The Forgotten Daughter's Return

As far back as I could remember, Mom had been locked in the storm cellar. Whenever I got too close, she would scream hysterically and beat me. I never understood why she didn't love me. Until the year I turned eight, when she suddenly spoke to me in a soft, gentle voice. She said, "Just help me make one phone call, and I will never hit you again." My heart leaped at the promise. I deliberately broke my own arm. While my father rushed me to the clinic, I sneaked over and dialed the number for her. In less than half an hour, a fleet of luxury cars tore down our dirt road. The man leading them beat my father within an inch of his life, dragged the cellar's location out of him, and rescued Mom from the pitch-black underground hole deep in the mountains. Looking at my battered father, Mom didn't show a shred of pity. Instead, she threw herself straight into the strange man's arms. As everyone turned to leave, I stumbled after them on trembling legs. "Mom... hold me..." Mom spun around violently and slapped me across the face. "Don't you dare call me Mom! You make me sick just looking at you! The spawn of a kidnapper should just go die!" My cheek burned like fire. I couldn't understand why she hated me so much. And I understood even less why, when I was truly on the verge of dying later, every single one of them wept over my body, crying out that I was their real child all along. My face still stung sharply. I stood frozen in place, clutching my burning cheek. Mom had clearly promised that if I memorized that number and did what she asked, she would love me. Yet the way she looked at me right now felt colder than any blow my father had ever landed. The tall man leading the group only spared me a detached glance before pulling Mom closer by the shoulder. "Come on. Mind your health. We're leaving." Mom leaned into his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly. Right then, the door of a stretched black SUV swung open, and a little boy in a crisp white blazer jumped down. His hair was neatly combed, and he sprinted straight toward her. "Mommy! Are you okay? Dad and I came to get you! Did anyone hurt you?" When Mom saw him, her eyes instantly turned red. She dropped to her knees, wrapped him in a desperate embrace, and choked through her tears: "I'm fine, baby. It's all thanks to you and your father coming for me." Her hands stroked his back with agonizing tenderness, as if she were cradling the most fragile treasure in the world. That was a tenderness I had never experienced—not once in my entire life. Standing on the sidelines, my chest tightened painfully, mixed with a bitter pang of envy I couldn't put into words. As if my body were moving on its own, I shuffled forward two unsteady steps, just wanting to get a little closer to her. Before I could reach her, the boy looked up and shoved me hard. "Stay away from my mom!" "Don't touch her with your filthy hands! Get lost!" Still nursing broken bones and bruises, I crashed straight onto the dirt. Mom stood up, the disgust in her eyes even harsher than before. She shielded the boy behind her and said to the man, "Take him to the car and sanitize him. She's filthy." The man gave a curt nod. They turned back toward the luxury cars. Panic surged through me. Forgetting the pain, forgetting the fear, I scrambled up and chased after them, crying out: "Mom! Mommy, don't leave me!" My voice cracked with sobs, but she didn't look back once. Annoyed by the noise, the man, Julian Vance, stopped and shot a look at two bodyguards in dark suits. Moments later, an animal transport truck rolled up. The heavy doors swung open, revealing a dark, foul-smelling interior. Inside sat a massive iron cage holding an enormous, snarling mastiff. The moment the beast saw me, it bared razor-sharp teeth and barked furiously. Terror rooted me to the spot; my crying choked in my throat. The little boy puffed out his chest with smug satisfaction. "Look, Mommy! I made Dad bring Nero along just to protect you! If that little monster tried anything, Nero would tear her apart!" Julian didn't say a word. He merely signaled his men to unlatch the iron cage, then reached down and grabbed my arm. His grip was bruising, digging straight into my fresh fracture. I twisted and writhed, trying desperately to break free, but I couldn't budge his grip an inch. "No! Let me go! Mommy, help me!" I screamed, but he treated my cries like background noise and shoved me brutally into the iron cage. I slammed onto the frigid metal floor, fresh tears bursting from my eyes from the impact. The boy leaned against the truck bed, tilting his head with a frown. "Dad, is that little monster coming home with us too?" Julian didn't answer. He simply gestured for his men to secure the mastiff back in the cargo hold. The heavy doors slammed shut, plunging everything into utter blackness. The stench thickened. Agitated that I was encroaching on its space, the mastiff circled the iron cage, snarling and snapping against the bars. If that metal barrier hadn't been there, it would have ripped me to shreds within seconds. Unable to hold it in any longer, I curled into a ball, hugging my knees, and wept silently in the dark.The truck swayed gently as it ate up the miles. I stayed tucked tightly in the corner of the cage. Throbbing aches shot through my broken arm, my empty stomach twisted with hunger, and my tears eventually ran dry, leaving my eyes raw and stinging. After an eternity, the truck finally lurched to a halt. The driver opened the back. Holding a sandwich and a water bottle, he looked at me with pity. "Hey kid, starving, huh? Here, take this..." Before he could hand it over, a chilling voice cut through the air. "Who told you to interfere?" I glanced toward the daylight. Julian stood beside the truck bed, his expression completely blank, but his eyes freezing enough to kill. He reached out, took the food and water from the driver's hands, and tossed them straight to the mastiff without sparing me a glance. Watching the beast devour the food, the gnawing pit in my stomach grew unbearable. I licked my cracked lips. In the corner of my cage sat the dog's water bowl, smelling foul enough to make me gag. Yet I forced myself to swallow a few sips just to quiet the burning thirst in my throat. Julian's gaze drifted over me, laden with blatant contempt. Without another word, he jerked his chin at the driver. The man hurriedly slammed the doors, plunging me back into darkness. When the truck finally stopped again, the doors opened to reveal a massive estate—far grander than any castle I had ever seen on television. There were fountains, manicured gardens, and rows of uniformed staff lining the driveway. Julian and Mom walked ahead, Mom carrying the little boy in her arms. Later, I learned his name was Lucas. Lucas was beaming, and Mom leaned down to whisper to him, her face radiant with tenderness. Rough hands dragged me out of the cage, squeezing my bruised arm until I whimpered. Julian didn't even look in my direction as he ordered a housekeeper: "Take her down to the basement. Keep her locked away where she won't be an eyesore." I didn't get a bedroom. I was shoved into a damp, dark corner of the cellar. Every morning before dawn, I was forced awake to work—scrubbing floors, washing laundry, raking the grounds. If anything was slightly out of place, the staff berated me, and sometimes Mom would walk by. She never stepped in. She either looked right through me or knitted her brows and snapped at me to get out of her sight before I contaminated the air. Whatever toy Lucas wanted, Julian had it delivered instantly. Once, walking past the living room, I saw Mom curled on the sofa with Lucas in her lap. Julian sat beside them, reading aloud from a storybook. It was a picture of warmth I had never dared dream of, a happiness forever beyond my reach. Back in the hollows, none of the poor households owned fairy tale books. Yet the neighbor woman still told bedtime stories to her daughter every single night. I used to wish so badly that Mom would read me just one story. Just once. My feet moved on their own again. I wanted to creep closer. I wanted to hear the soft rhythm of her voice. Mom seemed to sense something and snapped her head up. The moment her eyes landed on me, the warm smile vanished, instantly replaced by sheer revulsion, as if she had spotted vermin. "How dare you come in here? Who gave you permission to enter this room?!" Startled, I froze, twisting the frayed hem of my shirt with trembling fingers. Mom strode over and shoved me hard. I slammed into the wall, gasping as pain shot through my ribs. Lucas ran over right behind her, kicking my shin with all his might. Tears welled up instantly. "Stay away from my mom!" He cursed at me, kicking me again and again. Mom stood watching, without the slightest intention of stopping him. She only frowned and said, "Lucas, don't touch her. You'll get dirty. Come on, Mommy will help you wash your hands." I curled onto the floor, clutching my throbbing leg as hot tears dripped onto the polished wood.Over the days that followed, I became a discarded piece of trash, shoved into the darkest corner of the estate. Seeing how Julian and Mom treated me, the staff grew bolder, barking orders and striking me whenever they felt like it. Lucas, meanwhile, found himself a new game. "Hey, monster, get over here! Starting today, you're my pony!" When I hesitated, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, dragged me into the garden, and shoved my face toward the ground. "On all fours! Now!" Gritting my teeth, I dropped down. The jagged gravel tore into my knees. Lucas climbed onto my back, yanking my hair like reins and yelling, "Giddyup!" I had no choice but to crawl forward through the agony. The moment I slowed, his riding crop came down hard across my spine. When that grew boring, he would have a handler bring the mastiff out. "Get her, Nero! Make her run faster!" The dog's vicious barking snapped at my heels. My heart pounded so hard it felt ready to burst. I crawled desperately, leaving smears of blood on the gravel from my shredded knees, terrified of what would happen if I stopped. What broke me most was Mom. She would sit beneath a patio umbrella, sipping iced tea, watching Lucas ride me like an animal. Yet the corners of her lips curved into a gentle smile. "Careful, Lucas. Don't fall." Her eyes never lingered on me, not even when the crop tore through the thin fabric on my back. In her eyes, I really was nothing more than a beast meant for her son's amusement. In that house, I went hungry every single day. Lucas hated carrots. At every meal, he dumped them into the flower beds outside. Whenever the coast was clear, I would crouch by the dirt, scavenging the discarded vegetables. The bitter taste of soil filled my mouth, but at least it kept the starvation at bay. One afternoon, faint with hunger, I chewed a couple of mouthfuls before realizing something was wrong. It wasn't a carrot. "What are you doing?!" Mom marched over, her eyes landing on the crushed blooms beneath my knees. "My prize roses! You dare eat my flowers?!" Hearing the commotion, Lucas ran over. When he saw the carrots and the trampled petals, panic flickered across his face. Afraid Mom would realize he had been wasting his food, he quickly pointed at me. "Mommy! She stole my carrots and stomped on your flowers on purpose!" Mom's temper exploded. She grabbed my arm, shaking me violently. "You ungrateful little wretch! Letting you breathe is already more than you deserve, and you dare steal Lucas's food and ruin my garden? I should have let you rot in that mountain!" "That's enough. Don't upset yourself." Julian had appeared nearby. He stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Mom's trembling shoulders and rubbing her back to soothe her, though his glare drilled into me with venom. Once she calmed down, he stepped over, crouched down, and gripped my chin tightly, forcing my head up. "Listen to me carefully. Do not upset her again, and never lay a finger on Lucas. In this house, you don't even have the right to touch a blade of grass." "Cross the line again, and I will show you things far worse than being chased by a dog." Terrified by the cruelty in his eyes, I shook uncontrollably, tears streaming down my cheeks, too frightened to even whimper. His grip tightened until my jaw felt ready to snap. Only when he finally let go did I collapse like a marionette with cut strings, watching him guide Mom away. Lucas lingered behind just long enough to make a mocking face at me. Mom knew perfectly well that Lucas was bigger and stronger than me, that I was only ever on the receiving end of his cruelty. Yet she would rather swallow his obvious lies than look at me for one honest second.Lucas's birthday arrived shortly after. I was forced into a ridiculous, oversized bear costume, relegated to a corner of the ballroom as an amusement for the guests. Suffocating and lightheaded, I slipped the heavy mascot head off just to catch my breath. The moment my face emerged, I locked eyes with Lucas. He was walking past with a slice of cake. The second he saw me, he shouted: "Dad! Mom! The monster is trying to steal my birthday cake!" Mom pushed through the crowd, seized my arm, and dragged me into the center of the glittering hall. Dozens of cold, mocking, and curious stares pinned me down. "Allowing you under my roof is mercy enough! How dare you steal food at Lucas's party?!" Mom's voice shook with rage, her hand raised to strike. "I didn't..." I gasped, swaying on my feet as dark spots danced in my vision. "Still talking back?!" Julian stepped forward. Towering over me, he didn't raise a hand. Instead, he reached over to a passing waiter's silver tray and picked up a slice of rich chocolate cake. A slice I had only dared admire from afar, barely even letting myself inhale its sweet aroma. Then, his hand descended, slowly and deliberately grinding the cake into my face. Muffled chuckles rippled through the guests. A few even lifted their phones to record. Lucas clapped gleefully. "Awesome, Dad! That's how you teach her a lesson!" "Get out! Get the hell out of here! Stop disgusting everyone!" Mom pointed toward the exit, her voice shrill. Terrified of another blow, I scrambled on all fours toward the grand staircase. Still unsatisfied, Lucas chased after me, kicking at my back and legs as I fled. "Don't run, monster! You haven't apologized to me yet!" Panicked, I didn't see the top step. His foot slammed into the back of my knee. My balance gave out, and I tumbled down the steep stairs. Lucas lost his footing too, tumbling right behind me. Darkness rushed over my vision. The last thing I heard before passing out was Mom's bloodcurdling scream. Tragically, it wasn't for me. Then, everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a sterile hospital bed, every inch of my body screaming in pain. Mom sat beside the adjoining bed, clutching Lucas's limp hand, her eyes swollen and raw from crying. A doctor stood nearby with a grim expression. "Mr. and Mrs. Vance, your son's condition is critical. He requires an emergency blood transfusion immediately. However, his blood type is extremely rare. Our blood bank has no matching units, and neither of yours match his..." Julian stood against the wall, his face dark as a thundercloud. Just then, a nurse carrying a chart approached and whispered to the doctor: "Doctor, we just ran the labs on the young girl. Her blood type matches the boy's perfectly." Julian snapped his head around, staring at me in utter disbelief. He strode over to my bedside, scanning my face before glancing frantically at the clipboard in the nurse's hands, his voice unsteady: "What did you say? Her blood type matches Lucas's?" The nurse nodded. Julian barked at the physician, "Hurry! Run a full crossmatch! Confirm if they are an exact match!" The medical team scrambled into motion. Julian stood frozen, muttering under his breath: "That's impossible... Lucas's blood type is extraordinarily rare. Even I'm not a match. How could she..." He hurried after the doctors toward the lab. Only Mom and I remained in the room. She didn't spare me a single glance, keeping both hands clutched tightly around Lucas's fingers. About thirty minutes later, Julian walked back in. He moved like a hollow shell, his steps staggering. Seeing him, Mom shot up and asked desperately: "Well? Is she not a match? I knew that monster was completely useless! If anything happens to Lucas, I'll tear her apart!" Julian cut her off, his voice hoarse and broken. "Stop it, Evelyn." He looked at Mom, then turned his gaze toward me. After a suffocating silence, he forced the words past his lips: "She's not a monster... She's our biological daughter."