Chapter 1

Having secured a guaranteed university admission spot at the top university in the country, Tina Johnson started handing out expensive gifts to everyone at school, earning her praise from the others for her generosity.

I, on the other hand, couldn't even bring myself to join in or lift my head to take in the scene before me. I had just turned in my application for the guaranteed university admission spot yesterday, but that day it was suddenly switched to Tina.

I wrapped myself tightly in my damp, foul-smelling clothes—the only ones I had—which were soaked because Tina had dumped dirty mop water on me yesterday. I then wiped the corner of my eyes, only to realize that I had been crying.

Those around me noticed my expression. Their faces then twisted into malicious grins as they started to ridicule me.

"It seems that Kiara is getting her just deserts!"

"It's a good thing Tina found the evidence of her cheating in the competition. Otherwise, that guaranteed university admission spot would have fallen into that cheater's hands."

"I bet she cheated before this, too. She deserves to be relegated to the trash can!"

I merely listened in silence as their venomous insults rained down on me. I didn't utter a single word. I had long grown accustomed to it, yet I could still feel a profound pain settling in my heart.

I desperately wanted to flee the classroom and avoid Tina, but then I was pushed down the stairs. In the end, blood started spreading across the floor, and through the haze of my fading consciousness, I noticed my mother, Karen Moore, rushing toward me in a panic.

I then noticed that she was looking at me as if she were looking at something utterly worthless before she turned to hug Tina. It looked as if she were grateful that Tina wasn't the one who had fallen down the stairs.

I could hear the chorus of laughter and words of congratulations for Tina echoing in my ears as I felt myself getting lightheaded. I then wiped the fresh blood from my head in silence, all while overhearing the conversation around me.

"You heard about it, right? Having secured a guaranteed university admission spot, the Johnsons immediately gifted Tina an entire villa. They're even holding a birthday celebration for her on a yacht!"

"Oh my gosh! The Johnson family truly treats Tina so well. I heard back then, when she had a fever during exams and couldn't get into our school, the Johnsons just donated an entire building to ensure her admission."

I couldn't make out anything else they were saying, as my mind was only consumed by one thought. It turned out that they were wealthy enough to buy villas and donate buildings for Tina.

Yet, when I had merely made a call to ask for 300 dollars for my tuition, I had been accused of squandering money before they hung up the call. It was clear that the amount was trivial to them. To make matters worse, I was their biological daughter.

I fully expected to lie there in a pool of my own blood and die unnoticed, just as their curses had foretold. I still managed to get someone's attention, though.

My brother, Liam Johnson, walked over, intending to scold whoever was disrupting Tina's celebration. He certainly hadn't anticipated finding me with my head covered in blood. His expression instantly shifted, his gaze burning with fury.

I thought he would worry about me, help me to my feet, and rush me to the hospital, just like he always did for Tina. Yet, his gaze was filled with pure revulsion, and his words froze me to the core as he snarled, "It's you again, huh? How long do you plan to keep playing the victim, Kiara? I told you long ago that Tina is my only sister. You'd better stop trying to take what was never yours."