Chapter 1

I was the most hated kid in the foster care system. I had been returned by six different families.

All because I knew I already had a mother.

In my first six foster homes, I did everything I could to get kicked out. I ruined my foster mothers' expensive lipsticks by scribbling all over their pristine white walls. I folded my foster fathers' crucial tax documents into paper airplanes.

Their patience always turned into disgust.

And I succeeded.

Every single time, they sent me straight back to the group home.

But I wasn't sad at all. I just wanted to go back to my real mom.

On the seventh time, the person who opened the door was my biological mother.

The car pulled up in front of a luxury mansion.

The group home director’s parting words still echoed in my ears: "Chloe, this is your absolute last chance. If they return you again, you’re staying in the system until you turn eighteen."

The moment I squeezed through the front door, a small poodle bared its teeth and growled at me. Terrified, I hid behind my mother.

My mother’s brow furrowed in deep disgust. "You are not welcome in this house. Get out!"

I felt a pang of disappointment.

But I didn't leave.

I had eavesdropped on the director's conversation with a social worker. He said this woman was my actual biological mother.

I had fought so hard, ruined so many opportunities, just to get back to her side.

I ran over to the dining table and sat down, behaving as perfectly as I could.

Seeing this, my mother had no choice but to walk into the kitchen with a cold face. She brought me a plate of homemade lasagna, fresh out of the oven.

"Eat. Once you're done, leave. Don't waste my time."

I carefully used my fork to put a bite into my mouth. It was warm, cheesy, and incredibly delicious.

My mother was just acting tough, I thought. She actually cared.

A warm spark of hope flared in my chest. I opened my mouth, about to call her "Mom" for the very first time.

Suddenly, a little girl in a beautiful designer dress flew into the room like a butterfly.

Without even looking at me, she threw herself straight into my mother’s arms.

"Mom! I'm home!"

Her voice was sweet and high-pitched.

My mother immediately knelt down and caught her in a tight hug. "Daisy, you're back!"

I watched as my mother gently held the girl named Daisy.

The word "Mom" died in my throat.

It turned out she had another child.

She didn't hate children. She just... didn't want me.

A bitter sting rushed up my nose, and my eyes filled with tears I couldn't control.

Daisy used her pretty eyes to look me up and down, her voice dripping with natural superiority.

"Is this the charity case from the group home?"

I instantly looked at my mother, desperately hoping she would deny it.

But my mother just nodded. "Your father insisted on adopting her." Then, she turned to me. "What's your name?"

My mother was asking for my name.

Did she really not remember?

She was the one who named me. She had written it on a crumpled piece of paper and left it in my basket when she abandoned me at the orphanage gate.

"Chloe... Chloe Miller."

My voice was barely a whisper, all the energy drained from my body.

Daisy sneered. "What a trashy name. She’s just a beggar."

An instant later, her eyes landed on my plate of lasagna. She shrieked and swiped her hand, smashing my plate onto the floor.

"You dirty beggar! How dare you steal the lasagna my mom made specifically for me!"

I looked down at the ruined food on the floor.

So, she hadn't made it for me after all.

I opened my mouth to explain, but my mother grabbed my arm, dragging me into the kitchen.

"You must never let Daisy know that you are my biological child!" she hissed.

"If you can't keep your mouth shut, I'm sending you back to the group home tomorrow!"