Scars Written by Love

As the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family, I returned to my biological parents, only to watch their company collapse.

Overwhelmed by massive debts, my dad jumped to his death.

My brother was left crippled by vengeful creditors.

My mother, unraveled, would one moment tear at my hair, cursing my existence, and the next, cling to me, sobbing and vowing to cherish me.

To save them, I shredded my college acceptance letter and took every job I could find.

When my brother's condition worsened, I auctioned off my virginity to fund his surgery. But when I arrived at the hospital with the money, I overheard their conversation.

"Kathy works day and night to earn money. I don't think she is after our fortune," said my mom. "She dropped out of college and ruined her future for us. Maybe we should stop this."

My brother, supposedly half-paralyzed, stood by the window in a crisp suit. He shrugged. "She chose to skip college and work like that. What's it got to do with us?"

My "dead" father broke his silence. "We need to be careful. People like her are like leeches. Once they latch on, you can't shake them off. Let's keep watching."

I listened quietly, tossing the pendant they had given me into the trash.

I had repaid the debt of my birth, and now, we were done.

My brother's condition worsened.

With no options left, I auctioned my virginity to raise money for his treatment.

But when I arrived at the hospital with cash, I heard his voice, strong and clear, from outside the ward.

"She grew up in an orphanage, where money means more than life," Andre Deleon scoffed. "If we don't test her thoroughly, how do we know she's not after our fortune?"

I listened, reeling from my brother's words.

He lounged on a sofa, radiant in a designer suit, no trace of the frail patient he'd played for months. A loan shark stood nearby, handing him the cash I'd bled for. "Here's the three million from her auction. Keep up the act?"

Andre set his wine glass down. "Keep going. This is just pocket change for a bottle of wine. It doesn't prove her loyalty. I just dropped 30 million on a sports car for Natalie. This will soften the blow."

The loan shark hesitated, realizing Andre meant to jack up the interest. "But she seems..."

Natalie Deleon, the fake daughter, clung to Andre's arm. "You heard him. This little money proves nothing. Selling her chastity? She's a leech. We can't trust her."

My chest tightened, a familiar ache clawing at my heart. I fumbled for my pills, swallowing them dry, and braced against the wall.

I'd abandoned my dreams, rejected an Ivy League school, and worked until my hands were cracked and bleeding. For what? A lie!

My phone buzzed. Andre's name flashed on the screen. "Kathy, the hospital's demanding payment again."

My voice came out hoarse, barely holding together. "I'm out of money."

His tone