ivy cried even louder. "It wasn't me, it wasn't! Naomi is clearly playing the victim! Her leg has no feeling, so she's not afraid of getting burned, but I am!"

Sharon's concern for me vanished instantly. "You're the one who's watched too many palace dramas. Ivy doesn't have such a good life, spending every day watching TV like you do.

"I've told you already. Even with Ivy back, you're still my eldest daughter. We'll give you the treatment and medicine you need, so why can't you just be satisfied?"

I just sighed. "Then can I ask, why was the tea for this apology so scalding hot? Is that a temperature anyone can actually drink?"

4

Jason and Sharon were at a loss for words, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Finally, Jason sighed. "Let's head to the hospital."

When they arrived at the hospital, both Jason and Sharon surrounded Ivy. The doctor gave her a quick check-up and said, "It's nothing serious. Just apply some burn ointment; it's a minor issue."

Ivy kept crying. "Before, I wouldn't have felt anything, but now, with Mom and Dad's love, I realize I'm a person too. I can feel pain. You won't blame me, right?"

Her words made Jason and Sharon feel even more sympathetic. Even Dylan, who was by my side, couldn't help but feel sad.

After the check-up, it turned out my burns were severe, and I needed to stay in the hospital for recovery. The only silver lining was that I didn't feel any pain. Once I was settled in my room, Sharon sat beside me and hesitated before speaking, "Naomi, no matter what happened today, you can't blame Ivy. Put yourself in her shoes. Wouldn't you be jealous if you were her?

"Your dad, Dylan, and I care about you, we really do. We've shared so many years together. But Ivy's been through so much. When you're discharged, don't stir up trouble, and stop picking on her."

I couldn't help but let out a scoff.

Sharon's face twisted in anger and embarrassment. "What are you laughing at? Did I say something wrong? You're not even in pain, so why can't you forgive Ivy? Can't you think about all the suffering she's endured for you?"

I glanced at the doorway, where Jason and Dylan were fawning over Ivy, and it made me laugh even harder. "Mom, it was you who switched the kids, not me. Ivy's suffering is your doing, not mine. If you feel guilty, don't expect me to fix it for you."

Sharon shot to her feet. "Ivy was right, you're ungrateful!"

With that, she stormed out of the room without looking back.

5

From what Sharon said, Ivy had been working hard over the past month. No wonder, after just a month, the whole family's attitude toward me had drastically changed.

Lost in thought, I was pulled back by the doctor who came in with my test results, looking confused. "Ms. Campbell, I reviewed your tests, and I find it quite strange.

"First, your eye tests show everything is normal, so why can't you see?

"Second, your leg bones and nerves are intact. Why can't you stand or feel anything?

"Third, you don't have any of the typical conditions. Why are you showing symptoms of hypertension and stroke aftereffects?"

...

The doctor kept asking questions. When I didn't respond, he assumed I didn't know either and left.

I sighed. Why?

Of course, it's because of Jason, Sharon, and Dylan.

Dylan had severe myopia but insisted on riding the world's most extreme roller coaster, which caused a retinal detachment. The doctor said one of his eyes was severely damaged, and the other might barely retain vision.

It was then I realized I was born as a human good-luck charm, or maybe a voodoo doll. I used my secret abilities to take on the Campbell family's misfortunes.

Dylan thought it was some kind of miracle, completely unaware that I had "absorbed" his eye condition.