- 3.
Mentioning that put a knot in my stomach.
“Family love” was all a joke!
My mom died after giving birth to me, and I had always thought my Dad blamed me for Mom’s death. That was why he adopted Mia, to deliberately hurt me.
For years, I had carefully listened to
everything he said.
He didn’t want me flaunting my identity, so I
silently endured it. He didn’t take me to any
parties, and I didn’t dare say a word.
And what did it get me?
<
Mia had used that opportunity to steal my
identity, bullying me and ultimately causing
my death so she could claim everything that
was mine.
As for Dad, he didn’t hate me because of
Mom’s death. There was another reason.
Unfortunately, I didn’t learn about any of it
until it was too late. Now that I had been
given a second chance, I wasn’t going to let
them get away with anything.
“If that’s the case, let’s just call Dad and ask
him.”
I stared coldly at Mia’s acting and waved my
phone.
“I already told Dad all about this, and he
should be here any minute.”
The dread on Mia’s face was obvious. She
knew better than anyone how much Dad
doted on her and hated me.
Not to mention how respectful I was towards
Dad. I used to think about every word before I
dared send him a text.
Now I was forcing him to show up at this
party, forcing him to choose between me and
her in front of everyone.
Mia gave a strained smile and leaned closer
to me.
“Hailey, this is just a small thing.”
Г
“I already told Dad all about this, and he
should be here any minute.”
The dread on Mia’s face was obvious. She
knew better than anyone how much Dad
doted on her and hated me.
Not to mention how respectful I was towards
Dad. I used to think about every word before I
dared send him a text.
Now I was forcing him to show up at this
party, forcing him to choose between me and
her in front of everyone.
Mia gave a strained smile and leaned closer
to me.
“Hailey, this is just a small thing.”
“Dad is so busy with work. Why would you
bother him with this?”
“If you’re still upset, can’t we just talk about it
when we get home?”
I leaned in and grabbed her hand, squeezing
tight.
“You keep calling me the fake. Now that you
have a chance to prove your theory, you’re
backing out?”
“Are you afraid that Dad will come here and
expose you in front of everyone?”
“And then kick you out of the house in a fit of
rage?”
r
Angered, Mia raised her hand to hit me, but I
struck first, slapping her to the ground.
A moment later, an angry voice echoed
through the entryway.
“Hailey Smith!
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Dad stormed in and rushed to help Mia up.
“Mia, are you okay?”
I watched Dad carefully lift Mia up, a cold
smile on my face.
“Dad, I’m so glad you finally came.”
<
“Looks like you’d only show up if your
precious foster daughter got hurt.”
“I guess your own biological daughter doesn’t
matter to you.”
Grandma Peterson hurriedly said, “Mr. Smith,
look at what she did.”
“Mia tried to take back her gift, and the wild
child smashed it.”
“Then she claimed that Mia was the charity
case and that Chad was lying.”
“Now she’s even brazen enough to say that
she’s your real daughter in front of you.”
Hearing that, Dad’s face paled slightly, and
then he snapped. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
then he snapped, “Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Mia is my only daughter. She’s nothing!”
“It was just a moment of kindness when I
took her in. Now she thinks she can do
whatever she wants!”
Those words settled Mia’s identity.
Everyone who had been watching from the
sidelines immediately started listing my
crimes to Dad.
“Mr. Smith, we’re so glad you’re here. You
have no idea how this Hailey Smith has been
insulting Mia.”
“Yeah, she even dared to lay hands on Mia in
–
front of all these people.”
“In my opinion, someone so unreasonable
should be thrown out of the Smiths and left
to fend for herself!”
Mia stood up, putting on her best fragile act.
“Hailey, just apologize to everyone. Don’t make Dad angry.”
I picked up a wine glass from a nearby table,
swirling it gently, and asked, “Dad, I’m going
to ask you one last time.”
“Are you sure that your biological daughter,
the only heir of the Smith family, is Mia and
not me?”
As I kept asking, people started scoffing at
Г
As I kept asking, people started scoffing at
my stubbornness.
Dad puffed out his chest and said, “Of
course. How could I mistake my own
daughter?”
As soon as he finished speaking, I slammed
the wine glass into Dad’s forehead and then
slapped Mia across the face.
No one expected me to act so violently, and
everyone jumped back in shock.
“Hailey Smith, have you lost your mind?”
“After all these years, you dare to hit your
own father?”
<
no one expected me to all so vivienшy, anu
everyone jumped back in shock.
“Hailey Smith, have you lost your mind?”
“After all these years, you dare to hit your
own father?”
An old voice boomed from the doorway.
“If he’s mistaking his own daughter, I’d say
she should’ve hit harder!”
