Eighteen Years of Vengeance

The day I gave birth, I watched from my hospital bed as my best friend secretly swapped our daughters.

I pretended not to know.

I brought her daughter home and raised her with all the love in my heart.

Eighteen years later, the daughter I raised was accepted into a top university.

My own daughter, however, had been relentlessly abused by my best friend, leaving her disabled.

At the university acceptance party, my best friend arrived with my disabled daughter and a paternity test.

There was a mix-up at the hospital all those years ago, she announced. Its time to switch them back.

I smiled, a secret hidden in my eyes. Of course.

Aria, my mom brought a bunch of fresh eggs from the countryside. I brought some for you and Chloe.

My best friend, Hannah, knocked on my door, just as she always did.

Ever since Id started raising her daughter, shed found endless excuses to visit.

Sometimes it was to discuss parenting tips.

Sometimes it was so the girls can play together and keep each other company.

Shed even shown up in the middle of the night, claiming shed had a nightmare that something had happened to Chloe and she had to check.

It got to the point where my husband, Mark, would complain that she clocked in at our house more often than she did at her own job.

To make her visits even more convenient, Hannah had rented an apartment in our complex.

Best friends should live close, shed said, so we can always be there for each other.

But I knew the real reason. She wanted to keep a constant watch on her daughter, Chloe.

I never called her out on it. I just opened the door as usual.

She stood there in a chic, elegant dress, holding a basket of eggs.

Behind her, cowering, was a small, sallow-skinned girl with a bruised face and a haunted look in her eyes.

That was my daughter.

Hannah had named her Ash.

As soon as she stepped inside, Hannah set down the eggs and made a beeline for Chloe.

Chloe, sweetheart, your birthday is tomorrow! What do you want for a present? Auntie Hannah will buy you anything!

Hannah and I had been friends for years, our bond supposedly unbreakable.

The moment Chloe was born, she had insisted on being her godmother.

Now, she stroked Chloes hair, her affection pouring out of her.

Chloe smiled sweetly. Anything from you would be perfect, Auntie Hannah!

Hannahs smile widened.

See? Chloe is so smart and sweet. Not like that stupid, useless child of mine.

She shot a venomous glare at my daughter, still hovering by the door. Then she marched over, grabbed her by the ear, and dragged her inside.

Get in here! Are you a watchdog, standing there like an idiot?

I dont know who you take after, you worthless little thing. Just looking at you makes me sick!

Then, right in front of me, Hannah slapped my daughter so hard she stumbled and fell to the floor.

My daughters head hit the corner of the coffee table. A gash opened on her forehead, and blood started to stream down her face.

Chloe gasped, startled.

But my daughter didnt cry. She didnt make a sound. She just scrambled to her feet, wiped the blood from her forehead as if it were a daily routine, and, wincing in pain, whispered to Hannah, Im sorry, Mommy. I was wrong.

Apologizing after being hit was a ritual she had repeated countless times.

It had happened in my house more times than I could count.

Mark rushed to get the first-aid kit.

As he dabbed at the cut, he shot Hannah an angry look.

Hannah, how can you be so cruel to your own child?

Because she was born worthless, Hannah said, shrugging.

Shes a pathetic sight. Not even half as lovely as Chloe. Im doing her a favor by not killing her.

Without another glance at my daughter, she turned back to Chloe, her face wreathed in smiles.

Chloe, my love, I ordered you your favorite princess cake. Ill bring it over tomorrow for your birthday!

Thank you, Auntie Hannah, Chloe replied politely, accustomed to this blatant favoritism.

Then, my daughter gathered her courage and spoke in a small, timid voice.

Mommy, tomorrow is my birthday too. Can can I have a new pair of shoes?

I looked down and saw that my daughter was wearing a pair of dirty, worn-out sandals, the soles completely worn through.

They were the sandals Chloe had thrown away last year.

Hannah had picked them out of the trash, declaring that Ash deserved nothing more than Chloes cast-offs.

She had worn them for a full year.

Even now, in the dead of winter, with her feet covered in chilblains, she was still wearing those flimsy sandals.

A little brat like you deserves to wear trash! A birthday? You think youre worthy of a birthday?

With that, Hannah launched into another vicious assault.

The sound of her curses and my daughters cries filled the room.

I watched, my face a cold, blank mask.

Mark tried to intervene. Even Chloe pleaded with her to stop.

Perhaps not wanting to frighten Chloe further, Hannah finally stopped, dragging my daughter out of the house.

The next day was Chloes birthday.

Hannah arrived bright and early, laden with gifts and a cake.

There was no one behind her.

Mark looked confused.

Wheres Ash? Its her birthday too. Why isnt she here?

Hannah waved a dismissive hand.

Oh, her? I broke her leg yesterday when we got home.

Shes still unconscious.

Hannahs tone was light, casual, a triumphant little smile playing on her lips.

As if breaking my daughters leg was something to be proud of.

Ignoring Marks horrified stare, she pushed her way inside and presented the gifts and cake to Chloe.

Chloe, my darling, its your special day. Auntie Hannah wont let anything unpleasant spoil it!

As Chloe took a gift, her sleeve rode up, revealing a small cut on the back of her hand.

Hannahs face instantly hardened.

She turned on me, her voice sharp.

Aria, what is this? How did Chloe get hurt?

Children get bumps and bruises all the time, I said, my voice flat. Your daughter is covered in them.

Hannahs face flushed with anger. How dare you compare that little wretch to Chloe? Chloe is

She caught herself, realizing shed gone too far.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a calmer tone.

What I mean is, Chloe has been pampered since birth. Shes far more precious than that other one. You need to be more careful with her.

Mark snorted. Youve got some nerve. If you hadnt been beating your daughter in our living room yesterday, getting blood everywhere, Chloe wouldnt have tried to clean it up and hurt herself.

Hannah looked at Chloe for confirmation.

Is that true, Chloe?

Chloe nodded. I wanted to help Mommy and Daddy.

Hannahs voice softened with pity.

Sometimes youre too good, sweetheart. Let your parents do the hard work.

Your only job in this house is to be happy, you understand?

Then, she busied herself with the birthday preparations, cooking and decorating with a whirlwind of energy.

After the meal, she turned to Chloe, her eyes shining.

Tell Auntie Hannah, what is your birthday wish? Ill make it come true.

Chloe didnt hesitate.

I want to get into Oxford!

Hannah beamed, stroking Chloes head.

Well, I cant help you with that. But youre so smart, I know youll get in. And when you do, Auntie Hannah will have a surprise for you that youll never forget.

Looking into Hannahs eyes, filled with such love, a faint, secret smile touched my lips.

A surprise shell never forget?

My dear, dear friend.

I have one for you, too.

Every year, on Chloes birthday, Hannah was more enthusiastic than either Mark or I.

As for my own daughter, after her leg was broken, I never saw her again.

Whenever Mark asked, Hannah would just say with a sneer, Dont mention that unlucky brat. It just makes me angry.

Because of Hannahs deliberate avoidance, it wasnt until Chloe was accepted into Oxford that I saw my daughter again.

At the celebration party I threw for Chloe, Hannah walked in, my daughter limping beside her.

She pulled out a paternity test and, in front of all our friends and family, handed it to me.

Aria, Ash has been having some health problems lately. I took her to the doctor and found out shes not my daughter.

There was a mix-up at the hospital. Ash is your daughter. Chloe is mine.

Weve been separated for so long. Its time for me to be reunited with my real daughter. We need to switch them back.

As she spoke, she squeezed out a few tears, her gaze fixed on Chloe with a mixture of love and guilt.

She played the part of the long-suffering victim perfectly.

A shocked murmur went through the room.

They worked so hard to raise such a successful, intelligent daughter, and now they just have to give her away?

Everyone knows how much Aria has done for Chloe. The only reason she got into Oxford is because of Arias tutoring. You cant just erase eighteen years of love and effort!

Who could possibly bear to do that?

On one hand, a smart, well-behaved, successful university student.

On the other, a disheveled, emaciated, disabled girl.

Anyone would choose the former.

But amidst the whispers, I smiled, a strange, knowing smile.

Of course.

If there was a mistake, then it should be corrected.

My words stunned the room into silence.

Hannahs eyes widened in disbelief, shocked that I had agreed so readily.

Even Mark stared at me as if Id lost my mind.

Aria, are you crazy?

Youre just going to take her word for it, based on a piece of paper that could be fake, and give Chloe to her?

My mother-in-law chimed in, her voice frantic. Aria, this is a huge decision. You cant just agree without looking into it properly!

I looked at them, my voice calm and clear.

Chloe is her daughter.

I saw them switch the babies myself.

A collective gasp went through the room.

Mark was practically jumping out of his skin.

Thats impossible! You were so weak after giving birth, you almost died! You always said that baby was more precious than your own life. How could you just stand by and watch her be abused?

You have to be lying!

I met his gaze. When she was born, I saw a butterfly-shaped birthmark on her waist. If you dont believe me, go and see for yourself if Ash is our daughter.

My mother-in-law was the first to move, lifting the girls shirt.

When Mark saw the butterfly birthmark on his daughters waist, his face crumpled.

He strode over to me and slapped me hard across the face.

Aria, are you even human?

If you knew the truth all this time, why didnt you say anything? Why did you let our daughter suffer at the hands of that woman for all these years?

He was shaking with rage, his eyes burning with a murderous fury.

The other relatives joined in, their voices a chorus of condemnation.

Is she out of her mind? Thats her own flesh and blood! How could she watch her own daughter be treated like that and do nothing?

Shes a cold-hearted monster! She knew, and she just watched as the girls leg was broken, as she lived a life of misery!

Mark, divorce her! A woman like that doesnt deserve you, doesnt deserve to be a part of this family!

The accusations rained down on me. Everyone looked at me with contempt and disgust.

Even my daughter, the timid, broken Ash, looked at me with tears in her eyes and screamed, I hate you!

Then she turned, ran to the window, and jumped.

A sickening thud echoed from below, and the room fell silent in horror.

Tears streamed down my face.

It was finally over.