This was not the first time I had heard those cruel words.

　　When I found out I was not his biological sister and the murderer switched me with his daughter, Xavier hurled the most vicious words in the world at me.

　　...

　　He was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he laughed maniacally.

　　I hated this cruel twist of fate.

　　Why was I the daughter of a perverted murderer?

　　I liked Calvin as my dad and Xavier as my brother. I liked the Cullen family.

　　I didn't do anything wrong, but I had to take all the blame.

　　Since the day my real identity was found out, Xavier had hated me for six years.

　　He always wanted me to die.

　　But he never knew that I had the same wish as him.

　　But every time thoughts of suicide came to my mind, my father's loving face would appear in my mind.

　　I could not die. Dad wanted to see me live happily.

　　But I let him down.

　　Xavier finally got what he wanted. He didn't have to curse me anymore.

　　At this moment, he looked at the back of my hand under the white cloth and frowned as if he had discovered something.

　　He rushed to my body and lifted my hand with a pen.

　　The back of my hand was tattooed with my dad's badge number. Xavier could definitely find some clues.

　　But the next second, he let go of my hand, and the pen slipped down his palm.

　　He exchanged a look with Carson and shook his head in disappointment.

　　Only then did I remember that the murderer had cut the back of my hand with a knife before killing me. In addition, my body was immersed in the river, so he couldn't find any clues.

　　Seeing my rotting body with his own eyes, Xavier frowned and couldn't help retching.

　　After thinking for a while, he picked up his phone and made a call.

　　"Chloe, why did it take you so long to answer the phone? Are you watching a TV series?"

　　"I gotta interrupt you for a moment. Now, close the window leading out onto the balcony and the ones in the kitchen and lock all of them. The case I'm handling right now is a little tricky. I'll come back and celebrate your birthday when it's over, okay?"

　　I haven't seen him so gentle for six years.

　　The look in his eyes was loving and tender.

　　To make it up to Chloe, who had been abducted for 12 years, he doted on her as much as he could.

　　Even when I was still his sister, he had never treated me like this.

　　After a long while, he finally hung up the phone.

　　Every word of his concern for her was like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart.

　　When the photos of my body were saved in the file, he looked at the missing part of my body and frowned.

　　At this time, Carson handed him a bottle of water and said with concern,

　　"You just called Chloe. Why don't you give Harper a call too? She's been living on her own for six years since she was 12. Her life is hard enough."

　　Xavier's face darkened, but Carson continued,

　　"If I remember right, it's Chloe's birthday tomorrow. Harper goes back to you at this time of the year. She's a big girl now. Don't throw her out the door again."

　　"Listen to me, let bygones be bygones! If Calvin were still alive, he wouldn't want to see you like this."

　　Xavier heard my name and became so angry that the veins on his neck throbbed.

　　He said through gritted teeth, "I'm investigating a case now. I can't go back or call her. Carson, if you're worried, call her yourself. Anyway, you've helped her a lot in the past six years!"

　　After that, he turned around and left. This time, he didn't even listen to Carson.

　　I forced a smile and felt sorry for Carson.

　　In the past six years, without his secret help, I might not even afford to go to school.

　　If I had known that I would be targeted and die miserable, I would have saved some tuition fees to buy Carson some kebabs.

　　When Dad was still alive, he liked to eat kebabs and drink with him.

　　Bitterness welled up in my chest, and I couldn't breathe.

　　Several police officers who were investigating the case slept in the car for the whole night, and the people on duty tried to fish out my fingers overnight.

　　Early in the morning, the third search was over, but they still found nothing.

　　Xavier woke up early. He looked grim when the rescue team members all frowned.

　　Carson came over and said with a serious face, "It seems that the key to this case is the fingers."

　　"What's wrong with the fingers?"

　　Xavier replied coldly, "There is either evidence of a murder or clues of the deceased's identity on them."

　　After a while, Carson suddenly remembered something and immediately grabbed Xavier's arm.

　　"Xavier, if I remember right, Harper lost two fingers on her right hand, didn't she?"

　　The look of panic on his face stunned Xavier for a moment.

　　He said impatiently, "She's missing two fingers, not five."

　　"I didn't cut off her hand!"

　　Carson's eyes flickered as he said warily, "No, call Harper now. I'm getting more and more flustered."

　　Hearing this, Xavier said disdainfully, "Her father is a perverted murderer. Even if something happens, she is on his side! Stop worrying!"

　　After saying this, he didn't notice the disappointment in Carson's eyes.

　　Just as Carson was about to call me, Xavier's phone rang.

　　When he saw the name on the screen, his face instantly softened.

　　When he answered the phone, his tone became gentle.

　　"What's wrong, Chloe?"

　　"Nothing. Harper came and wished me a happy birthday. I told her you were not home, and she left."

　　Carson was very close to Xavier and could hear Chloe's voice.

　　He heaved a sigh of relief in an instant.

　　Xavier snapped, "Get her out of there! She just pretended to be kind. She wished you a happy birthday but left when she knew I was not with you."

　　"She has no conscience! She used your identity for 12 years and will never be able to repay you for the rest of her life!"

　　"She wished you a happy birthday and that's it?"

　　My heart, which had ached for six years, was completely broken at this moment.

　　Xavier, I'd give my life back to her now.

　　I didn't want anything.

　　No one could hear my voice, let alone feel my despair.

　　I watched helplessly as they returned to the police station without finding anything.

　　Xavier strode in and asked the person on duty last night, "Did you receive any report of missing girls? If you did, let me know!"

　　The news of a floating body retrieved at the bottom of the river last night quickly reached the police station. Everyone looked grave.

　　Without getting the answer he wanted, Xavier walked out with a gloomy face.

　　He grumbled, "Her parents are not responsible. The girl has been missing for a whole day, but they didn't call the police yet. Today's world is dangerous for girls. Don't they have any common sense? They are really bad parents! When I see them, I will definitely teach them a lesson!"

　　Carson couldn't help but sigh. "I guess when they see the body, they'll learn their lesson!"

　　Xavier rubbed his eyes, looking tired.

　　Thinking of the shopping bag in the car, he made a request.

　　"There is no progress in the case for the time being. Today is Chloe's 18th birthday. I'll go back and give her the gift now. It won't take me long. I told the lab to call me at any time when the result comes out. And I'll be there as soon as possible."

　　I froze on the spot. I couldn't believe that my brother would put aside the case for Chloe's birthday.

　　He used to be a perfect policeman in my heart, just like my father.

　　He couldn't even sleep well until he investigated the case thoroughly.

　　When I was a child, I admired my father the most. I was even determined to be a good policeman after I grew up.

　　But after finding out who I really was, I completely lost this opportunity.

　　Xavier mocked me and ripped open my old wounds without mercy.

　　"You don't deserve to be a policeman. Even if you die, your body will contaminate the air!"

　　He was proud of his profession, but now he had to give up investigating the case for the murderer who killed me!

　　I felt nauseous and retched. Tears welled up in my eyes.

　　I didn't expect that he would give up his principles for his sister one day.

　　Would he change his mind if he found out that Chloe was not his biological sister but the daughter of a perverted murderer and also a murderer?

　　If she was really his biological sister, I was fine with that.

　　But who did she think she was?

　　Xavier drove all the way home. He opened the door to see Chloe lying on the sofa watching a TV series.

　　When she saw him, she rushed over in surprise and hugged him.

　　"Xavier, I knew you would definitely come back to celebrate my birthday!"

　　He handed her the shopping bag and looked embarrassed.

　　"Sorry, I didn't have time to buy you a cake. I'll make up for it after this case is over."

　　"Happy birthday, Chloe. You're 18 now!"

　　He stood at the door and sincerely gave his blessings to the murderer who had killed me.

　　The sense of powerlessness and despair crashed over me.

　　At this time, Xavier's cell phone rang.

　　He answered it impatiently. It turned out to be my boss. I had worked part-time in his shop.

　　"Hello, is it Harper's family? She works part-time here, but she's nowhere to be seen today. My shop remained closed for a whole day! What's going on? Did something happen to her?"

　　Xavier took a deep breath and shouted angrily, "She has nothing to do with me! She's not my family! She must hang out with the murderer. Don't ask me about her again!"

　　My boss was scolded for no reason. Xavier hung up on him before he could say anything.

　　A smug look came over Chloe's face.

　　It made my heart skip a beat.

　　She really took after the murderer. Just looking at her made my hair stand on end.

　　I couldn't relate such a gentle expression to the distorted facial features that night.

　　If Xavier knew her real identity, would he go crazy?

　　After he hung up the phone impatiently, it rang again.

　　This time, he picked it up without even checking the screen. "Didn't I tell you not to bother me with anything about Harper? Don't you understand English?"

　　The person on the other end of the line hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively,

　　"Xavier? Why is it you? What's your relationship with Harper?"

　　It seemed to be a police trainee, and the question he asked made Xavier furious.

　　"I have nothing to do with her! If you mention her again, you're not gonna take any leave this year!"

　　The police trainee immediately apologized in a panic and even wanted to kneel.

　　"I checked for a long time. You are the only contact person in the victim's phone book. I'm sorry. I may have made a mistake. I'll recheck the data now!"