My Family Tossed Me Aside, But I Came Back to Reclaim Everything When I was little, my brother Brandon and his first love, Leo, were kidnapped. The kidnappers were ruthless. They specifically demanded that I, a small girl, deliver the ransom. Brandon and Leo were safe, but I was taken as a hostage and eventually sold into a brothel. My parents were heartbroken, so they adopted a girl to replace me. Ten years later, relying on hazy memories, I finally found my way back to the house I once called home. My family hugged me, weeping floods of tears. Not wanting to make things difficult for me, they didn’t hesitate to send the adopted girl away. But the day before Penelope was supposed to leave, Brandon cruelly pushed me down the stairs. “Sometimes I wish she’d just died ten years ago.” “But she’s your sister, your *real* sister. She risked her life for you back then.” “Does being ‘real’ even matter? I only see Penelope as my sister.” Mom and Dad didn’t argue. Maybe that’s what they secretly thought too. I slowly opened my eyes, deliberately feigning confusion. “Who… who are you people?” I wasn’t welcome here. So, I’d take everything back to square one. My fake family? I didn’t need them. And everything that was rightfully mine? I’d take it back with my own two hands.
My head still spun, and I tried to sit up. A voice, laced with fury, crashed down on me: “Don’t pretend you’re still asleep now that you’re awake!” It was my own brother, Brandon Albright. He stood by the hospital bed, his brows furrowed, his tone dripping with impatience. “You hit Penelope, and we haven’t even settled that score yet. Now you’re playing the victim?” Before I could even open my mouth, Leo Davis, my childhood sweetheart, suddenly stood up from the corner, his voice filled with urgent concern for Penelope: “Penelope? What happened? Is she hurt?” His face was etched with worry, and his gaze towards me carried an added layer of blame. But Penelope knew perfectly well this was all her made-up story. Yesterday, I caught her secretly tossing the new dress my mother bought me into the trash in the living room. Afraid I’d tell, she deliberately cried to Brandon, claiming I pushed and insulted her. And now, somehow, it had become *my* fault. Leo quickly walked to the bedside, his voice firm and unyielding: “Chloe Albright, you apologize to Penelope right now! She’s so kind; how could you lay a hand on her?” I rubbed my throbbing temple, my face cold as I looked at Penelope, who was standing behind Brandon. “I don’t remember anything. Did I… do something to you?” Penelope’s eyes instantly flickered with panic. She didn’t dare speak, just shrank further behind Brandon. Brandon immediately shielded Penelope, glaring at me with a harsh reprimand: “Don’t you dare try to scare my sister! You’ve clearly been in that brothel too long; you can’t get rid of that wild streak!” “Chloe, if you still consider me your brother, then apologize to Penelope right now!” Watching him protect someone else, the last shred of hope I had for my family crumbled. I forced a smile, my voice icy: “Who wants to call *you* brother? I don’t even know you.” “You’re faking it! Keep faking it!” Brandon was enraged by my words. He reached out, grabbing my arm. “Mr. Albright, please calm down.” The doctor quickly intervened, seeing the situation. “When the kidnappers took Ms. Albright ten years ago, they detonated a bomb to deter police pursuit.” “Ms. Albright’s head sustained an impact, leaving a lasting sequela. This fall down the stairs likely stimulated those nerves. It’s highly probable she’s genuinely suffering from amnesia right now.” The kidnapping of the eldest sons of the prominent Albright and Davis families had been a widely known scandal back then. As soon as the doctor spoke, Brandon, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, froze. His outstretched hand hung awkwardly in mid-air. He looked at me, the anger on his face slowly fading, replaced by a flicker of undeniable embarrassment and guilt. Mom rushed to the bedside, sobbing, her voice choked: “Chloe, you really don’t remember anything?” I nodded gently, pulling my hand away. A perfectly timed look of confusion crossed my face: “Ma’am, may I ask who… you are?” Mom’s tears flowed even harder. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling: “Chloe, I’m your…” “She’s your owner!” Brandon suddenly cut off Mom’s words. He stepped forward, blocking Mom from me, his eyes cold as he stared at me, speaking each word distinctly: “She’s your owner. And you, you’re just a servant we took in out of pity when we found you, a long time ago.”
Brandon’s cold words momentarily confused Mom. But Leo was the first to react. He took half a step forward, as if convincing himself: “That’s right, you’re just a servant of the Albright family.” “Mr. and Mrs. Albright kindly took you from that remote place and raised you, but you’re so ungrateful. You’re jealous of their real daughter, Penelope Albright, and you even attacked her. That’s just too much.” His words pierced me like a needle. I looked at him—Leo Davis, who used to cling to me so much as a child, the person I risked my own safety to save. Now, for another girl, he was saying such insane things to me. Ten years really could change so much. Mom’s eyes slowly shifted. Perhaps, deep down, she’d long wanted to get rid of me, this burden. I’d spent ten years in isolation, a world away from Penelope, whom she had carefully groomed to impress her high society friends. Before, guilt might have made her hesitant, but now, this was her golden opportunity to finally shed me. Still, she hesitated, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. Just then, Penelope hugged Mom’s arm, her voice soft and tearful as she comforted her: “Mom, don’t be sad. You still have me; I’ll always be your daughter.” Penelope’s words melted away Mom’s last bit of hesitation. She hugged Penelope: “Penelope, Mom knows, I only have you, my good daughter.” I couldn’t stand to watch this sickening display of a loving mother and daughter. I turned my gaze to Dad, who had been silently standing in the corner. I spoke softly, “Excuse me… is what they’re saying true? Am I really a servant the Albrights adopted?” The words had barely left my lips when Brandon exploded: “What do you mean by that? You don’t believe what I’m saying?” “You’re a servant who saw my kind and easily bullied sister, and you wanted to take her place!” “Yesterday, you tried to harm Penelope, but you accidentally tripped and fell down the stairs yourself. You brought this on yourself, serves you right!” “Let me tell you, the Albright family doesn’t owe you anything. Don’t think you can play the victim and fish for sympathy here!” *I* tripped and fell down the stairs? I sneered internally. It was *him*, the brother whose life I saved, who personally shoved me down the stairs. If I had truly lost my memory, as they believed, I might have actually fallen for his lies. But I hadn’t. I waited for him to finish yelling everything before I slowly spoke. “I wasn’t even asking you. Why are you explaining so much? Is it because you have something to hide?” “You!” Brandon choked on my words, his face instantly turning scarlet. I watched his exasperated expression, still wanting to provoke him further. Then, Dad, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “You are indeed a servant the Albright family took in, all those years ago.” I froze. I thought Dad would at least show a flicker of doubt, But I never imagined that even he would so readily deny our blood ties.
I looked at Dad’s face, recalling childhood memories. I was his favorite child, but now, the way he looked at me held no trace of his former warmth. Instead, it was as if he was looking at an Albright family possession that didn’t belong to him, something that could be discarded at any moment. I steadied myself, slowly nodding. “Alright, I understand. Thank you to the Albright family for taking care of me all these years. The money spent on me, I will pay back every cent.” Mr. Albright looked at my expressionless face and actually showed a hint of imperceptible sadness. He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something more, but Brandon’s cold scoff interrupted him. “Pay back? Look at yourself!” Brandon crossed his arms, his face full of disdain. “A day’s stay in this fancy hospital would probably wipe out a year’s worth of your wages. What are you going to use to pay us back?” I met his gaze, my tone still flat: “Is that so? If I can’t afford it, then I’ll leave right now.” With that, I started to throw off the covers and get out of bed. Seeing this, Mr. Albright quickly stepped forward, his voice tinged with a hint of pity: “Don’t be impulsive, you’re not well yet. Why don’t you come home with me first? The family will continue to look after you.” I stopped, turning to him and giving a slight nod, my voice distant: “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Albright. I will repay the Albright family in the future.” Hearing that address, Mr. Albright’s face blurred for a moment. He looked at me with complex eyes, as if remembering something, or regretting something. Brandon, however, couldn’t hold back. He stepped forward, blocking me, warning fiercely: “Who needs your repayment? Just don’t cause trouble! You can come home with us, but if you dare to bully Penelope again, I swear I won’t let you off!” I ignored him, just looked at Mr. Albright, silently waiting for him to decide. Finally, Mr. Albright took me back to the Albright house. Mrs. Albright instructed Maria to prepare dinner. The ingredients were already ready, and soon the dishes were served. I didn’t move, instead turning and walking towards the small room where the staff ate. Mr. Albright, seeing this, opened his mouth in confusion: “Where are you going?” I looked back at him, calmly asking in return: “Mr. Albright, didn’t you say I was a servant the Albright family adopted?” “How can a servant sit and eat with their employers in the dining room?” The single sentence froze everyone present, all of them looking awkward. Penelope’s eyes suddenly reddened. She tugged at my sleeve, softly saying: “Sister, don’t be like this. I’ll give you my seat; I can stand and eat.” Mrs. Albright immediately pulled Penelope close, her voice gentle and pained: “Penelope, you’re our precious daughter. How can you stand and eat? Come, sit with Mom.” Penelope immediately leaned into Mrs. Albright’s arms, whining playfully: “Mom, you’re so good to me.” Another dazzling display of a loving mother and daughter. Seeing this, Brandon and Leo immediately jumped to Penelope’s defense. “Look at you, Penelope is being so accommodating, and you’re still so relentless!” Brandon glared at me. Leo also frowned, saying: “Chloe, you’re being far too aggressive. How could you treat Penelope like that?” I shrugged nonchalantly. “She offered her seat herself. I didn’t force her.” “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to eat.” With that, I no longer looked at their displeased faces and walked straight into the staff room. Early Monday morning, I was carrying my faded backpack, ready to go to school, when Brandon stopped me just as I reached the door. “Don’t go causing trouble at school, and don’t tell anyone you know us. You’ll just embarrass the Albright family.” “Also, don’t bother me or Leo unnecessarily. We’re not in the same league as you.” Leo stood beside him, tacitly agreeing with Brandon’s words, though he cast a complicated glance at me before quickly looking away. I didn’t reply. I opened the door and walked directly to the bus stop. Since they declared me a servant, the family car had never once taken me to school.
At school, Penelope and her clique of friends always tried to cause me trouble. But I never paid them any mind, treating them like annoying dogs barking in my ear. This morning, as I reached the school gate, Penelope and her friends blocked my way. I had an old-fashioned MP3 player plugged into my ears. I didn’t have the chance to go to school when I was in the brothel, and I always wanted to study properly. Now that I was back in the city, I could finally slowly catch up. “Chloe Albright, what is that piece of junk you have plugged into your ears?” One of Penelope’s friends reached out and yanked off my headphones, her voice full of mockery. “What century are you living in? Still using a prehistoric MP3 player. What a total geek!” “What kind of lame music are you listening to? Let us hear it, huh?” She turned on the speaker. Penelope, hearing it, immediately covered her mouth and laughed: “Oh, you’re studying English? With your pathetic level, what’s the point?” Her friend chimed in: “Exactly! Penelope’s English is way better than yours. She’s going to an Ivy League university abroad with her grandmother after she turns eighteen!” “Chloe, you could study English your whole life and never surpass Penelope!” Penelope listened to their words, her face beaming with pride. I hadn’t even opened my mouth when an elegant old lady, with silvery hair, walked up, carrying a suitcase. She wore a well-fitted trench coat, her face showing a hint of urgency. It turned out she was Grandma Eleanor, a wealthy matriarch who had lived abroad for decades and was not fluent in the local language. She asked for directions in English, and I understood enough to communicate with her and point her the way. Penelope scoffed at me: “Chloe Albright, your English accent is so embarrassing, you’ll make everyone laugh.” I rolled my eyes at her, speaking flatly: “Didn’t you say your English was so good? Then *you* help her with directions.” Penelope adopted a haughty posture: “Why should I help her? An old lady, it’s none of my business if she falls and dies.” With that, she dragged her friends into the school. I ignored her. I turned back to the old lady, offering a polite smile, and conversed with her fluently in English. The old woman looked at me with an admiring gaze. Only after her back disappeared down the road did I pick up my MP3 player from the ground and head into school for class. Time flew by, and soon it was Penelope’s eighteenth birthday gala. The Albright family hosted a grand party, with everyone fawning over Penelope, who was the center of attention. No one remembered that today was also *my* birthday. Just then, the ballroom doors opened, and a distinguished old woman walked in – it was the Albright family matriarch, Grandma Eleanor. She usually lived abroad and had returned specifically to take her chosen grandchild overseas to further her career. Mrs. Albright’s eyes lit up. She immediately nudged Penelope forward: “Penelope, quickly go help Grandma and sit with her.” Penelope instantly put on a sweet and innocent act. “Grandma, you’re back. What a tiring journey for you.” But as her hand just touched Grandma Eleanor’s sleeve, she froze. Grandma Eleanor was staring at her with an icy gaze. The next second, Grandma Eleanor brushed her hand away, her voice as cold as ice: “I don’t need your help. It’s none of your business even if I fall and die.” Penelope’s face flushed with embarrassment, her hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. I stood in the corner, barely holding back a laugh. Wasn’t that the matriarch I met at the school gate that day? Turns out, she’s *my* grandmother. “Chloe Albright! What are you laughing at?!” Brandon immediately yelled at me. “This has nothing to do with you! Get out of here right now!” I was about to turn, but Grandma Eleanor called out: “Wait, child.” She quickly walked to my side, grabbing my hand, her voice instantly softening as she showered me with concern: “How have you been? Are you eating properly? Come, sit with Grandma.” Mrs. Albright quickly stepped forward to intervene, a forced smile on her face: “Mom, this isn’t proper. She’s just a…” Her words were cut short by Grandma Eleanor’s sharp interruption. “Just a what?” “Regardless of her status, *I* feel a connection with this girl. She feels more like my granddaughter. Do any of you have an issue with that?”
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