Betrayed by Blood, Avenged by Talent

When I heard them asking her about plagiarism, they just glossed over the issue and issued a statement on my behalf to quit the circle.

Eugenia stood on the stage and sang the song I composed, "The Moon Under the Sea,” as if she was really the mermaid singing under the sea, so beautiful.

My heart ached when the judges awarded her the award. It was clearly my work, but none of them believed me.

In her acceptance speech, Eugenia actually mentioned that my father helped her polish the lyrics of the song and my father acknowledged it with a smile.

He personally presented the award to Eugenia and praised her as his pride.

I bit my lips tightly and tears fell.

The lyrics of this song, which clearly talked about my time in the orphanage, became their achievement.

Even my brother told the media seriously, “Ten years ago, our family went out to sea for fun. I went surfing but encountered a tsunami. 

“In the critical moment of life and death, it was Eugenia who jumped down and saved me at all costs. She gave me her life jacket to wear and was almost swept away by the waves.

“Eugenia gave me a second life. As a brother, I will protect her at all costs. Let her be the happiest mermaid princess and sing freely.”

I laughed until tears came out. Eugenia could not swim at all, how could she save you?

I gave you my life jacket and I was swept by the huge amount of water and hit the reef. My back was covered in blood and I almost died. And it turned out to be Eugenia's credit?

I wiped away my tears and tremblingly sent a message to a number I had not seen for a long time. [Does your promise from that year still count?]

The other party replied immediately, [Of course. You are a pearl that shouldn’t be tainted by their cruelty. I’ve seen the recent news—they framed and hurt you, all for the sake of that adopted daughter. There’s no reason for you to stay with them. Just tell me, what do you want me to do?]

I clumsily tapped out a few lines with my palm and the door of the ward was pushed open.

When my mother saw the words on my screen, her face changed drastically.

“Janette, who are you messaging? Where are you going in three days?”

I closed the interface, took out the calendar and showed it to her.

There were words marked inside, [My birthday.]

My mother breathed a sigh of relief and touched my head with loving eyes.

“Sure, sure, wherever you want to go, we will go with you,” she said.

I typed in an address, which turned out to be the beach where my family went on vacation ten years ago.

Since everything started there, let's end it there.

Three days later, my whole family chartered a cruise ship at the seaside to celebrate my and Eugenia’s birthdays together.

In the ten years since I was found, Eugenia was more like the only protagonist in every birthday party.

Eugenia was spoiled by my parents and loved by my brother since she was a child. She knew how to act coquettishly and show weakness to everyone to win favor.

But I grew up in an orphanage and my personality was reserved and not likable. 

This time was no exception.