The Long-Lost Daughter Comes Home

When my birth parents showed up to claim me, I wasnt exactly thrilled.
From what Ive seen, the long-lost daughter never wins against the perfect, adopted one, I told them, my expression grim. She usually ends up miserable, or worse. I think Ill pass.
They rushed to reassure me.
Dont be silly, dear. Vivian is so gentle and kind. Were sure you two will get along wonderfully.
I nodded slowly and pulled out my phone.
To prepare for the possibility that she tries to ruin my life, youll need to familiarize yourselves with the classic evil adopted sister playbook. Here are one hundred Real vs. Fake Heiress web dramas. Watch them all, and then Ill consider coming home with you.
After binge-watching the entire playlist, my parents were horrified.
This is all just trashy fiction, my mother insisted, though her voice wavered. Vivian would never do any of these things.
I gave a noncommittal shrug and produced a document.
Then you wont mind signing this. Its a compensation agreement. For every time Im victimized, you pay me. Five thousand for a false accusation. Ten thousand for a minor injury. Major injuries will be negotiated separately.
1
Convinced I was overthinking things, my parents signed without a second thought.
It didnt take long for them to regret it.
I hadnt been in the Lockwood mansion for more than thirty minutes before Vivian announced that her necklace was missing.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, her voice trembling, as if Id already subjected her to unspeakable cruelty.
Sophia, she pleaded, that platinum necklace was a birthday gift from Mom and Dad. Please, just give it back! I know youre their real daughter now. You can have anything else, just not that
My parents brows furrowed instantly, and they turned to me, ready to launch an interrogation.
I wordlessly pulled out my phone, cued up one of the web dramas, and held it out to them.
See? I said, my voice flat. The classic framing for theft plotline. Its right here.
They froze, the accusations dying on their lips. They exchanged an awkward glance.
Vivian, dear, why dont you look again? my mother said, forcing a smile. Im sure your sister wouldnt take your things.
Vivian stared, utterly stunned. She clearly hadnt expected them to take my side.
So you all think Im lying? I get it, she wailed. Now that your real daughter is back, you dont want me anymore. Why am I even still here?
She shot up and bolted for the door.
I scrubbed the progress bar on the video. The running away from home gambit. Also in the playbook.
Vivians footsteps faltered for a split second before she burst into louder sobs and vanished into the night.
Vivian! Its dangerous outside! Come back! my father yelled, chasing after her so frantically that one of his loafers flew off his foot.
My mothers eyes filled with tears as she turned on me.
Sophia, Vivian is your sister. You are both my precious daughters. Cant you just be a little nicer to her?
I was genuinely confused.
Shes the one not being nice to me. She accused me of being a thief
My mother cut me off. Vivian is feeling insecure right now. As her older sister, you need to be more understanding.
You mean I should have taken the blame for stealing?
She sighed. Whatever happened, just apologize to her when she gets back. Shes never had to suffer a day in her life. I cant imagine how upset she must be.
Forcing the innocent party to apologize to the guilty one, I said, tapping my phone screen. A very common trope in these dramas.
My mothers face went stiff. She didnt dare say another word.
I didnt forget our agreement. I opened my Venmo app.
Five thousand for the false accusation. You can pay me now.
2
I heard Dad found Vivian under a bridge, soaked to the bone by a sudden downpour, her face pale and shivering.
When he carried her back inside, she threw herself onto her bed, thrashing and crying.
Leave me alone! You all love Sophia now, not me!
My mothers heart broke. She wrapped Vivian in a thick towel, cooing and pleading with her to change into dry clothes. My father kept pressing his hand to her forehead, checking for a fever.
Hush now, Vivian, dont cry, he soothed. Its just a necklace. Daddy will buy you a whole new set of diamond jewelry, how about that?
Whether Sophia is here or not, you will always be Mommy and Daddys little princess.
At that, Vivians tears flowed anew. Promise youre not lying?
My mother hugged her tightly, sobbing along with her.
I got it then. The dramas were real. In the face of favoritism, blood ties were weightless. Thank God I had prepared myself, or the pain would have been unbearable.
My father noticed me sitting quietly in the corner, making no move to help. His face hardened.
Sophia, we are a family! Are you just going to sit there and watch your sister suffer?
I shrugged. What would you like me to do?
Go to the kitchen and bring the hot soup Martha made.
A simple enough task. I considered it a good deed. I went to the kitchen and returned with a steaming bowl, holding it out for Vivian.
She picked up the spoon, but just as she was about to take a sip, she shot me a defiant, triumphant glare from an angle my parents couldn't see.
Here we go. This was the prelude to another classic fake-heiress scheme.
I remained perfectly still, curious to see what she had planned.
Sure enough, she hooked her index finger over the rim of the bowl, and the scalding soup tipped directly onto her lap.
Its hot! Its burning me! Sophia, you Vivians face twisted in a mask of shock and pain, as if she couldnt believe what had just happened.
My father rushed over and shoved me so hard I stumbled.
Sophia Lockwood! Are you insane? How could you do that to your own sister?
I crashed into the corner of a wall, a large lump immediately forming on my forehead. He looked ready to hit me, but my mother grabbed his arm.
Sophia, you were wrong, she said sternly. Apologize to your sister right now!
I said nothing. I just unlocked my phone and pulled up the scene where the fake heiress uses a self-harm ploy to drive a wedge between the real heiress and her parents.
Short-term memory loss? I asked coolly. You two forget quickly.
Well
My parents exchanged a look, and the demand for an apology died in their throats. They busied themselves finding burn cream and fresh pajamas for Vivian. No one noticed the angry, swelling bruise on my forehead.
Once the chaos subsided, another ten thousand dollars landed in my Venmo account.
Not bad. Fifteen thousand on my first day home.
3
Riddled with guilt, my parents spent the next three days doting on me.
Vivian, too, did a complete one-eighty. It was Sophia this and Sophia that, acting as if I were her favorite person in the world.
My parents were thrilled. See? Vivian is so mature. Thats our good girl.
As a reward for her excellent behavior, they bought her a mountain of luxury goods.
On the fourth day, my new little brother, Aiden, returned from a school trip, eagerly showing off the gifts hed brought back.
A lighter for Dad, perfume for Mom, and a silk scarf for my sister! I remembered all your favorites!
Everyone received an exquisitely wrapped present. Except for me.
Seeing the four of them looking like a perfect, happy family, I quietly started to head back to my room.
My mother finally noticed my retreating figure. Aiden! she gasped. Didnt you get a gift for your sister Sophia?
Aiden pouted. I only have one sister, and her name is Vivian.
Just then, my grandfather walked in and overheard him. His temper flared instantly. The old man placed a premium on bloodlines, and Aidens ear was about to pay the price.
You little brat! my grandfather roared, twisting Aidens ear. Who taught you to talk like that? Sophia is your real sister! Vivian is just a girl we happened to raise. An outsider! Dont you know the difference between family and a guest? I ought to thrash you!
The word outsider struck Vivian like a dagger. She didnt dare talk back to our grandfather, so she just glared at me, her eyes burning with resentment.
Aiden howled in pain. I dont know what an outsider is! Vivian is my only sister!
Grandfather twisted harder.
Hearing their sons pig-like squeals, my parents hearts broke. They begged Grandfather to let go.
Dad, please, calm down! Well talk to Aiden, well teach him
Hmph! Grandfather couldnt stand to see his grandson cry either. He let go and pulled me over to the sofa. Surveying the scene, he quickly understood.
My granddaughter is the only one without a gift? Unbelievable. The nerve of you people. Sophia, dont you worry. Grandpas got your back! The Lockwood family heirlooms are for you and you alone. No one else gets a thing!
Vivians face crumpled, tears welling in her eyes.
My mother spoke up cautiously. Shouldnt Vivian also get
Grandfather cut her off. My possessions are for Lockwoods only. Some people have impure hearts. The sooner theyre sent away, the better.
Even with her thick skin, Vivian couldnt take it. She fled to her room, sobbing.
My father grumbled at Grandfather. You were too harsh. I watched Vivian grow up. I know what kind of person she is better than you do.
You brainless fool, Grandfather sneered. How did I ever raise such an idiot?
4
After that incident, my new little brother despised me even more.
He put bugs in my water glass, squeezed superglue into my slippers, and hid my homework. I didnt care in the slightest. In fact, I secretly hoped hed keep it up. Every time he played a prank, my parents had to Venmo me.
All told, Id amassed a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Aiden was practically vibrating with rage.
What kind of sister are you? Did you just come to this family to make money?
Yes, I answered silently.
With this money, I could pay for my moms surgery. My real mom. The one who raised me. Shed been suffering from debilitating arthritis for years and desperately needed bilateral knee replacements. Id looked into it. The surgery would cost half a million dollars. But that wonderful, foolish woman refused to take a cent from the Lockwoods, afraid it would make me look bad in their eyes.
Ill never accept you, you country bumpkin! Aiden shouted, then ran off to find Vivian.
From a distance, I saw them playing together in the garden. I watched from behind a tree for a few minutes before settling down to do my homework.
Not long after, I heard Aidens faint cries for help.
Without a second thought, I took off running.
He was flailing in the swimming pool, gulping down water, on the verge of sinking. Vivian was standing on the edge, frozen in a state of shock, just crying.
The pool wasnt deep for me. I jumped in and hauled Aiden to the side without even getting my hair wet.
My parents, hearing the commotion, rushed out, their faces white with terror.
Aiden! What happened?
Aiden sputtered, spitting out chlorinated water, and pointed a trembling finger at me.
It was her! She pushed me in! She wanted to get back at me!
What? They looked horrified. Vivian, is that true?
Vivian neither confirmed nor denied it. Im sorry, she sobbed. I didnt see clearly
My father lost control. He slapped me hard across the face.
Sophia Lockwood! The boy plays a few pranks on you, and you try to kill him?!
Is your heart made of stone?!
My mother opened her mouth to speak, then closed it with a sigh.
I pursed my lips, pulled a micro-camera from my hair, and turned on my phones screen.
You can judge me after youve seen this.
The footage clearly showed me running to Aidens rescue only after hearing his cries for help. I was nowhere near him when he fell in.
My father was speechless, his hand that had struck me hanging uselessly by his side.
Oh, dear, why didnt you show us this earlier? my mother murmured.
Why do you think? If Id shown it earlier, I wouldnt have gotten slapped. And if I hadnt gotten slapped, I wouldnt have gotten paid.
Ten thousand dollars for a slap in the face. A bargain.
Sophia, why on earth did you have a camera in your hair? my mother asked.
I smiled. Came in handy, didnt it?
Her expression faltered. She turned her anger on Aiden. You little liar! Im going to spank you raw!
Vivian shot Aiden a look. He immediately grabbed our fathers leg and started wailing.
I was confused, I swallowed too much water! Im sorry, Sophia, please forgive me!
My mother gave him a few half-hearted swats. Of course your sister will forgive you! Just dont you go making things up again!
I had no time for their little performance. I just held out my phone.
My father paid up without protest. Because his slap had been so forceful, leaving a truly impressive mark on my face, he even added an extra ten thousand.
Such a generous client.
5
After being wrongly accused time and time again, my parents guilt reached its zenith. They decided to hold a press conference to officially announce my identity as the true Lockwood heiress.
Every media outlet in the city showed up. The event was a circus. My parents flanked me, placing me center stage. They were beaming. Only Aiden stood off to the side, scowling.
Just as my father raised the microphone to speak, I silently counted down in my head: 3, 2, 1.
Right on cue, his phone rang.
Im not a psychic. Its just how it always happens in the dramas.
His face went pale as he answered.
Vivians been in a car accident! Quick! We have to get to Lockwood General!
My mother nearly collapsed. She grabbed my hand and Aidens, stumbling after my father as he sprinted out.
At the hospital, Vivian lay in bed, her eyes closed, looking like she was peacefully asleep. Her face was as white as the sheets, and her leg was encased in a thick cast.
My parents were terrified. They rushed to her bedside.
Vivian! Oh, my baby, are you okay? Open your eyes, look at Mommy and Daddy!
Vivian didnt move.
A doctor in a white coat entered the room, his expression grave.
Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood, your daughter has lost a lot of blood. She needs an AB-type transfusion immediately. The hospitals blood bank is running low. We need to find a donor, fast.
My mother whipped her head around to look at me. Sophia, your blood type is AB, isnt it?
Heh. I twisted my lips into a smirk. Donating blood, giving up a kidney, faking a near-death experience does none of this feel familiar to you?
This was obviously another plot aimed at me.
I was about to pull out my phone to show them the relevant drama clip, but my father swiped it out of my hand.
Is this really the time for that? Are you so cold-hearted youd just watch your sister die?
I picked my phone up off the floor and held up five fingers.
Fifty thousand dollars. Give me fifty thousand, and Ill donate four hundred milliliters.
Aiden started punching and kicking me. I knew it! You just came here for the money! You horrible woman!
My mother was crying, heartbroken. She couldnt understand why I would demand such a thing.
Sophia, she said, her voice strained. Must we talk about money between family?
My fathers disappointment in me was absolute. Forget it, he roared, his voice thick with desperation. Give me your payment info! Take the money! Just go give the blood!
I quietly accepted the transfer and obediently followed the doctor out of the room. The three of them huddled around Vivian, not one of them sparing a thought for whether it was safe for me to donate so much blood.
After the four hundred milliliters were drawn, my head started to spin. I reached to pull out the needle.
The doctors hand clamped down on mine. Dont move. We need another thousand milliliters.
My internal alarm bells went haywire.
Fourteen hundred milliliters at once? Thats a fatal amount
Two nurses appeared silently at my side, clamping a hand over my mouth.
In a flash of terrifying clarity, I understood. This was a setup.
As more and more blood drained from my body, the world started to go dark. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was the door bursting open and a figure knocking the doctor to the ground with a single punch.

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