He Sacrificied My Daughter for My Sister's Child

By the time I arrived at the villa, Victor was already waiting at the door. He carefully shielded me as we stepped inside, handed me clean clothes and offered me a cup of ginger tea at just the right temperature. My parents even hurriedly called over a doctor to give me a full check-up. Not until the doctor confirmed there was nothing wrong did the three of them finally relax. At that moment, Victor noticed the bag I had been carrying. Inside were imported children's toys, available only at a single specialty store in the entire city. The same mall where Victor had just been on a date with Lena. His expression tensed immediately. "Anna, did you just go to the mall? Did you happen to see..." I cut him off. "I didn’t go inside. I had the staff bring it down for me." Only then did Victor let out a sigh of relief. Noticing the way I was staring at him, my mother quickly tried to smooth things over. "Victor was just worried you’d run into those gossiping fools again." Victor nodded repeatedly. "Anna, I know you love our daughter, but to me, you are the most important. If you were hurt even the slightest bit, it would break my heart." I forced a smile, but the sarcasm in my eyes was impossible to hide. They spoke of loving me, yet the ones who had hurt me the most were these very three people. They stayed by my bedside, watching over me until late at night, only leaving once I had fallen asleep. Perhaps because I had always been so obedient, they felt at ease discussing things right outside my door. My father sighed. “Victor, you’ve been suffering. You and Lena have loved each other since childhood, yet you were forced to marry Anna.” Victor's voice was firm and unwavering. “From the day we decided to bring Anna back to save Lena’s child, I had already resigned myself to a lifetime of loneliness. I only feel relieved that I was ruthless enough to marry Anna back then, otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to save Lena’s child.” Behind the door, tears streamed down my face. So from the moment they brought me back, everything had been a carefully orchestrated lie. No wonder I had attended a school under the Reeves Group my entire life, yet they only "found" me five years ago. No wonder Victor, who had been engaged to the Reeves Family, remained unmarried until the age of thirty. It turned out he had been waiting for me to return. They were willing to spend five years setting up this scheme, all for Lena. I picked up my phone and dialed a long-forgotten number. "0527, requesting to rejoin." *** Unable to sleep through the night, I simply got up. At five o’clock, Victor had already gone downstairs. Ever since our marriage, he had woken up at this exact time every morning to make me breakfast. I never understood that even this kind of devotion could be nothing more than an act.

As I stepped downstairs, the others looked a little surprised. Victor’s expression tensed with unease. “Anna, go back to sleep for a while. Breakfast isn’t ready yet.” Yet the dining table was already filled with food. Just then, a noise came from the garden, drawing my attention. My mother quickly handed me a sandwich. “Anna, eat up. Victor got up at five in the morning to make this for you.” I glanced at the sandwich. It was stuffed with thick slices of salmon. I didn’t take it. “I’m allergic to seafood.” The one who loved salmon was Lena. When I was first brought back home, every meal was filled with salmon dishes. They forced me to eat it and I ended up going into severe anaphylactic shock, causing me to pass out. Yet even after five years, my mother still hadn’t remembered. And now, the breakfast spread laid out on the table. Every single dish was Lena’s favorite. An unthinkable thought surged into my mind. Was Lena just here? Had all those so-called punishments never even lasted a single day? At that moment, Victor hurriedly stood up. “Anna, what do you want to eat? I’ll make something else.” Five years of living together, five years of him saying he loved me, yet he didn’t even remember what I liked to eat. I let out a self-mocking laugh. “As long as it’s not Lena’s favorite, it’ll be fine.” The room instantly fell into a suffocating silence. My usually stern father’s eyes turned red as he said, “Anna, can’t you forgive us yet? We never wanted what happened back then either. We punished Lena for you. We even put down the dog that had been with her since childhood. Besides… these dishes are what your mother and I like. Lena just grew up with us and happened to develop the same tastes.” Of course. They were the real family and I was the outsider who never quite fit in. But did that give them the right to scheme against me and my daughter without a second thought? As the tense silence stretched on, Bella suddenly ran downstairs. The moment she saw me, her little lips trembled, then she burst into loud sobs. “Where’s my mom? I want Mommy!” The unfamiliarity and rejection in her eyes stabbed into my heart like a thousand needles. Victor hurried to comfort her, but she only cried harder, her wails heartbreaking. My parents rushed over as well, their faces filled with deep concern. It was a kind of worry I had never seen from them before my daughter was hurt. And just then, the front door creaked open. Bella’s eyes lit up. She ran straight toward the person outside. “Mommy!” Lena scooped my daughter into her arms, holding her tightly as if she were her own. She shot me a vicious glare. “How could you take care of her like this?” The last sliver of hope in my heart shattered completely. So it was true. She was no longer my daughter. All those unbelievable words they had spoken were real. The nanny, sensing something was wrong, stepped forward to take the child. “Miss Lena, she is crying too hard. Let me hold her.”

But Lena dodged her grasp, her gaze full of open provocation as she stared at me. “She’s crying because there’s someone who shouldn’t be here.” I looked at the two of them, clinging to each other so naturally and so intimately. A pain so sharp that it stole my breath tore through my chest. ‘How dare she! That is my daughter!’ I couldn’t control myself. I stepped forward, reaching out to take my daughter back. But the moment I touched her, she burst into wailing cries. Victor immediately rushed over and yanked me away. “What are you doing?” Thrown off balance, I stumbled back, knocking over the dining table. Food and drinks spilled all over me, drenching me in a mess of breakfast dishes. I looked up, only to see Victor standing protectively in front of Lena, his eyes full of wariness toward me. My parents also stepped between us, as if terrified that I would lay a hand on Lena. My heart turned completely cold. That wasn’t my daughter. That wasn’t my husband. And they certainly weren’t my parents. I refused the maid’s attempt to help me up. I rose to my feet slowly and numbly. “Enjoy your meal. I won’t bother you any longer.” Victor finally seemed to snap out of his daze and rushed forward to grab my arm. "Anna, it’s not what you think. I only brought Lena back because I saw how down Mom and Dad were feeling. You have to understand their emotions. After all, Lena was their daughter for over twenty years. She’s already been punished. It’s time to move on." My father also stepped in to persuade me. "That’s right. It was the dog’s fault, not entirely Lena’s. She’s back now, just let her stay." My mother, eyes red with tears, pleaded with me. "Yes, Anna. Please, don’t torment your mother anymore. Let Lena come home." I stared at them, tears streaming down my face, my heart breaking into pieces. "Alright," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Let her come back." Because this was always her home, the one who should leave… was me. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Victor walked over and pulled me into his arms. "Anna, I knew you’d be the most understanding. Didn’t you always want to meet my friends? Our wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days. Let’s throw a grand banquet to celebrate." I knew what this really was. A welcome party for Lena. But it didn’t matter to me anymore. I forced a smile, looking at the expectant faces before me and added, "Let’s make it a welcome banquet for Lena too. That way, it’ll be even livelier." Perhaps worried that my presence at home would upset Lena, Victor wasted no time. That very afternoon, he dragged me out of the house. "Just rest well and leave the banquet preparations to them." "Don’t worry, Lena won’t outshine you. I’ll make sure this is the most unforgettable wedding anniversary for you." In the past, Victor always told me not to compete with Lena, assuring me that since I was their biological daughter, the family would never mistreat me. But in reality, time and time again, they favored Lena.

I used to argue, fight and struggle for what I wanted. But now that the things I once longed for were being handed to me, I simply responded with a quiet "Mm." Victor seemed surprised. "Anna, isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?" That was in the past. Now, I didn’t even want them anymore, so why would I care for their so-called affection? But I didn’t say any of that. I only replied indifferently, "You were the one who told me that harmony in the family brings prosperity, isn’t that right?" Victor nodded happily. "I’m glad you’ve come around. Today, I’m all yours. Let’s have a great time." Our destination was the South Suburban Flower Valley. It was a place I had been wanting to visit for years. It was only a thirty-minute drive, yet Victor had always brushed it off, saying he was too busy. Now, as I finally stood before the breathtaking sea of flowers I had longed to see, the excitement I once felt was completely gone. Tired of wandering, I headed to a café to sit down. To my surprise, the waiter recognized Victor. "Mr. Ford, you’ve brought your wife again? It’s been a while since your last visit. Will you be ordering the usual—salmon sandwiches and lemon tea?" So, this place was nothing special to him. The place I had yearned for was merely one of their many date spots. Seeing the cautious, probing look in Victor’s eyes, I pretended not to hear and walked out the door. The captain's call came in just in time. "0527, all the procedures have been completed. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider? Once the process starts, all traces of you in the country will be erased. I heard you found your family, got married and had a daughter. They…" "They are not my family anymore. Captain, don't worry. Since I've decided to return, I won't regret it." I interrupted him firmly. "Alright, the day after tomorrow, we’ll send someone over. Rest assured, no matter when, we will always have your back." Even through the phone, I could feel the captain’s barely concealed heartache. They had no blood ties to me, yet they truly cared. But my own kin? They treated everything as a scheme. "Anna, where are you going back to?" Victor’s voice came from behind me and I hurriedly wiped away my tears. "Nowhere, just tired and wanting to go back." He looked at me indulgently. "Alright, whatever you say goes." On the way back, he took countless detours, driving for two hours without reaching home. I couldn’t be bothered to expose his intentions, so I simply closed my eyes and took a nap. I didn’t know how much time had passed when the car finally stopped. Victor got out, but he didn’t call for me. I wanted to open my eyes, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move. Then, I heard voices from outside the car. "Why didn’t you wait inside? Aren’t you cold?" Lena’s voice was sultry as she tugged down her collar. "Just thinking about you makes me burn up." Victor laughed heartily, without the slightest hesitation, as he pulled her into an intimate embrace.

The car shook continuously. I wanted to pass out, to escape from witnessing such a disgusting scene. But as if deliberately provoking me, Lena’s voice grew louder and louder. It took them a long time before they finally stopped. Victor’s voice was full of satisfaction. "You’re still the most compatible with me. You have no idea that she’s like a dead fish." Lena teased him, "Aren’t you afraid she’ll hear?" Victor chuckled. "I was afraid she’d make a fuss about coming back, so I put a sleeping pill in her water." Lena let out a coy hum. "Why do you always carry those with you? Isn’t feeding them to her at night enough? Now you’re even looking for chances during the day?" "Why? Don’t you like exciting things like this?" I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cave. So every night, they had been messing around right beside me? If I had drunk more of that water just now, I might have never known the truth for the rest of my life. Rage shot straight to my head. I wanted to stand up and confront them, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move. All I could do was remain fully conscious, forced to listen as they went at it again. By the time the car finally made it home, the two of them had completely forgotten about me, leaving me behind in the vehicle. It wasn’t until late at night that a servant finally discovered me. The family doctor came over and gave me an injection and only then was I finally able to move again. He warned me, "You can't take sleeping pills every day. They’ll affect your brain. Why isn’t your family advising you against it?" I shook my head bitterly. They were the ones giving me this medicine. I didn't have a family anymore. But it wouldn’t matter soon. I was about to return to where I truly belonged. The banquet was exceptionally grand. Early in the morning, a team of stylists arrived at the house to dress up Lena. Seeing my gaze, Victor looked a little embarrassed. "Anna, it's not that I didn't hire a stylist for you. You said yourself that you don’t like dressing up like this." I responded with a soft "Mm." Yes, I used to be a mercenary. Even though I was only a tactical strategist in the background, I never cared about appearances. But after returning to the Reeves Family, I worked hard to learn these things, to fit into their world. Back then, Victor was the one who accompanied me through it all. When everyone mocked me, even when my own parents looked at me with disappointment, it was Victor who told me, "Anna, it's not your fault." But now, he had forgotten it all. I didn’t respond to Victor and simply turned around, heading back to my room. The team would be coming to pick me up soon. There was no need for these unnecessary burdens anymore. Victor seemed like he wanted to follow me, but Lena called out to him. In the end, he didn’t come after me. After packing my things, I sat in the backyard, lost in thought. That was when Lena appeared before me.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Tonight, at the banquet, Mom and Dad will have your daughter start calling me 'Mom' instead." She smirked and continued before I could react. "You probably don’t know why, do you? Well, since I’m feeling generous today, I’ll tell you. Your daughter died a long time ago. The soul inside her now… is my daughter." "You and your daughter are truly a pair of fools." Lena sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "Before her soul was switched, the moment she saw Victor approach, she stopped crying immediately. She even handed the artifact over to him herself, saying that as long as Victor treated you better, she’d be willing to do anything." I felt like my brain had short-circuited, unable to process her words. But she didn’t stop. "And you… you actually kicked the dog away at that moment. The soul of your daughter was inside that body. Haha! When you were screaming for Mom and Dad to kill that dog, did you ever think that it was actually your daughter?" Her words crashed over me like a tidal wave. Before I could even fully grasp what she was saying, a scene from that day resurfaced in my mind. The dog that had always clung to Lena and had run toward me. When it was beaten to death, its eyes had stayed fixed on me the entire time. And then, if I remembered correctly—it had cried. I stared at Lena in utter disbelief, my voice trembling uncontrollably. "You… you’re lying to me!" She sneered coldly. "Why would I lie? Can’t the so-called good mother who claims to love her daughter even tell the difference?" Rage surged through me. My vision burned red as I lunged at her, unable to hold back any longer. But before I could even touch her, a brutal force sent me flying. Victor glared at me with unmasked fury. "What do you think you’re doing?" Hearing the commotion, Mom and Dad rushed over. Their faces were icy, their gazes filled with disappointment. "You're bullying Lena again! You really can’t tolerate her, can you?" Lena sobbed pitifully, her voice trembling as if she had suffered a great injustice. "Don't blame my sister… I just saw her arguing with the child and wanted to comfort her. But who knew she thought I was trying to steal her daughter… If she really can't tolerate me, then I'll just leave." Victor was furious. "Anna, how can you be so petty? Still holding a grudge after all this time?" He sneered and continued, "Look at yourself. No wonder the child isn’t close to you!" Tears streamed down my face as I looked at the people before me, my heart twisting in agony. "You say I'm making a fuss?" My voice shook. "Then tell me, tell me the truth. Is that really my child?" Mom and Dad stiffened for a moment, but their expressions quickly hardened. "If the daughter you saved with your own hands isn't yours, then who is?" "I think you’ve gone insane." I threw the talisman papers and the secretary’s recorded notes in front of them. “Oh really? Then explain this, what exactly is this soul-swapping ritual?”

Victor didn’t even flinch. “Who knows where you dug up this nonsense? Stop making baseless accusations.” His tone was cold and impatient. “Apologize to Lena right now, or forget about attending today’s banquet.” Mom and Dad glared at me. “That’s right! If you don’t apologize, we won’t acknowledge you as our daughter anymore.” I laughed, tears spilling down my face. “Fine. I was wrong. Is that what you want to hear?” I was wrong for longing for family. I was wrong for coming back, even though I knew they never truly wanted me. The worst mistake was letting them deceive me again and again, until it cost my child’s life. With that, I turned and walked away. But then, behind me, I heard Lena’s delicate voice. “Anna’s eyes look so scary...” Before I could react, something heavy slammed into the back of my head. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Victor holding a club and my own parents, holding ropes, ready to tie me up. Through my tear-blurred vision, I caught a glimpse of something familiar. It was a team uniform. I tried to call for help, but darkness swallowed me before I could make a sound. At the banquet, Lena smiled brightly, basking in the attention. But Victor was distracted. He couldn’t stop thinking about the look in my eyes just before I collapsed. It was cold, desolate, like ice that had never melted for a thousand years. It was the first time Victor had ever seen that look in my eyes. Uneasy, he went to my parents, wanting to let me out. But their response was simple. "She can come out when she admits she was wrong!" *** The banquet was in full swing, but Victor couldn't sit still. My screams and my accusations about his daughter kept echoing in his mind. But soon, he dismissed the thought. How could I believe something so absurd, with no real evidence? With that, his unease faded slightly. To appease me, he had the servants send me my favorite—strawberry cake. Yet before long, a servant ran back in a panic. "Bad news, Mr. Ford. Miss Anna is gone!"