Chapter 2

I never thought there would come a day when Declan, a workaholic, would take a ten-day vacation. Turns out, love and indifference are worlds apart.

The upstairs door was shut tight. Breakfast and lunch were delivered to the door by Aunt. I sat on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, looking at Finland travel spots.

"Adeline, give the longevity painting you made to Hazel. The birthday banquet is in two days, and she doesn't have time to prepare a gift." They appeared at the top of the stairs, looking down on me.

Fiona's eyes were red as she spoke softly, "You must have worked on it for a long time, right? You surely don't want to part with it."

I hadn't said anything when Declan casually said, "It's just a worthless trinket."

Indeed, it wasn't worth much. The fabric and thread together didn't cost more than three hundred dollars, but it was a gift I had stitched by hand for a whole year.

"It's in the Carter Family Gallery. You can get it yourselves."

I couldn't be bothered to argue with them. I only knew that in two days, the birthday banquet would be my day to leave. As long as the gift reached Grandfather's hands, I'd be content.

But my compliance seemed to annoy Declan. He quickly walked over, grabbing my wrist, a restlessness in his eyes. "You're being so cooperative, what are you planning? What method are you going to use against Hazel?"

"I haven't forgotten all the things you've done before!"

I looked down at the ground. Memories of why my reputation had been so bad over the years flashed through my mind.

Before college, not many could tell Fiona and me apart. We often switched places. During a piano competition, I took her place. Just because a judge praised "Fiona" for her significant improvement, she pushed me down after the event, stomping on my fingers until they nearly broke.

Declan happened to witness this. He carried me home on his back. Mom and Dad said it was "Adeline" who did it to "Fiona."

They always favored Fiona, and I was born later, during a difficult childbirth that almost cost my mother's life. They labeled me a "disaster star."

Even if they could tell us apart, they'd tell others I was the one who caused trouble. Even when my fingers were broken and healing, they took Fiona on a world tour. Only Declan would visit me daily.

From that point, I had no more expectations for my parents. I thought Declan would be different, but they all liked Fiona in the end. Since that's the case, I decided I didn't need any of them.

"Because I signed the longevity painting under Fiona's name. I can't go, so if the gift reaches Grandfather, I'll be very satisfied."

He sneered, "Grandfather isn't here, who are you pretending to be filial for?"

He threw my hand away forcefully, and I lost my balance, falling to the ground. He paused for a moment, then said condescendingly:

"If you want to attend the birthday banquet, you can dress as a server and hide in a corner. But make sure you wear a mask, and don't let anyone..."

"Ah!"

Fiona screamed, and Declan didn't care about me anymore. He gently picked up her sprained foot and went upstairs.

I got up from the ground by myself. I received the new identity information that had just been sent and bought a ticket for the day after tomorrow.

I sent a screenshot to a longtime online friend in Finland: "I'll arrive that day, remember to pick me up."

The reply came quickly: "Yay! I'll jot it down!"

I hung up and was about to put down my phone when Fiona sent a GIF of Declan kneeling on one knee, massaging her ankle, his eyes full of unspoken tenderness.

"Declan is so considerate." She sent a happy emoji, "He said that during the years I was gone, he only treated you as a 'real' doll, never touching you."

"Having the same face as mine was useless. Even men I don't want, don't want you."

"Just like the gifts from mom and dad when we were kids. If I didn't want them, you wouldn't get them either."

I didn't reply, and a few minutes later, she came downstairs. The door was pushed open forcefully. She wore my custom dress, looking at me with disdain.

"Aren't you curious why I let you stay?"

She suddenly took out a small knife. Looking at her malicious face, fear rose from the depths of my heart, and I instinctively took a step back.

"What are you going to do!"

"What am I going to do? Of course, I'm going to ruin your face."

She slashed my face hard with the knife. Pain surged through me as my skin was instantly cut open. Blood flowed down my cheek. Fiona's delicate features twisted with delight.

"Adeline, I've always hated your face. Before you leave, I must ruin it."

"Remember, you don't deserve this face."

As I fainted, I heard Declan's familiar voice. "Hazel, where are you? The driver is here."

Fiona responded sweetly, "Declan, my sister refused to go shopping with me. She's upset that I'm back. It's all my fault..."

She tried to block Declan at the door but was a step too late. Seeing the knife wound on my face, Declan frowned.

"What happened to your face?"

Fiona sighed, "My sister wants me to leave. I refused, and she threatened to kill herself."

"It was the same three years ago, but this time, I won't part with you again."

Declan, furious, kicked me and sneered coldly:

"How could someone be as scheming as you!"

"Stop dreaming, Adeline."