- 2.
Three months ago, it came out that I was the
real daughter, but Chrissy Cunningham got all
the sympathy.
I remember walking into the mansion that
day, all skinny and sunburned, and feeling
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Dad said, “Don’t worry, Chrissy, you can keep
living here. You’ll always be Mom and Dad’s
little princess.”
Mom told me, “Chrissy’s innocent. She was
abandoned by her real parents, which makes
her even more pitiful than you are.”
Even my brother, Jake, who used to always
protect me, pulled Chrissy behind him with a
wary look.
“I’m warning you, don’t bring any of your
country bumpkin habits around Chrissy,” he
said. “She’s so pure, she doesn’t understand
anything.”
I stood there, stunned, like I’d done something
wrong, and let them scold me.
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I was dragging this woven sack I’d brought
from the farm, full of potatoes I’d grown
myself, wanting them to try them.
But Chrissy just coughed when she saw the
sack, and Jake immediately told the maid to
throw it out without a second thought.
I stared at them, speechless, and managed to
choke out, “They’re clean.”
But no one paid any attention. They were all
fawning over Chrissy, making sure she knew
she was still their irreplaceable little princess,
even with me there.
But no one knew that for me, it felt like being
abandoned all over again.
I can’t even explain how I felt during that
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I had to force myself to focus on school and
give up on wanting their love.
Now, looking at the way Mom’s eyes were
twitching, I took a deep breath and said, “I
didn’t do anything. She’s been bullying me.
She slaps me, kicks my knees, and makes me
kneel…”
“You’re lying!”
Chrissy interrupted me, all worked up.
“How could you try to frame me like that? I
didn’t even bring up the other stuff you did.
Oh, Mom, you have to stick up for me!”
“I regret over having you as a daughter !! Mom
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“I regret ever having you as a daughter,” Mom
said darkly, and I’d never seen her look so
angry.
A flicker of happiness flashed in Chrissy’s
eyes. She lifted her chin, looking smug.
“See, Ashley, you made Mom mad again. If
you just admitted you were wrong and
apologized, I’d forgive you. But you have to
be stubborn, so now Mom’s going to cut your
allowance again?”
She was so busy acting that she didn’t see
Mom’s glare getting colder and colder.
“Chrissy Cunningham, I was talking about
you.”
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Mom turned on her suddenly.
Meeting her shocked stare, Mom took my
hand, her eyes full of disgust and hate for
Chrissy.
“We’ve raised you out of the goodness of our
hearts, and you, a daughter from another
family, dare to accuse my own flesh and
blood.”
“Apologize to Ashley, now.”
