Chapter 1

From a very young age, I knew I was not liked in this family.

When my mother returned from a business trip, she brought back two new toys, one for Xu Ze and one for Xu Jiao.

After handing them out, she was about to leave when I stopped her, reminding her in a small voice, “Mom, there’s still me.”

“You want one too?”

My mother frowned, saying impatiently, “They’re expensive. I didn’t have enough money with me, so I didn’t get one for you.”

I was only five years old then, but I could already vaguely sense the emotions of others.

Besides, that person was my own mother.

And now.

At my sister’s wedding, after exchanging pleasantries with a few relatives, my mother walked to a corner, turned her back, and dialed my number again and again.

There was never an answer.

On the third try, the call was directly declined.

As if someone had grabbed her by the throat, her eyes widened in disbelief. “Xu Tao, I’m your mother!”

Xu Ze walked over, patting her back soothingly.

“Mom, don’t be angry. It’s not worth it over Xu Tao. You know what she’s like.”

My mother’s anger and sense of grievance finally found an outlet with her most beloved son.

“Of all you three children, I put the most effort into Xu Tao. When she was born, they were supposed to be fraternal twins. Even the doctor said she only survived because she stole your brother’s nutrients…”

I had heard her repeat this countless times throughout my life.

In the end, it was always I who was punished, locked in my room, watching the four of them go out for a stroll as a family.

“Mom, don’t be angry. Don’t worry, even if I have to tie her up, I’ll drag her back today.”

After calming our mother, Xu Ze turned and sent me a flurry of messages on WeChat.

“Xu Tao, you’d better show up within the hour.”

“How can you be so selfish? You know Mom has a bad heart, yet you still want to anger her.”

“Is a man worth holding a grudge over for this long? Besides, isn’t she your sister too?”

After sending that last message, his fingers paused on the keyboard.

A few seconds later, he put his phone away and went to help greet the guests.

That’s right. Even he didn’t believe it himself, did he?

Xu Jiao was his good sister, my parents’ good daughter.

How could she ever be my sister?