Stolen Childhood, Stolen Future

Back then, I scavenged half-rotten leftovers from the junkyard just to fill my stomach and slept curled up beside piles of garbage when I was too tired to move.

For eight long years, every morning I opened my eyes to an endless sea of trash. It wasn't until community workers tracked me down and brought me back to the Gervais family that I learned the truth—I was born their daughter, the real heiress, but had been switched at birth by my adoptive mother.

The first time I saw the delicate, pampered girl who had taken my place, I broke down sobbing and begged my father not to send her away. I knew too well how cruel life in the garbage yard was—I couldn't bear to let her suffer what I had.

But when Natalie met my eyes, there was nothing but hatred and jealousy in hers. She deliberately bumped into me, causing the ice cream in my hand to fall to the floor.

"Oh no, Alice, I'm so sorry—I lost my balance," she said sweetly.

I stared at the fallen ice cream. In the junkyard, I could dig up anything—except ice cream. I'd spent years dreaming of what it might taste like. That was why, when I finally received the black card, I'd used it to buy myself one simple cone for two-fifty… and that single act had cost me everything.

Seeing me stare at the ice cream, Natalie's smile grew smug. "I was just so happy to see you. I even told Dad recently that we should bring you back to attend my engagement party."

At that, she raised her hand to flaunt the massive diamond ring glittering on her finger. And my heart jolted, for it was the wedding gift I'd personally picked for my future sister-in-law.

'Reid's fiancee… isn't Natalie, is she?!'

Ansel affectionately patted her head. "So that's why this beggar had the nerve to sneak back into the country. Our sweet Natalie just has too kind a heart."

Then he turned to glare at me. "Well? Aren't you going to thank Natalie? Do you have no manners at all?" he hissed.

I gave a small, bitter smile. "What manners could I have when I was born with parents but never raised by them? My own father and brother sent me off to dig mines to appease an imposter. What kind of upbringing do you expect from me?"

Guests nearby had gathered by the entrance, whispering among themselves.

"I heard the Gervaises had a biological daughter who went missing for years. Could that be her?"

"How pitiful. If that impostor hadn't stolen her place, she'd be the one engaged to the oil prince today."

"You!" Ansel's hand shot up, ready to strike me, but the moment his gaze met mine, he froze and slowly lowered it. "Forget it—it's just ice cream. I'll pay you back ten times over."

"Don't bother," I said evenly. "I'm not short on money." No amount of money could buy back the love I'd been denied.

His fists clenched tight. "If you didn't happen to look a bit like Mom, do you really think your cheap tricks would make me see you any differently? Even if you got on your knees right now and begged, I'd never acknowledge you as my sister!"

At that, he pulled out his phone, furious, and tried to transfer me money—but the screen flashed a warning: This account had been frozen.

"What?" His face twisted in confusion. "How could your card be frozen? You haven't been using the allowance we gave you all these years?"

For a brief second, his expression faltered—half surprise, half pity. He must have thought I'd lived off their scraps all this time. He had no idea that my card had been useless since the very day I arrived in Rimala.

Natalie's eyes shimmered with tears. "Alice, ten years ago, you sent a vagrant into my room just to get me thrown out… I've finally managed to forget that nightmare and find my happiness. Why won't you leave me alone? I never meant to steal your life!"

I smiled faintly. "Then, I suppose I should thank you. If you hadn't taken my life, I'd still be suffocating in that tiny gilded cage you call home."

Ten years ago, I'd screamed myself hoarse trying to defend my innocence, but all I'd gotten in return were my own family's slaps across the face.

Now, the whispers turned sharper around me.

"She must be insane. The Gervaises have the most luxurious estate in all of Evarra, and she's complaining it's suffocating?"

"No wonder the Gervais family disowned her. A vain, ungrateful girl like that would only bring them shame."

"She probably came crawling back because she heard they were marrying into the oil tycoon's family."

"Well, can you blame her? That's a royal family we're talking about. Ten Gervais families combined couldn't compare to a single finger of that man's wealth."

Ansel pulled Natalie behind him protectively, glaring at me with disgust. "How long are you going to keep up this act? Even if we share the same blood, I won't let you bully Natalie! Today's her celebration—get out!"

Her celebration? I almost laughed. Reid had only picked this date because I happened to have a day off. In fact, he hadn't even wanted a ceremony.

"It's just a business alliance," he'd said. "We both get what we need."

But I was the one who insisted he announce it publicly, to give his fiancee the respect she deserved.

I stood my ground. "Are you sure you want me to leave? Because if I do, this engagement party ends right here."

The Necklace

Natalie's face twisted with rage. "Who do you think you are?!"

She quickly caught herself and forced a polite smile. "After spending all those years in the mines, I'm sure you've at least heard of my fiance—the famous oil prince."

"Of course I have," I said calmly.

At that, Natalie's pride shone through like a peacock spreading its feathers, but I continued, "Not only have I heard of him, but we practically grew up together, inseparable."

A wave of gasps swept through the hall.

Her eyes darted to the necklace around my neck, and her eyes widened with incredulity. "Where did you get that necklace?"

She lunged forward and yanked it off me. The chain cut into my skin, making me cry out in pain. "Give it back!" I shouted, my voice trembling.

She compared the necklace in her hand to the diamond ring she wore. They were part of the same jewelry set—the set my adoptive mother had treasured most before she died.

I could still remember the day my adoptive father brought me home. I had hidden timidly behind him, staring in awe at the lavish mansion. My adoptive mother had smiled gently as she wiped the dirt from my face with a warm towel.

From the moment I was born, no one had ever treated me with that kind of kindness. I had thrown myself into her arms, desperate to hold on to that fleeting warmth.

Now, Natalie glared at me with pure venom. "You filthy bitch! How dare you seduce my fiance?!"

"What are you talking about? Give me back the necklace!" I reached out to grab it—it was the only thing left of my adoptive mother.

Natalie's face contorted, and she screamed, "You bought it with my money!"

Ansel looked taken aback by her outburst. "It's just a cheap piece of plastic, isn't it?" he muttered.

She turned toward him, her eyes welling with tears. "Ansel, I saw this exact necklace on Reid before, and now it's on her. She's doing this on purpose—she's trying to steal my man!"

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the guests.

"So, she's a mistress? I knew she looked the part—cheap and shameless."

"And she's a Gervais? What a disgrace to their name."

Ansel's expression darkened with disappointment. He slapped me hard across the face. "And to think I'd considered talking to Dad about letting you work as our housemaid! I can't believe you'd stoop this low. Just because Natalie took your place, you want to ruin her happiness?"

My cheek burned red from the blow.

"Do you have any idea what those eight years in the junkyard were like for me? That was her life, not mine!" My eyes stung, and I pulled out my phone, intending to call Reid and tell him to call off this ridiculous engagement. But before I could dial, Natalie snatched the phone from my hand.

"Ansel, look at her wallpaper—it's a photo of her with Reid! And she still claims she's not a mistress! No wonder she's acting all high and mighty despite being a beggar!"

I gave a cold, humorless laugh. "So this is what passes for class in the Gervais family? Making baseless accusations because it suits your narrative?"

Ansel froze, looking at me in disbelief, his eyes wide.

Natalie, on the other hand, paled. "That's impossible…"

I yanked the phone back and quickly dialed Reid's number.

"Hey, Alice—where are you?"

"Reid, I'm—"

Before I could finish, Natalie grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked hard. I screamed as the phone crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

She clamped her hands around my throat. "You even slept with him?! You're quite the sl*t, huh? Reid? You two on a first-name basis?"

My lungs burned; I could barely breathe. I clawed at her hands, gasping for air. "I'm not a mistress! Reid is my brother! I'm the daughter of the oil tycoon!"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"The oil tycoon's daughter? And she's buying cheap ice cream?"

"That's the funniest thing I've heard all year! Why not claim to be the president's daughter instead?"

Natalie stomped her foot, tears glistening. "Ansel, look at her! She's turned our family into a joke!"

The surrounding whispers made Ansel's face flush crimson, and he kicked me hard in the stomach. "Shameless trash!"

The blow sent me flying six feet across the floor. Blood filled my mouth as I coughed and spat it onto the marble tiles.

No one moved to help me. Not one. I curled my fingers into fists and silently prayed that my father and brother would arrive soon.

"Disgracing the Gervais name," Ansel growled. "I'll deal with you myself."

Security guards began closing in from all sides. My heart clenched in fear as I pressed a trembling hand to my ribs. 'Please,' I begged silently, 'Dad, Reid—come quickly…'

…

A furious voice suddenly boomed from behind me. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The sound of tires screeching filled the air as a fleet of luxury cars came to a halt at the entrance behind me.