I received a call from the police station.

They notified me that I had to identify the body. It was my biological father.

In that moment, I didn’t feel sadness or grief—only relief.

Because, in truth, I had imagined his death countless times.

His death meant my life.

...

It had been two years since my father disappeared.

I had caused a scene at home, and everyone turned on me, shouting insults.

It was Christmas time, and I had withdrawn the few thousand yuan I saved from my part-time job at school, planning to return it to my aunt’s family.

They didn’t have much education and were used to dealing in cash, but Uncle Oven’s son, Ethan, stole it from me.

The money I had worked so hard for, gone without a trace. I was determined to get an explanation.

“Give me my money back!”

I had barely shouted before their attitudes shifted completely.

Grandma Margaret sternly said, “He’s your brother. What’s the big deal if you spend a little on him? You’re a girl; you don’t even need that money.”

Grandpa Walter chimed in, “We’re family, why make a fuss over such a small thing?”

Uncle Oven was even angrier. “What’s with all the shouting? Huh? Even if I sold you, it wouldn’t pay your father’s debts. You belong to this family, and here you are, yelling over a measly bit of money.”

That was the first time I fought back against them. I had done so much for them over the years, yet I had already been sold to this family long ago.

But now, I had seen the truth. I didn’t owe them a thing. They were the ones causing all the trouble.

To them, I was easily manipulated. They said whatever they wanted, and I never opposed them.

And now, they kept trying to control me. “You come back, and the electricity bill skyrockets. I haven’t even asked you for food or housing money, and you still have the audacity to ask for more.”

The lies rolled off their tongues so smoothly I almost forgot who should be ashamed. They never asked for anything because I gave it willingly. The air conditioner outside Ethan’s room dripped constantly, and they blamed it on me. How dare they?

If they wanted to dig up the past, I was more than happy to do so.

“This money is me paying you back, but as for everything else you mentioned, I don’t accept any of it. But let’s talk about what you’ve done.”

I stood tall, unashamed.

He, however, felt guilty. He had done so much that he didn’t even know where to begin.

He stepped behind me, squeezing my arm, signaling that I better not anger him or I would regret it.

But I refused to back down.

“Uncle Oven, do you really think no one knows who was responsible when Ethan went missing as a child? It was you. You, of course. And it was aimed at me. But by some twist of fate, Ethan nearly paid the price.”

In our house, girls were seen as useless. Since I was young, they had shaved my head and treated me like a boy.

That night, when they tried to sell me off, they made a mistake and took Ethan instead.

I overheard Uncle Oven’s phone call. At the time, I didn’t understand, but now I knew exactly what had happened.

In an instant, Uncle Oven became the center of attention, the target of everyone’s ire.

Ethan must have hated him for it.

I knew too well. To Grandma, the only person worth comparing to her son was her grandson. When her precious grandson almost vanished, it must’ve enraged her.

At least it made him feel a sliver of the pain I had endured.

I overestimated myself and underestimated Uncle Oven’s position.

After a brief moment of satisfaction, the focus shifted back to me.

“You’re no saint, either. If it weren’t for you, would Ethan have suffered like this? You didn’t even help him.”

“If it weren’t for me, Ethan would have been gone. And now you’re here blaming me? You should all go to the hospital and check if there’s something wrong with you.”

It was laughable. Were they hoping I’d be taken away? If I hesitated for a second, who knew what would’ve happened to Ethan?

Instead of gratitude, they harbored resentment.

There was no reasoning with them.

“Since you all dislike me so much, I’ll just leave this house.”

They were heartless, and there was no reason for me to stay.

I had been lying on the ground for too long, and with my numb legs, I forced myself to get up.

There wasn't much of my stuff left in this house. Once I finished packing, I would leave.

Before I left, they still couldn’t resist reminding me.

“I don’t know where you think you’re going. Who would want you now? You really think that useless mother of yours would take you in? She can barely survive herself.”

“Anywhere is better than here.”

I had almost forgotten I even had a mother, but she was doing just fine.

During my senior year of high school, he made my mom take care of me while he went off with another woman, never sending a single cent.

Later, they got divorced. He abandoned both my mom and me, and in turn, my mom abandoned me.

“It's because you're a girl that your father left us.” That was the last thing she ever said to me, and after that, she never looked back.

Yeah, not even my own parents wanted me. Where could I go? Who could I turn to?

All the money I had was long gone, and the cold night air made me shiver.

It was supposed to be Christmas, a time for family reunions, but I had no place to go.

I reached into my pocket and found a set of keys.

It was from Sophia. She had slipped them to me secretly.

Sophia was Uncle Oven’s daughter, Ethan’s sister. Like me, she had been treated poorly because she was a girl, but unlike me, she didn’t do well in school and had to start working early.

I understood why she didn’t speak up for me—she would’ve been just another victim of their wrath. Like me, she suffered the same prejudice in this family.

I found her rented apartment. At least there, I could have one peaceful night.

Leaving that family behind, I slept soundly, only waking up when they came storming in early in the morning.

Their voices were so loud that the entire building must’ve heard their anger.

“Alicia Watson! You think you can run off to Sophia’s and we wouldn’t know? The place she rents is mine, she’s my daughter, and you better get the hell out of here!”

Looking at Sophia’s expression, I knew she wasn’t involved.

“She’s not your property, and she doesn’t belong to you. She’s an adult now and can make her own decisions. You have no right to tell her what to do.”

Their faces twisted with rage, as though if Sophia even dared to say no, they would tear her apart.

She reluctantly agreed, but I stood firm. I wouldn’t back down.

Just then, I got a message from my mom saying she was coming to pick me up.

No matter her motives, I knew that I needed to leave this place right now.

I sent her my location.

These people, seeing me in such a miserable state, were obviously satisfied with themselves, their ugly faces grinning as they mocked me.

My mom arrived, and she wasn’t alone. Her wealthy husband was with her.

She stepped out of a luxury car, her expensive handbag in tow, wearing sunglasses and heels, looking as regal as ever.

They stood there stunned for a while before recognizing her.

“Sweetheart, come home with Mommy.”

Although the affection was fake, it had the desired effect—they absolutely hated the sight of me and my mom.

They watched as my mom lived well and now came to take me away. Naturally, they were livid.

They couldn’t even fake a smile anymore. I could already guess what they would say next.

“Don’t let her fool you. She can’t give you a son. She’s useless.”

It was absurd. The gender of a child isn’t something a woman controls—what an outdated mindset.

The man’s words, however, were what really broke them.

“I love having a daughter. Daughters are great. You’re a woman too, aren’t you?”

I happily followed them.

“We’re leaving. Don’t pay any attention to these people. They’re crazy.”

The happier I seemed, the angrier they became. I wanted them to know just how happy I could be without them.

I got into the car with them, leaving Uncle Oven and the rest of them with only the howling wind and their fury behind.

I got into the car not to be with them, but to escape. I didn’t want to follow someone who had abandoned me before.

“Mom, why suddenly come to take me now? After all these years, you never looked for me, but now you want to?”

Her eyes shifted toward the man beside her, as if she didn’t want him to hear what she was about to say.

“Of course, I came to bring you home. I was wrong before, but now I want to make it right.”

Her words were sweet and sincere, making me feel like she truly cared, but I couldn’t see a hint of genuine emotion in her eyes.

“Leo wants a sister, and you’re just in time. We could be one big happy family.”

The man was kind and polite, though.

So, it was because her son wanted a sister. But what if he didn’t like me? Would I have to leave?

I thought I had escaped one hell, only to fall into another.

This kind of family was something I couldn’t endure.

“I’m not going with you. Just drop me off wherever.”

The moment I got into their car, it felt like I lost any choice.

They forcibly took me to a new, unfamiliar place—a luxurious, high-end residence that I had never seen before.

They were kind to me, though, offering me a private room and making sure everything I needed was well provided for.

I had never had a private room growing up. I always wore clothes no one wanted, and ate leftovers that had gone bad.

I had to admit, the material comforts made it hard to refuse.

Then, I saw a child playing with toys.

That must be Leo, the little boy who had been eagerly waiting for me.

I asked him, “Is it you who wanted a sister?”

“Mm-hmm.” The boy was indeed cute, and his innocence was hard not to love.

“Why do you want a sister?” I asked.

“Because—Noah bro says I can’t tell.”

Who was Noah? My curiosity piqued.

“Noah is the son of our neighbors, he lives next door. Leo loves him, and often asks him to come over and help him with his studies.”

Before the uncle could say more, the man himself arrived.

“Leo, look at the toy I bought for you.”

That voice… too familiar.

It was Noah Clement, my university classmate, my former president.

In fact, we’d known each other even earlier. He was one of the few people who truly understood me.

Back in high school, there was an evening when I was coming home from my late study session, and a group of debt collectors came to my door.

My bastard of a father had no money to pay them, so he offered me instead.

They looked at me, and I could tell their intentions from the way they stared.

“Dad! Don’t do this—”

No matter how much I screamed at him, he stayed silent. It was then that I realized how little I meant to him.

I had to rely on myself.

I ran for my life, harder than I ever had, even harder than I did during track practice. They chased me relentlessly, while my father just stood there, watching, waiting for me to be taken.

I knew I couldn’t outrun them. I ran, fully prepared to meet my end.

Until Noah showed up and saved me.

He called the police and took me somewhere safe.

When I saw his school uniform, I realized we were classmates, though I didn’t know him at the time.

Our first meeting had been awkward, but I guess it sparked his curiosity, and soon we became good friends.

After that day, my dad seemed to think I wasn’t pure anymore. He never even asked me what happened, just assumed the worst, and began treating me worse until he disappeared completely.

Thinking too much about this was pointless.

Noah followed me to university. He confessed to me once, but I rejected him.

He was so perfect, his family was great. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for him, and I didn’t want to ruin him.

Now seeing him here, I suddenly understood something.