On the day of my engagement, my brother Tristan Snyder brought home a girl around my age named Zoey Snyder, claiming she was his real sister. He accused me of stealing twenty years of her life. My fiancé Anton Hayes also declared that girl was his true wife. I was unceremoniously thrown out of the house. Tristan and Anton took Zoey traveling around the world, even giving her the villa that was originally prepared for me. It wasn’t until half a month later, when they suddenly remembered my birthday, that they discovered I had joined a classified government program lasting ten years. They would never see me again. The two who should have been happy began to regret their actions. ***** “Evelyn, are you sure about this? This project is completely classified. Once you enter, you won’t be able to see your family.” Director Jonah Collins pulled me back from my thoughts, my eyes still moist. Everyone at the research institute knew what had happened at home these past few days—I was just a fake. “I know this has been a huge blow to you, but you shouldn’t act impulsively. This is your life.” Seeing the sadness in my eyes, Jonah turned away, his face full of concern. “Please don’t worry, Mr. Collins. I’m not acting impulsively. I didn’t agree immediately before because I couldn’t bear to leave my family. But now that things have reached this point, leaving is the right choice.” I steadied myself and responded. But where Jonah couldn’t see, I quietly wiped away the tears from the corner of my eyes. I was indeed heartbroken, but I also felt relieved. It seemed like I had always known I would eventually make this decision. Rather than making everyone unhappy, it was better to let them find the right person early. “Alright, I trust you. Take care of yourself. We depart in half a month.” Jonah didn’t try to persuade me further, just gently patted my shoulder. He understood I needed comfort now but didn’t know what to say, so he could only use this gesture to tell me he would always be on my side. “Thank you.” I bowed and left. As I walked toward the door, everyone at the research institute looked my way. Ever since my identity was exposed, these former colleagues had been especially sympathetic toward me. In their eyes, everything I had achieved was through my own efforts. However, Tristan had stated on the company’s official website that my achievements were only possible thanks to the Snyder family’s support, so I had no right to blame them and didn’t deserve any of it. “Evelyn, why don’t you just not go home?” “Yeah, I have a spare room at my place. If you don’t want to go back, you can stay with me. You’re leaving in just a few days anyway, so there’s no need to go back and suffer.” To comfort me, everyone offered their help. I shook my head gently. “Precisely because I’m leaving, I should go home.” I needed to repay the debt I owed. Though Tristan’s words were harsh, I couldn’t deny that I had indeed taken twenty years of his real sister’s life. This was my fault and a responsibility I had to face. “Evelyn.” Seeing my determination, everyone wanted to persuade me further, but I forced a smile and hugged each person. “It’s okay. You’ve forgotten—I’m very strong. Just like these experiments, no matter how difficult they were, I made it through in the end. Trust me.” I raised my hand, making a gesture of encouragement, then got up and headed home. The Snyder villa wasn’t far from here, because this research institute was built with investments from Tristan and Anton. To be closer to me, they had built two adjacent villas nearby—those were once my two homes. But now, there was no room for me in either villa. Facing my arrival, the servants inside were openly hostile. “Mr. Snyder said you’re no longer part of the Snyder family. What are you doing here?” “Some people steal twenty years of someone else’s life and still have the nerve to show their face?”
Countless cold stares shot my way, and my whole body stiffened. The words I’d planned to say died in my throat. I was only here to retrieve what belonged to me, to say a proper goodbye. “What are you doing here?” Just as I stood there helplessly, Anton emerged from the villa, holding a doll in his hand. It was our token of love from when we were eighteen, accidentally lost on our engagement day. I’d always thought it was gone forever. “Anton.” A flicker of hope stirred in my heart. I instinctively reached out with my right hand, but the doll flew from his grasp and landed squarely in the trash can. “Is there something you need?” Anton asked expressionlessly. I quickly pulled back my suspended hand, a suffocating pain shooting through my chest. That Christmas when we were eighteen, he’d sworn: “Even if I lose my life, I’ll never lose this doll.” Now that he’d thrown it away with his own hands, did it mean I was no longer an irreplaceable part of his life? As if to confirm my suspicions, Anton spoke coldly: “Evelyn, we’ve already said everything that needed to be said. The one who got engaged to me was the Snyder family’s daughter, and you were just living her life. She’s the one I’m going to marry. Don’t you understand? How do you still have the nerve to come here and make a scene?” His expression was nothing like the man who once promised to love me forever. “I just wanted to come back and get some things,” I explained in a low voice. A scoff echoed from inside the Snyder villa: “So you finally decided to come back? I only said a few words to you, and you got upset? Evelyn, what right do you have to throw a tantrum? All these years, it’s been Zoey who’s suffered in your place.” Tristan stormed out of the villa, furious. I quickly lowered my head: “I’m sorry.” I truly meant it. The mix-up at birth wasn’t my doing, but I had indeed benefited from a privileged life that wasn’t rightfully mine. “It’s okay, Evelyn. I’m just glad you’re back. I’ve been so worried about you these past few days. It’s Tristan and Anton who were wrong—I told them both to go find you.” Zoey appeared last. These past few days, she’d been frantically learning how to be a proper rich young lady. But years of malnutrition still made her look out of place. That should have been the life I endured. “It’s my fault. They were right not to look for me,” I said, head bowed in guilt. Zoey seemed somewhat flustered. She hurried over and gripped my hands tightly, explaining urgently: “Evelyn, don’t listen to them. This will always be your home. I’m the one who disrupted your life.” I was momentarily stunned, but Anton shoved me away: “How many times do I have to tell you? Coming back here only reminds Zoey of painful things. Isn’t the money we gave you enough? Can’t you just stay away forever?” Once upon a time, he used to worry about me like this. Once upon a time, he used to dislike Zoey like this. Back then, I was still the Snyder family’s only daughter, and Zoey was just Anton’s intern assistant. Tristan despised her because she spent too much time with Anton and might threaten our relationship. Anton thought she was incompetent and couldn’t do anything right. Until one day when Zoey made a mistake, he actually smiled and teased her about it. From that moment, their relationship quietly began to change. To ease the tension between Tristan and her, Anton brought her home for dinner multiple times, until Tristan was completely won over by her kindness. These were all trivial matters. I’d never paid much attention to Zoey before, because I was their only treasure—no one could replace me. But who could have predicted that on the day of my engagement to Anton, I’d learn my true identity, while Zoey suddenly became the Snyder family’s real daughter? Fate really does love its cruel jokes. Tristan said: “Evelyn, I’m not as heartless as Anton. I have only one demand—you can come back, but you’re not allowed to bully Zoey. Do you understand?”
When my collar was yanked up roughly, I looked at Tristan and nodded solemnly. “I heard you.” I never intended to compete with Zoey for anything. Besides, even if I tried, how could I possibly win against her? I was nothing but a fake—who would ever take my side? “Come on, you’re being too harsh on Evelyn. I’m fine.” Just as things seemed to settle down, Zoey jumped in again, wrapping her arms around me affectionately. “Evelyn, let’s go have some fun together. Don’t mind them.” She was always so willful. Tristan indulgently ruffled her hair, and even Anton, usually expressionless, broke into a smile. This was how the male and female leads were supposed to interact in the novel. “It’s okay, this is what I deserve.” I subtly pulled away from Zoey. But she acted as if she didn’t notice. Every time I tried to distance myself, she’d pull me back. “Evelyn.” Perhaps sensing my unease, Tristan shot me a glare. Then, without giving me a choice, he led me into the study, with Anton silently following behind. They wanted to get Zoey out of earshot so they could warn me to behave. This time, I didn’t throw a tantrum like I had during the engagement. Even my aching heart gradually settled into calm. “Mr. Snyder, Mr. Hayes, don’t worry. I’m only here to collect what belongs to me. I won’t compete with Zoey for anything.” I spoke sincerely. But Tristan still eyed me suspiciously. “Your room has the best lighting in the entire house. I’ve already had Zoey move in there. Your luggage will be placed in a guest room.” He issued the order directly. My chest tightened with a sour ache, and I responded with a muffled “okay.” “Same at my place,” Anton continued. “I hope you know your place. Since you’re back, go cook. Zoey likes what you make. After all the care she showed you back then, you wouldn’t refuse, would you?” Cooking was the only thing I’d learned to do in over twenty years, and only because of these two men standing before me. Now they were asking me to personally cook for someone else. In the past, I would have thrown a fit. But now, I simply nodded calmly. “Okay.” I don’t know how I made it to the kitchen, but staying busy helps you forget many things—like sadness, like exhaustion. “Evelyn, thank you for cooking for me personally.” Zoey quickly learned about this and came to the kitchen specifically to thank me. “It’s nothing.” I didn’t look up, continuing with my work. “What are you making? Can I help?” Zoey wandered around the kitchen like a curious child, even reaching out to lift the pot lid. The lid was scalding hot. I panicked and immediately called out to stop her. But she moved faster, and the moment her hand touched it, she got burned. The pain made her instinctively fling the lid away, and the boiling soup splashed all over me. The lid seemed to have found its target, crashing straight down onto my leg. With a tremendous crash, I collapsed to the floor, too pained to speak. “What happened?” Tristan was the first to rush in, his face full of concern. But his foot stepped directly on my hand as he walked straight toward Zoey. “Evelyn, I remember warning you already. What kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Don’t forget your place.” He snarled through gritted teeth. I tried to pull back my reddened hand that had been stepped on, but Anton walked over too, stepping on the exact same spot. He also scolded angrily: “Evelyn, is this how you were raised?” Three pairs of eyes fixed on me in unison. I gently blew on my aching palm and struggled to my feet. Zoey quickly explained: “Tristan, Anton, this isn’t Evelyn’s fault. I wanted to help, but I didn’t realize the lid would be so hot. Don’t blame her—she didn’t mean it.” When they scolded me, they always said Zoey had suffered so much because of me all these years. But when something actually happened, they forgot—how could Zoey not know that a pot lid would be hot? Tristan said, “Don’t try to make excuses, Evelyn. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking—you’re just jealous of Zoey. I never imagined you’d become so scheming. You say it’s nothing, but your actions show you’d love nothing more than to hurt Zoey. I’m ashamed to have ever called you my sister.” After those hurtful words escaped his lips, Tristan covered his mouth, looking somewhat uneasy. He knew these words would hurt me, knew I couldn’t accept them. But so what? He’d already said them. “Tristan, don’t say that about Evelyn. It’s all my fault. I probably haven’t done housework in so long that I accidentally knocked things over,” Zoey quickly explained. Anton shot me a disapproving look. “Zoey, you’re just too kind. That’s why this person keeps bullying you over and over again. Look how red your hands are. Come on, I’ll take you to put some medicine on them.” Though Tristan didn’t blame me further, his attitude made it clear he was holding me responsible too. “Clean up the kitchen,” Anton said, barely glancing at me as he reached the doorway. This time, I had no expectations, so naturally there was no disappointment. But I was in real pain—my knees felt like they were completely shot. The large kitchen was a complete mess. Servants came and went, whispering among themselves, but none offered to help. Only one girl—young and seemingly not yet of age—stood behind me, carefully supporting me and trying to give me some strength. “Ms. Snyder, do you need help?” “It’s okay, I can manage,” I said, fighting through the pain in my calves. The girl blinked shyly and pointed to the blisters forming on my body. “You should really treat those wounds. It won’t look good if they scar.” She spoke so gently, and her movements were efficient. Within minutes, she had the kitchen cleaned up. I thanked her. “Thank you.” I hadn’t realized until then that I was in so much pain I could barely walk. Without this girl, I might have collapsed here and no one would have noticed. She said, “Don’t mention it, Ms. Snyder. Don’t be sad. I believe in you. You’re so kind and good—you’re the one being bullied, not the other way around. Let me help you get some medicine.” This was the first kindness I’d felt since returning to this house. The feeling was special, as if all my past efforts had finally received some acknowledgment. That evening, after applying medicine, I lay in bed researching when I heard laughter and chatter outside my door. They were going out—because of today’s burn incident, Tristan wanted to make it up to Zoey by taking her on an overseas trip. “Aren’t we bringing Evelyn?” I heard Zoey ask with apparent concern before they left. Anton gave her some token praise, then answered dismissively, “No need to bring her. She’s old enough to take care of herself. Besides, she’s traveled to so many places since childhood—she doesn’t need to compete with you for a consolation trip. It’s better if we go without her, so she won’t bully you.” His tone was as domineering as always, just like when I was bullied as a child and he would proudly hold me close, saying, “You’re someone I’ve spoiled—no one gets to hurt you.” My laptop screen dimmed and brightened again, the darkness hiding the tears in my eyes. So love really doesn’t disappear—it just transfers to someone else.
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