006: FOSTER FAMILY

ANNA'S POV

“You shouldn’t have let her beat you up,” Dominic said, gently wiping antiseptic over my wound from behind.

I hissed as he touched a sore spot.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

A small smile escaped my lips. “I’m good.”

“It was the only way to expose her,” I replied, staring at thin air.

Now that I had gotten rid of that pest, Madame Ye, I had other things to focus on. Still, I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I will see her. In my previous life, they destroyed me with bruises and wounds, lied their way through everything, and Calla even married into wealth. This time, I wouldn’t let them succeed.

“What are you up to?” Dominic asked.

I sighed. “Finding my biological family.”

He gasped and rushed to my side. “Have you found them? Tell me,” he said, grabbing my hands. His sudden touch made me shiver.

If there was one thing I hated now, it was men and physical contact. I slowly withdrew my hands, offering him a low smile.

In my past life, Dominic was adopted and later became the CEO of FK Cars. He grew rich, owned cars worth millions, lived well… until he committed suicide. I had seen it with my own eyes. It scarred me forever.

Even though I pulled my hands away, I noticed the disappointment in his eyes. He forced a smile anyway.

“If you’ve found them, I’ll help you get them back,” he said earnestly. “No matter what.”

I saw his sincerity.

I reached up and tapped his head, caressing softly.

“Dominic,” I said quietly, “do you want a foster family? Do you want to be adopted?”

In this life, I wouldn’t let him suffer like before. He had looked happy on the outside back then, but I often wondered what that family did to him. He cut ties with me completely—never returned my calls or messages. The day I ran to him after thirty missed calls… I found him on the rooftop. He jumped.

My lashes trembled. Tears shimmered.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But everyone here wants a family. To be wanted… that sounds nice.”

I squeezed his cheeks gently. “Is that what you want?”

He nodded.

I smiled. If he wanted that, I would make sure the family that ruined him never got close to him again.

“I know someone who needs a son,” I said.

Dominic froze, his eyes widening. “Really?” he asked, like a child promised candy.

“He’s a friend of mine,” I said, pulling my hands back, only for Dominic to grab them again and press them to his cheeks.

“Your hands are warm,” he murmured. “It’s cold.”

I chuckled softly.“Is that a lie just to stay close to me?”

He shook his head, though I knew he was lying. He looked so innocent—blonde hair, siren-like eyes, a pointed nose, chubby cheeks. Clearly also seventeen year old.

Then his expression hardened.

“You act like an adult now,” he muttered. “It’s weird.”

I looked away and finally withdrew my hands. “Patch me up,” I ordered.

His eyes lit up. He smiled with his eyes and returned to cleaning my wounds.

“Who’s that old friend of yours?” he asked.

My thoughts drifted.

**********

ROBERTSON MANSION

“Who do you think you are, coming here and taking my place?” Susie yelled.

I staggered back. Being yelled at wasn’t new, but coming from my twin sister hurt.

“Even if we were separated for years, I’m still your sister,” I said quietly.

She laughed. “You’re just a doppelgänger. My sister is Sasha.”

She raised her hand to slap me but...

“Susie.”

A middle-aged man’s voice echoed. She froze as he approached, folding her arms beneath her chest.

“The blood test showed Sasha isn’t your sister,” he said firmly. “She’s an imposter.”

Susie pointed at me. “And she isn’t? What if she faked the DNA test?”

I shivered at the accusation.

“Your grandmother knew,” he struck his cane. “Why do you think she sponsored her college education?”

Susie’s lips trembled, hatred burning in her eyes.

“No one here will ever care about you,” she spat. “Mark my words.”

She shoved past me, crying as she rushed to her brothers. Their glares made me lower my head. They didn’t want me either.

“It’s okay, child,” the man said, tapping my shoulder gently.

That small kindness made my chest ache. I smiled faintly.

“Why are you kind to me, sir?” I asked.

He chuckled sadly.“Because every child deserves happiness.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“It’s strange,” he sighed. “Some people throw away their children, while I pray for one every day.”

That was when I realized...he had none.

*****************

PRESENT

My family never seemed to accept me. Even my brothers saw me like a pest, someone ruining their lives and their sister’s. They didn’t want to accept me at all.

So when Nicholas came and suggested letting them perish, i agreed. I took their assets and ruined them: everything, because back then I was bitter, and I believed Nicholas was the only one who truly loved me.

Even now, I still had so many unanswered questions. If I hadn’t destroyed them then… would they have come to love me for real? That aside...

“You’ll know when you get there,” I told Dominic.

He sighed.

I knew there would be a problem. I was twenty-two when he last saw me. He might not recognize me now.

Convincing that old man to take Dominic would be hard.

After all, he doesn’t trust easily.