Chapter 2
The next morning, the servant opened the door of my room and moved several large boxes out to the living room.
Waking up by the noise, I decided to go out and see what was happening.
It turned out that they were setting up the scene for the birthday party.
In a birthday song, Shirley was escorted out of the car by all the family and Camden, just like a princess.
The servants stood on both sides of the red carpet and shouted in unison, “Congratulations, Ms. Shirley, on being discharged from the hospital!”
When Shirley walked into the house, the butler promptly appeared with a six–layered cake.
My parents, my brother, Paul Lynch, and Camden said in unison, “Shirley, happy birthday!”
Shirley exclaimed with an exaggerated expression and tearfully embraced them.
When she hugged Camden, she also took the opportunity to kiss his cheek.
Then, she cast a provocative gaze at me.
But I ignored her and went straight to the guest bathroom, intending to wash up.
Camden called out to me, his tone carrying a hint of guilt, “Brielle, you woke up. Come here. Let’s celebrate Shirley’s birthday together.”
“No. I have something else to do,” I refused coldly.
Shirley instantly felt wronged and deliberately said, “Brielle, I’m sorry. I had a heart attack yesterday, so I couldn’t pick you up at the prison. Are you angry with me?”
When the Lynch family saw Shirley’s teary eyes, they immediately comforted her in a gentle voice, “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. You don’t need to explain anything to her.”
Camden also spoke up, “Brielle is very generous. She won’t blame you.”
Shirley, upon hearing this, grabbed Camden’s hand.
Then she said to me, “Brielle, today is my birthday. Dad, Mom, and Paul have all given me gifts already. Can you also give me a birthday gift? I want Camden.”
She blurted out her dark thoughts so bluntly, but no one in the room said a word, just waiting for me to answer.
I sneered coldly, “What if I don’t want to?”
Shirley’s face stiffened.
She then suddenly said in German with a grievance to the others, “I was just joking. I didn’t expect Brielle to take it so seriously.”
My mom comforted her in German, “Shirley, don’t be sad. Just ignore her. She’s really stingy and narrow–minded and doesn’t resemble our family at
all.”
My dad also echoed, “Shirley, don’t take it to heart. No matter what, your mom and I will always treat you as our own daughter.”
Paul also said in German, “That’s right. You’re my only sister.”
My heart ached severely.
But I pretended not to understand German and asked Carnden next to me, “What are they talking about?”
Camden’s eyes flickered as he mumbled, “Shirley said she was just joking, and they said they didn’t want you to overthink it.”
I nodded but smiled bitterly.
I could
They didn’t know that I could understand their conversation.
My mom was a renowned doctor, while my dad was a prominent figure in the business world, especially in the field of medicine.
Ever since they found me in the countryside, they had always looked down on me for not having received a good education when I was young.
So, all they cared about was their adopted daughter, Shirley.
Ten years ago, Shirley and I took the college entrance examination.
Chapter 2
Shirley was admitted to a private medical school, and all the family celebrated it.
They didn’t know that I was admitted to Central Medical University at that time, and I also self–studied German, Portuguese, and French.
Whatever. I didn’t care about whether they knew about it or not anymore.
Anyway, I would leave this hypocritical home and Camden soon.
“I have something else to do, so I’ll be off first. You guys continue.”
With that, I limped away in their disdainful gazes.
While walking out, I could still hear them berating and blaming me in German.
None of them remembered that today was also my birthday.
3
