Chapter 2

I forced myself to stop trembling, shrinking further into the bed.

It took a while for my heart rate to slow and my breathing to gradually steady.

My dad, thinking I was asleep, whispered to the doctor, "What's in this drip?"

"Just saline solution," the doctor replied.

My dad sighed almost imperceptibly.

The doctor joked with a smile, "Don't worry, I know the limits. Even for Britney's sake, we can't let anything happen to *this* body."

My dad sighed again. "As long as you understand. If it weren't for Britney..."

He didn't finish, but the doctor understood his implication. He patted my dad's shoulder. "Don't worry, with me on the case, everything will be fine."

They exchanged a knowing glance and chuckled simultaneously.

Thank goodness, it was just saline solution...

My heart eased, but my leg involuntarily twitched.

Mom immediately noticed, gestured for them to be quiet, and leaned closer, whispering my name: "Chloe?"

Her voice was soft, just testing if I was awake. I didn't respond.

The tense atmosphere in the room vanished in an instant. Soon after, they left. I was alone in the room.

Ever since I'd overheard my 'parents'' scheming, I was horrified. More than that, I felt a deep pain and anguish.

It was so clear now. I was their *biological* daughter.

I had been maliciously abandoned by my father's business rival right after birth, grew up in an orphanage, and was only found half a year ago. During my time back home, my 'parents' had been so good to me, and for the first time, I felt what it was like to have a family.

Why... why was it all a lie?

The footsteps outside the door grew fainter, and I started to sob quietly. I cried for the unfortunate two decades of my tragic life.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

I quickly wiped away my tears, pretending nothing was wrong, and muttered dully, "Come in."

A middle-aged couple entered. They looked somewhat familiar. Strangely, both their eyes were red and swollen.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, confused.

The moment our eyes met, the woman burst into tears, rushing over to hug me, murmuring, "My daughter, my child, you've suffered so much..."

"It's my fault, Mom's fault, for finding you so late!"

This sudden turn of events left me completely at a loss, my hands hovering awkwardly. It was only after the middle-aged man's explanation that I understood what was happening.

"You mean... I'm actually *your* daughter?!" My eyes widened.

The man nodded, handing me some DNA test results. I quickly flipped through them; it was a report from a reputable public hospital, highly credible.

It showed that David and Sarah were my *real* biological parents.

"But... what about Richard and Karen?"

Half a year ago, Richard and Karen had found me at my university, claiming I was their biological daughter who had been lost for years. They'd also provided DNA test results like these, so I hadn't doubted them, following them back to the Lu estate and enjoying what I thought were six wonderful months.

Now, another couple pops up, claiming I'm *their* child?

The woman hugging me had finally managed to suppress her sobs, but at my words, she nearly cried again. "Child, they tricked you!"

"They were after your heart from the very beginning!"