The Fake Heiress Is the Real Lucky One

When Sharon had a car accident and needed an amputation, I got her a prosthetic.

When Jason suffered from serious liver, kidney disease, and a stroke due to high blood pressure, he miraculously recovered.

They thought they were lucky, never realizing that I was the one carrying the burden. Reflecting on the past four years, I could only laugh at the irony.

6

I told myself to give them one more chance, as a way to repay them for raising me.

"Maybe, just maybe, they don't stop caring about me. They're just preoccupied with feeling sorry for Ivy right now, that's all. They might change."

I counted the days, waiting for my leg burn to heal, but the Campbell family never came. The nurse looked at me sympathetically. "Miss, do you need to stay a few more days?"

I shook my head. "Call me a cab, please. I want to go home."

After all, if I kept waiting, all I'd get was being forgotten.

I returned home in my electric wheelchair, only to find the house full of people, celebrating something. My heart skipped with excitement. Were they planning a surprise for me?

As I entered, the room fell silent, and everyone turned to look at me. It was only then I realized that they weren't celebrating me. They were throwing a birthday party for Ivy.

Dylan gave an awkward smile to everyone and quickly wheeled me back to my room. On the way, I could still hear the murmurs.

"Why is the fake still living here?"

"Yeah, what's the point of keeping a sick person around?"

...

Dylan took me to my room. Before I could ask, he said, "Ivy mentioned that she hadn't celebrated her birthday in over 20 years. She said she was always envious that you had birthday parties, so... we decided to throw one for her."

He said more lightly, "Besides, you don't really like crowds, so it's better you don't attend."

"I don't like crowds?

Ever since I turned 18 and lost most of my vision, the Campbell family never threw me a big birthday party. It was always just a family meal, and they would claim, 'You don't like crowds.'

I used to not care, but looking back, I realized that wasn't true.

They were just ashamed of me.

7

After what felt like forever, the birthday party ended, and the house grew quiet.

One by one, they came to my room. Ivy begrudgingly handed me a slice of cake, speaking rudely, "Did I owe you in a past life or something? You took my parents and brother for so many years, and now that I'm finally back, you ruin my happiest moments every time! What do you want from me?

"Last time, you interrupted the family photo and made me go to the hospital for burns! I still have a scar on my hand because of you!

"This time, I even changed the date of my birthday just for you, but you still ruined it! And now you're pretending to be pitiful. Are you trying to say that Mom, Dad, and Dylan mistreat you?"

I shook my head. "My return date was set long ago. Who really chose this date, Ivy? I think you know better than anyone."

Ivy, furious, turned to Sharon and Jason. "Mom, Dad, please just agree with me. I've already found a great nursing home for her! Everyone there is like her. She'll fit in perfectly!"