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423words2026-01-26 11:24

When my birth parents finally found me, I had just crawled out of the mine shaft.
I was covered head to toe in coal dust, a complete mess.
I could tell the disgust on their faces the moment they laid eyes on me.

My birth father was the first to speak, "Get her another car,” he said, not even lower his voice. “I don't want her dirtying up the family car."
My birth mother forced a sympathetic smile, said with fake concern, "Sweetie, you've been through so much. Once you get home and clean up, I will make it all up to you, I promise"
Then, they practically fled to the safety of their spotless luxury sedan.
Their adopted son, named Julian, stayed behind.
He looked from me to his black Maybach, and let out a resigned sigh. "Just ride with me," he offered.
"There's a shower at the mine.” I said, my voice flat. “I'll get changed,"

I went to take a shower without waiting for a reply.
After I'd changed, I slid into the passenger seat of Julian's car and went to my birth parents' mansion.
When we arrived, my so-called parents were nowhere to be seen. Instead, I saw a girl about my age approached us. This was Emma, the daughter they had raised, the one who had taken my place
Emma walked up with a smile, took my hand, and said, "I guess I should call you sis, right? Don't worry, I won't play the whole 'real vs. fake daughter' nonsense. We‘re going to be like real sisters from now on, okay?"

As she said this, shepressed the handle of a small paring knife into my hand and tried to guide my hand to stab her with it.
First meeting, and Emma puts a paring knife in my hand and tries to make me stab her.
Was this some kind of weird family welcome ritual?
Sure, I'm lazy, but I'm not weak. She didn't budge me an inch.
She gave another hard yank, but it was useless. She blinked those innocent eyes at me, then tried to pull again.
I pointed at the phone hanging around my neck and said flatly, "Vlog footage."
Emma immediately dropped my hand like it was on fire.
Just then, Julian came in after parking the car. He took in the paring knife in my hand and Emma's terrified expression. His expression shifted to pure confusion.
I couldn't be bothered with explaination. I casually placed the knife back into Emma's hand.
"Hey, you're back?"