Chapter 2 Stolen Childhood, Stolen Future

Back then, I scavenged half-rotten leftovers from the junkyard just to fill my stomach and slept curled up beside piles of garbage when I was too tired to move.

For eight long years, every morning I opened my eyes to an endless sea of trash. It wasn't until community workers tracked me down and brought me back to the Gervais family that I learned the truth—I was born their daughter, the real heiress, but had been switched at birth by my adoptive mother.

The first time I saw the delicate, pampered girl who had taken my place, I broke down sobbing and begged my father not to send her away. I knew too well how cruel life in the garbage yard was—I couldn't bear to let her suffer what I had.

But when Natalie met my eyes, there was nothing but hatred and jealousy in hers. She deliberately bumped into me, causing the ice cream in my hand to fall to the floor.

"Oh no, Alice, I'm so sorry—I lost my balance," she said sweetly.

I stared at the fallen ice cream. In the junkyard, I could dig up anything—except ice cream. I'd spent years dreaming of what it might taste like. That was why, when I finally received the black card, I'd used it to buy myself one simple cone for two-fifty… and that single act had cost me everything.

Seeing me stare at the ice cream, Natalie's smile grew smug. "I was just so happy to see you. I even told Dad recently that we should bring you back to attend my engagement party."

At that, she raised her hand to flaunt the massive diamond ring glittering on her finger. And my heart jolted, for it was the wedding gift I'd personally picked for my future sister-in-law.

'Reid's fiancee… isn't Natalie, is she?!'

Ansel affectionately patted her head. "So that's why this beggar had the nerve to sneak back into the country. Our sweet Natalie just has too kind a heart."

Then he turned to glare at me. "Well? Aren't you going to thank Natalie? Do you have no manners at all?" he hissed.

I gave a small, bitter smile. "What manners could I have when I was born with parents but never raised by them? My own father and brother sent me off to dig mines to appease an imposter. What kind of upbringing do you expect from me?"

Guests nearby had gathered by the entrance, whispering among themselves.

"I heard the Gervaises had a biological daughter who went missing for years. Could that be her?"

"How pitiful. If that impostor hadn't stolen her place, she'd be the one engaged to the oil prince today."

"You!" Ansel's hand shot up, ready to strike me, but the moment his gaze met mine, he froze and slowly lowered it. "Forget it—it's just ice cream. I'll pay you back ten times over."

"Don't bother," I said evenly. "I'm not short on money." No amount of money could buy back the love I'd been denied.

His fists clenched tight. "If you didn't happen to look a bit like Mom, do you really think your cheap tricks would make me see you any differently? Even if you got on your knees right now and begged, I'd never acknowledge you as my sister!"

At that, he pulled out his phone, furious, and tried to transfer me money—but the screen flashed a warning: This account had been frozen.

"What?" His face twisted in confusion. "How could your card be frozen? You haven't been using the allowance we gave you all these years?"

For a brief second, his expression faltered—half surprise, half pity. He must have thought I'd lived off their scraps all this time. He had no idea that my card had been useless since the very day I arrived in Rimala.

Natalie's eyes shimmered with tears. "Alice, ten years ago, you sent a vagrant into my room just to get me thrown out… I've finally managed to forget that nightmare and find my happiness. Why won't you leave me alone? I never meant to steal your life!"

I smiled faintly. "Then, I suppose I should thank you. If you hadn't taken my life, I'd still be suffocating in that tiny gilded cage you call home."

Ten years ago, I'd screamed myself hoarse trying to defend my innocence, but all I'd gotten in return were my own family's slaps across the face.

Now, the whispers turned sharper around me.

"She must be insane. The Gervaises have the most luxurious estate in all of Evarra, and she's complaining it's suffocating?"

"No wonder the Gervais family disowned her. A vain, ungrateful girl like that would only bring them shame."

"She probably came crawling back because she heard they were marrying into the oil tycoon's family."

"Well, can you blame her? That's a royal family we're talking about. Ten Gervais families combined couldn't compare to a single finger of that man's wealth."

Ansel pulled Natalie behind him protectively, glaring at me with disgust. "How long are you going to keep up this act? Even if we share the same blood, I won't let you bully Natalie! Today's her celebration—get out!"

Her celebration? I almost laughed. Reid had only picked this date because I happened to have a day off. In fact, he hadn't even wanted a ceremony.

"It's just a business alliance," he'd said. "We both get what we need."

But I was the one who insisted he announce it publicly, to give his fiancee the respect she deserved.

I stood my ground. "Are you sure you want me to leave? Because if I do, this engagement party ends right here."