After the True Heiress Dies

I used to be the apple of my family's eye, but Suzanne Nilson changed that when she showed up on my birthday with a DNA test result.

The Nilson family cruelly kicks me to the curb and throws me back to my biological parents, leading to me being sold off to the village idiot.

Xavier Gubbens, with whom I've grown up, kicks the door down and saves me. Later, he etches a word on my face. "Do you think you're done repenting for your sins with this, Suzanne Nilson?"

Later still, his eyes are red as he pleads, "Can't we go back to how things used to be?"

How things used to be? There's no such thing. Everyone has to look to the future.

The day Suzanne Nilson returned was my birthday. I had put on the beautiful dress that my mom had bought for me, and I was waiting at home for my parents to take me out to celebrate the occasion.

When Mom came back the first thing she did was slap a paternity test in my face. "Look at this yourself, Sophia!"

I stumbled backward a few steps from the force. When I looked down, I saw blood dripping from my nose.

I thought of the health report that I'd just received yesterday.

Mom had never lost her temper at me before, because I was the daughter that she had prayed for.

She always said that even showering me with affection wasn't enough to show her love for me.

Therefore, I did not expect her to treat me like that. I was stunned.

The blood dripping from my nose stained my dress and the report.

Mom slapped me. "Go away! Don't let your filthy blood stain anything related to Suzie!

"Also, take off that dress at once! I bought that for my daughter's birthday, not for you!"

I collapsed heavily onto the ground. Looking up, I finally saw the contents of the paper.

I didn't understand most of the technical terms, but I understood the last line: Results show that Gordon Nilson is Suzanne Nilson's biological father.

Suzanne stood not too far away, arm-in-arm with Dad. Mom's back was to her, so she didn't see her smile sinisterly.

Then, she feigned a mental breakdown, screaming as she slumped to the ground, "Throw her out! Throw her out now!"

Mom rushed over to hold her, heartbroken by the sight. As Suzanne struggled, she deliberately exposed her forearm which was covered with bruises and cigarette burns.

Mom teared up. She pulled Suzanne into her arms, just like she used to when comforting me in the past, and patted her on the back. "I'm here. Mom's here," she said softly.

Dazedly, I seemed to return to the past. Back then, Mom used to put me to bed with the same comforting voice at night.

I reached up and wiped off the blood. I tried to get to my feet, but Dad kicked me back down.

He was breathing heavily, his