The Intimate Enemy: A Tale of Betrayal [Chapter 1 to 10 ]

Chapter 1 

Born rich, I grew up in a remote village because of a kidnapping. 

Seven years ago, my little adopted sister, whose real mother was a human trafficker, attempted suicide at the news that she would be sent back to her remote home.

My real parents and elder brother persuaded me. “Can you go on behalf of Grace? She is too weak to handle any stimulation.” 

I didn’t agree. 

However, my real family made a speech against my will to the reporters and then sent me back to that remote village. 

My fiancé, a powerful and influential real estate tycoon in Timan, sided with them. 

He said, “Amanda, we will get married upon your return. He patient.” 

He forgot that Grace Hacker was supposed to be my real name. 

Seven years passed. 

“Amanda Hacker. With your surname changed, you will have a bright future. 

I took the papers from the sheriff, gave him a bitter smile, and said nothing. 

Then, I limped away. 

A Rolls–Royce stopped on the muddy path. 

After the car door opened, my fiancé, Adam Powell, came into view. 

In a black suit, he was noble in every movement. “Amanda.” 

He waved at me. He looked the same as he had seven years ago 

Embarrassed, I tugged at my tattered clothes. When I raised my head, I saw my reflection in the car window. 

It was a withered face with various scars. 

Adam considerately held the car door for me and then got in the car.

You must have suffered a lot in the past seven years. I will get married to you as promised.” 

Adam held my rough hand and caressed it. 

The calluses on my hand made his eyebrows furrow.

Amused by his distressed look, I withdrew my hand. “Okay.” 

I had expected the arrival of my real family in the first few days of my seven years in Ouray, especially when I was beaten by my foster father and slandered as the daughter of a human trafficker by my classmates. 

After those moments of despair and over two thousand days and nights, I figured out two things.

Firstly, my real family and Adam didn’t love me at all. Secondly, I didn’t want to marry Adam anymore. 

Perceiving my unhappiness, Adam explained, “At the news of your return, Grace recalled what had happened seven years ago, so she relapsed into depression. Your parents and elder brother are in the hospital to keep her company.” 

I remained silent, turned my head, and looked out of the car window.

Twenty-five years ago, I was only two months old when I was maliciously taken away from my home by a maid.

She took me to a remote village and had her biological daughter replace me to be a scion. 

My real parents were too busy with work to notice the switch. 

Ten years ago, the policemen found my real parents after Grace’s real mother was arrested. 

Only then did my parents learn of the truth. 

I returned to the Hacker family, but my parents favored Grace. 

They did not love me. 

Grace had stolen my life, and her name was supposed to be Amanda. However, my parents made me give way to her in everything.

When my case caused a stir, they denied me as their real daughter to protect Grace 

For her sake, they made me go back to that hellish place for another seven years… 

From then on, she would be Grace forever, and I would be Amanda forever. 

When I arrived at the Hacker’s place, only the servants waited at the door. 

They ignored me and attentively walked towards Adam as if I were invisible, 

My parents loved Grace and didn’t love me, their real daughter. The servants were snobbish, so they didn’t see me as Ms. Hacker. 

“Mr. Powell, good day.” 

After the greeting Adam, the butler reluctantly looked at me and said, “Ms. Amanda, Mrs. Hacker wanna you to stay at home, so you won’t put the Hacker family to shame .” 

Put shame on the Hacker family…. 

Wasn’t Grace the daughter of the human trafficker? Why did I become ashamed? 

However, I had no expectations of my family since they had denied me before the reporters seven years ago.

I nodded indifferently, but just as I walked into the house, Adam’s phone rang. 

After hanging up the phone, Adam said, “Amanda, Grace needs me, so I will have to go see her now. Take a good rest, and I will come tomorrow.” 

After that, he hurried away. 

I watched his figure gradually disappear. Then, I limped back to my room, the utility room. 

I pushed the door open and sawdust danced in the air inside the room. 

I was too tired to do the cleaning and lay down on the bed. 

Night fell. 

I was awakened by the noise coming from the living room. 

My elder brother, Terry Hacker, said, “Dad, Mom, given Grace’s case, why don’t we let Amanda move out? Grace will lose control of herself again once she sees Amanda.” 

My dad, Kim Hacker, sighed and then said nothing 

My mom, Kerry Mitchell, said, “She is a Hacker anyway. What will the others think of us if we let her move out?” 

“What should we do then? Grace can’t stay in the hospital forever,” Terry said. 

My dad said, “Well, let Amanda stay in her room after Grace comes home.” 

My nose couldn’t help but twitch. 

Right then, I received a new message. 

I picked up my plan. 

I picked up my phone, checked it, and saw a confidential email. 

“Amanda Hacker, Congratulations. You have been admitted into the National Security Section. 

I you accept this job, you will have a brand new identity and go to Grenadan for a secret mission in 10 days. 

“In the next five years, you can’t contact your family or friends.” Read all the terms carefully. 

Then, I signed my name. 

Chapter 2

As early as seven years ago, I was admitted into the National Security Section.

Sadly, before I could make a decision on this job, I had been sent back to Ouray by my real parents.

During the seven years in Duray, I wanted to escape every day, but I couldn’t.

A good beating awaited me whenever I attempted to run away.

During the seven years in Ouray, I saw through my so-called family.

After my foster dad died, I applied for the National Security Section again.

“In ten days, on December 10th, we will pick you up at 9 PM, sharp by car.”

I raised my hands and covered my ears to block out the sound from the living room.

Luckily, I would leave this home where nobody loved me in ten days.

The next day arrived. When I left my room, I saw Grace in a white dress sitting on the sofa like a princess.

My Dad, Mom, elder Brother, and fiancé surrounded Grace

The Butler brought a cake.

The crowd said at the same time, “Happy birthday, Grace.”

Grace had happiness in her eyes.

I was an onlooker of Grace’s happiness, though it was supposed to be mine.

The crowd gave Grace their respective presents to celebrate her birthday.

Out of the corner of his eye, Adam spotted me when he was ready to hand over his gift.

“Amanda, come! Let’s celebrate Grace’s birthday.”

Adam beckoned me over, and he failed to notice the abrupt change in the expressions of the others.

Grace said affectionately, “Amanda, I’m sorry that I didn’t go pick you up yesterday. I was sick. You won’t be mad at me, will you?

Before I opened my mouth, Adam said, “She won’t because she has a big heart.”

Hearing this, Grace grabbed Adam’s hand and said, “Amanda, today is my birthday, so I wanna ask you for a gift. Could you please give me Adam?”

She bluntly got her ambition exposed, and the others silently waited for my answer.

She was the most shameless person I had ever seen. After a sneer, I asked, “What if I say no?”

Grace’s expression froze in place.

Grace then expressed her grievance in French. “It was a joke, and I didn’t expect Amanda to take it seriously.”

My Mom comforted Grace in French. “Darling, don’t be sad, Amanda and I share nothing in common. She is stingy and pretentious.”

My Dad joined the conversation in French. “Grace, don’t lower yourself to her level. You are the only daughter of Kerry and me.”

My elder brother spoke French too. “Grace, you are my only sister.”

What a loving family…

I played dumb and asked Adam, “What did they say?”

Adam’s expression froze before the answer came. “Grace was kidding, and they didn’t want you to misunderstand her.”

Misunderstood Grace………

I would be fooled if I didn’t speak French.

How could they be to my face without batting an eye?

My Mom was a musician, and my Dad had been somebody in the business world during his youth.

Therefore, they looked down upon me and saw me as a barbarian from a remote village cut off from civilization, even if I was their real daughter and a victim of the kidnapping.

All these years, all their love was reserved for Grace.

Ten years ago, Grace was admitted to a less-known college, and my parents held a party to celebrate it.

They didn’t know that I was admitted into the prestigious Olden University. Besides, I had taught myself French, Italian, and Spanish….

Never mind, because I would soon leave this terrible family and the hypocritical Adam.

“Just arrived in Timon and intend to explore it. Enjoy yourselves, and see you around.”

After that, I limped away when my family and the servants looked at me with contempt.

Behind me, my family continued to belittle me in French.

None of them remembered that day was my birthday too.

Chapter 3

Allowing the Hacker’s place, I took a bus to a high street.

I had to drop out of school when I was sent back to Ouray. Now, I was handicapped.

I found a part-time job in a restaurant to provide for myself for the next ten days.

The Hacker family was incredibly wealthy, but I couldn’t get one mouthful of food from them.

I had been taken back to the Hacker’s place when I was 15 years old. I had received two hundred dollars upon my return, and that was all

Later, I was despised because I was not as outstanding as Grace in the eyes of the Hacker family. I was ignored even if I was a Hacker by blood.

I had to work part-time to fend for myself and pay my tuition….

At 11:30 PM, I got the last plate cleaned

I walked out of the restaurant alone. Then, I saw Adam get out of a Bentley and walk towards me.

“Amanda, why have you been out for such a long time?”

Before I answered the question, Adam pulled me into the car. Soon, I saw a beautiful strawberry cake in the backseat.

“Amanda, happy birthday.”

Shock rooted me to the spot.

The Powell family and the Hacker family were old friends and neighbors.

Adam and I had been betrothed since childhood. I got the engagement back, though I had been kidnapped for nearly 15 years,

I remembered that the first person I had seen upon my first arrival at the Hacker’s place was Adam.

Back then, he was wearing a white shirt that shone under the sunlight.

Adam was the third child of the Powell couple.

Upon my return, the butler had advised me to call Adam Mr. Powell

As a result, I have called Adam Mr. Powell for three years.

Adem was the only soul in Timon who never despised me. Only he stood up for me when others bullied me. Only he brought me gifts to celebrate those holidays. In Timon, only he was good to me.

Inevitably, I fell in love with him and saw him as my savior and reliance.

When he was wounded by his business rival, I had given him my kidney without hesitation…

However, it was he who had personally sent me back to the hellish Ouray for another seven years.

“Amanda, what’s wrong? Did you think that I forgot your birthday?”

Adam’s voice helped me snap back to reality.

I calmly replied, “Thank you.”

Adem then took out a delicate gift box from the back seat and urged me to open it

I uncovered the lid and saw inside a custom–made white wedding dress.

Adam said in a gentle voice, “You once said that your biggest dream is to put on a wedding dress for your lover, so I prepared this one in advance. Do you

I feel bitterness in my mouth. “Adam… Your memory cheated you. I don’t like wedding dresses. I hate white,”

The gender bias in Ouray was severe.

When I was thirteen years old, I was almost sold to a fifty–year–old bachelor in the neighboring village by my foster father.

Back then, I did my best to act insane. I covered my head with a white cloth and claimed that I was possessed. In this way, I had a narrow escape.

From then on, I often wore white clothes and played the fool to protect myself.

After the shock, Adam stroked my head as he had seven years ago. “I’m sorry. My bad. I will get a new dress made for you. Come, I have booked a restaurant to celebrate your birthday.”

On the way to the restaurant, it kept raining.

Adam gripped my hand and said, “Amanda, why are you thinner than you were seven years ago? Your legs…”

His phone rang before he finished his questions.

On his phone screen, I saw Grace’s name.

I couldn’t hear what the caller said. With agitation on his face, Adam asked his driver to turn around and go to the Hacker’s house.

On the way there, he kept sending messages to Grace, but there was no reply from her.

The moment we arrived at the Backer’s place, I saw Grace standing on the rooftop.

Grace saw Adam and me come back together, so her face turned pale.

She shouted, “Dad, Mom, Terry, and Adam… Since Amanda is back, it’s time for me to step aside. Farewell.”

After that, she leaped down from the rooftop.

Chapter 4

The Hacker’s house had only one floor, and its roof was four meters high at most.

When Grace jumped down, her parents, my brother, and Adam dashed towards her, without question, that night was eventful.

All my family and Adam went to the hospital.

Hobbled back to the small utility room.

I lay in bed and took out my phone. It was 0:13 AM on December 2nd.

Adam had gone back on his word as he didn’t celebrate my birthday with me.

I didn’t feel as bad as I had imagined. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

There were only eight days to go.

In eight days, I would be picked up…

In the next five days, I went to work as my job required.

My parents and my brother stayed in the hospital to look after Grace, so they didn’t come home.

One day, I heard the news from the television in the restaurant where I worked.

“The CEO of the Powell Group, Adam, and Grace from the Hacker Group announced their engagement.”

My hand, wiping the table, paused.

That night, when I arrived home, my family was back Adam was there too.

My Mom scolded in French, “She came home so late. She does nothing helpful but fools around.”

My Dad gave his wife a warning look.

Only then did my mom say to me in a gentle voice, “Amanda, you are finally back. We have been waiting for you.”

My Dad opened his mouth, “Amanda, the doctor said Grace’s illness is getting worse, so we decided on your behalf to give your engagement with Adam to Grace. You are okay with that, aren’t you?”

After I silently heard my parents out, contempt surged up in my eyes.

They pretended to be democratic after they had decided for me.

I looked at Adam and deliberately asked, “Adam, are you okay with this arrangement?”

Adan didn’t walk to me till now. He held my hand.

“Grace’s only wish is to marry me. You have my word that I won’t let you down. I will hold a wedding with her, but that is all.”

How wouldn’t lie let me down since he intended to get married to another woman?

I withdrew my hand.

“Okay… As long as you are happy.”

Hearing me, Adam felt a sudden Lightness in his chest,

Before he gave a further explanation, Grace, sitting between my parents, opened her mouth.

“Let’s forget the wedding since Amanda doesn’t like this idea.”

When Grace spoke, her fingers fiercely scratched the back of her hand and caused it to bleed.

Seeing this, Terry hurriedly stopped Grace and then shouted at me, “Amanda, can’t you see that my poor sister is sick? Do you need to be so unreasonable?

My elder brother said.

Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but recall my first visit here.

Do you want all of us to beg you?”

At first, I was forced to give away my bedroom

Then, I was told to give Grace the opportunity to study abroad.

Later, when Grace’s real father brought the reporters over, my Mom begged me with tears. “I raised Grace, so I am clear that she can’t survive those difficult days, physically or mentally. I beg you. Please help me for the last time. Go there for her sake.”

With those sad memories in my mind, I said to Terry, “Fine, I will give away my engagement with Adam if all of you beg me on your knees.”

Chapter 5

My speech astonished the people in the living room.

They didn’t expect a pushover to make such a courageous speech.

I didn’t want to waste my breath on them anymore, so I turned around and limped back to my room.

Late at night, I lay in bed. I turned on my phone and looked at the calendar.

It was December 7th.

There were only three days to go.

Right then, Adam called me.

I answered the call and asked, “What’s up?”

“Amanda,” came Adam’s familiar voice.

“Grace saved my life. She gave me her kidney, I will hold the wedding with her even if you are unhappy.”

I was aghast at this news.

It was I who had saved Adam with my kidney.

Why did Grace become his savior now?

“Adam, I am your savior. When you were injured, I gave you my kidney.

I couldn’t help but speak my mind.

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Adam’s voice sounded with disappointment. “Amanda, did you learn to lie during your stay in Duray?

“It is Grace who gave me the kidney. Your parents and the doctor are the witnesses. You are so disappointing

Lying on the cold bed, I didn’t want to argue with Adam anymore.

Eight years ago, Adam had been rushed into the operating room for a kidney transplant after he was wounded by his business rival.

Without the slightest hesitation, I had a matching test. I bravely went into the operating room and gave him my kidney after I was confirmed to be a suitable match.

Now, Grace took the credit, and I couldn’t clear my name.

After a long while, I said to Adam, “Forget it if you don’t believe me.”

I had made up my mind to give up on Adam anyway.

I hung up the phone, closed my eyes, and slept.

There were only two days to go.

When I worked at the restaurant, Terry popped up.

A hint of surprise crossed his face when he saw me in the uniform of the waitress there. He soon cooled down.

“Can’t the pocket money from Dad and Mom satisfy your desires? Have you worked as a waitress here all these days? To disgrace the Hacker family?”

I didn’t know why he had popped up there.

“What disgrace? I steal or rob nothing.”

Terry was lost for words.

He stood up and said, “Mom and Dad are preparing for Grace’s wedding. I hope that you won’t provoke Grace anymore.”

Before he left, he caught sight of my wounded leg.

He said with knitted brows, “Look at the way you walk! Go see a doctor when you have time.”

Gazing at his back, I wasn’t moved by the warmth he rarely showed.

On my first visit to the Hacker family, I was excited to see my brother, who looked similar to me.

In the first year of that visit, I had bought Terry a watch with my six–month salary, but he casually gave it to a servant. “What the hell is this? I don’t wear cheap things, so don’t waste your money on the useless stuff.”

As for Grace, her gift was a small cake.

However, it thrilled Terry. “What a good sister you are, Grace! You remember my birthday and my love for cakes.”

At that moment, I understood one thing.

I had no brothers.

Tomorrow night, I will leave Timon.

Today was my last day at work.

With the payment from my part–time job, I walked out of the restaurant.

The familiar Bentley was waiting before the restaurant.

Before I went to the car, a fireworks show began in the sky over the high street.

Then, countless drones formed a sentence in the night sky.

“Adam loves Amanda forever.”

Chapter 6

Loved me forever?

I stared at the drones in the sky and was lost in thought.

I didn’t notice that Adam had walked up to me till he said, “Ananda, sorry for what happened yesterday.”

Under the fireworks, his expression seemed gentler than before.

“You should trust me. I love you even if my savior is Grace. You don’t need to lie at all.”

Instantly, I felt like shedding tears.

I didn’t feel moved but hurt by what Adam had said.

How could he bully me together with my family while claiming to love me?

“What is wrong?”

Because of my long silence, Adam pinched my cheek.

“You are skinny. Why didn’t you grab more food?”

I finally looked him in the eye and said, “How? Since it was difficult for me to fend for myself during the seven years in Ouray.”

Adam met my eyes and suddenly shuddered.

Perhaps, he finally remembered that it was he who had personally sent me to hell.

He intended for an explanation, but the door of Bentley was pushed open.

Then, a familiar voice sounded, “Adam, Amanda, don’t keep standing there. It’s cold.”

It was Grace.

The smile on my face became a steep.

Adam explained, “Grace came to express her gratitude about the wedding. Come, let me take you home.”

He pulled me to the car.

In the car, Grace glanced at my old clothes and then said, “Amanda, doesn’t our parents‘ financial manager give you pocket money every month? Why does Terry say that you work at a restaurant?

“People may misunderstand our parents and suspect that they are bad to you!

Speaking, Grace took off a bracelet and handed it to me.

“Amanda, tell me if you are short of money and don’t want to alert Mon and Dad. This bracelet is my birthday gift from Mom. It is worth more than 800 thousand dollars. It can help you solve the problem, I think.”

Soo thousand dollars…

With disappointment and sadness, I looked at the luxurious bracelet Grace handed over to me.

One of her gifts was worth 800 thousand dollars while I rolled for five hundred dollars.

The financial manager didn’t give me money as Grace had said.

“It is clear that they are biased. Just look at you and then at me!”

I pushed away the bracelet Grace was holding. “Stop pretending, I am not 15 years old. I won’t fall into your trap again.”

I had intended to be Grace’s good sister when I arrived at the Hackers’ house at 15 years old.

However, Grace kept setting me up and made me her scapegoat. It was too late when I saw through her.

Grace could shed tears whenever she wanted.

At the sight of Grace’s tears, Adam said, “Amanda, Grace is trying to help. You don’t have to be rude even if you don’t want her bracelet.”

He had just said that he loved me.

He sided with Grace whenever I argued with her.

“Adam, do you think that I am poor and should feel grateful to the hand which gives me the alms?” asked.

I had my pride.

Adam didn’t know how to answer my question.

Grace started to gasp for air as she said, “I am sorry… My bad. It’s all my fault. Adam, please don’t fight with Amanda…”

Instantly, Adam became agitated and said to the driver, “Hurry up. To the hospital ”

He then saw me and said, “Amanda, you went too far. Go home by yourself.”

He left me on the roadside.

The car then raced away.

I looked up at the night sky and found that it was snowing.

Snow was falling on Timon.

What a good surprise that I saw the first snow of that year before I left Timon.

I walked back to the Hacker’s place.

The house was brightly lit and beautifully decorated

The people there were busy preparing for Grace’s wedding.

“We will throw a grand wedding for Grace,” my mom said with a smile.

My dad sighed. “Alas! How time flies! In the blink of an eye, my dear daughter is old enough to get married.”

My parents were both overjoyed and sad about Grace’s wedding.

I watched them from a distance and found that they did love Grace

At a very young age, I had learned that I was the victim of a kidnapping.

With the wish of finding my real parents one day, I began to study hard,

In my imagination, my biological parents loved me.

Now, I felt regretful about the reunion.

Without the reunion, my parents would be perfect as they had been in my imagination.

I returned to my room without greeting them.

1 would leave at PM tomorrow.

A big world was awaiting me, and I didn’t covet any love again.

It was the day before the wedding of Grace and Adam

Terry threw a bachelor’s party at home.

Many people were invited, including common classmates of Grace and me.

They talked and laughed, but it had nothing to do with me.

There was no bathroom in the utility rooms, so I had to leave my room to wash uр.

When I walked past the living room, the crowd was playing Truth or Dare. Grace and Adam sat in the middle of the crowd.

“Adam, you lost. What is your choice, Truth or Dare?”

Tipsy, Adam chose the latter.

Passionate kiss with Grace, and it should last for one minute.”

Grace shyly lowered her head.

The crowd shouted excitedly.

Then, I was spotted.

Chapter 7

The winner added, “Adam, I changed my heart. You can choose any woman under this roof and kiss her for one minute,”

The crowd became thrilled.

The winner pointed at me and said, “Amanda, don’t you like Adam? He will get married soon, so why don’t you seize this chance to lose him?”

Adam accepted the advice with pleasure. He got up and walked towards me.

When he was one meter away from me, Grace called him in a broken voice, “Adam…”

Grace looked pitiful.

Adam glanced back at Grace, shifted his gaze to me, and lowered his voice. “With so many people here, I can’t embarrass her. You understand, don’t you?”

I calmly nodded and then left to wash up.

Behind me, Adam kissed Grace, and the crowd cheered.

I felt peaceful and grateful that Adam hadn’t chosen me.

I have already given up on him and had no lingering expectations from any of them.

I will be living anyway.

So there is no turning back.

I lost all my faith in them, so I will be living without any baggage or any lingering expectation from them. Soon I will be free, that’s all that matters, and I am looking forward to my future.

I am going to walk my own path without them.

Chapter 8

I decided to dump Adam because that man, who loved, supported, and prioritized me, was already gone.

Night fell……

Adam had prepared for Grace a fireworks show more breathtaking than that for me.

He invited me out of the house and said, “Amanda, we can be together after the wedding with Grace tomorrow.”

At the thought of his previous help and support, I opened my mouth

“I’m sorry… I can’t…” Be with you anymore.

Before I finished my sentence, Terry called Adam away. “My dear brother–in–law, come, the crowd is waiting for you.”

Adam replied, “Coming.”

He then looked at me and said, “What did you say?”

I gave him a bitter smile and said, “Nothing. Have a good time.”

Adam held my cold hand.

“After tomorrow, this farce will be over.”

After that, he turned around and walked away from me.

I looked at his back.

Yes, the farce would be over with our ridiculous relationship included.

The fireworks lit up the sky.

The crowd gathered in the living room. I glanced at the time on my phone.

It was 7:15 PM, so there was only one hour and 45 minutes to go.

I first took a bath.

I looked at myself in the mirror. The scars on my body resulted from my terrible days in Ouray.

Then, I put on my best clothes and waited to be picked up.

There was one hour to go.

I looked around the room where I had lived for many years.

The utility room was not small, but there were very few things belonging to me.

A frame had lost its cover and a photo.

My stuff included a few worn–out clothes, a couple of old shoes, a quilt that the servants didn’t want, a diary book that had lost it frame.

I first threw away the clothes, shoes, and quilt.

Then, I walked up to the desk and picked up the photo frame, which had inside a photo of the Hacker family and the Powell family. The photo was taken ten years ago when I had just reunited with the Hacker family.

My parents, elder brother, Grace, and Adam were in the photo.

The photo had once been my most precious thing in this world.

I took the photo out of the frame, tore it into pieces, and threw it into the trash can.

In the end, I looked at the diary book that I had been writing since my return to the Hacker family at fifteen years old.

I opened the notebook.

*December 3, 2012, Sunny, I found my real parents. My dad is handsome, my mom is beautiful, and my elder brother is good–looking. Grace held my hand, and hers was soft. I am so happy. I finally found my real family.”

Turned a page.

“March 1, 2013, Cloudy, I don’t have enough money to pay my tuition, so the teacher told me to stand in the corridor today. My classmates laughed at me and called me a pauper. My parents must have their reasons for doing so. I should earn money on my own. I don’t want to be their burden.”

“June 7, 2013, Sunny, It’s Terry’s birthday today. I bought Terry a watch with my six–month salary, but he doesn’t like it. I feel a bit hurt. Even so, I will work harder to buy him something he likes…”

Then, I jumped to the last diary written before I had been sent back to Ouray.

“December 1, 2017 Rainy”

The diary contained only one sentence.

“They don’t love me at all!”

At that moment, hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

I couldn’t help but pick up a pen and write down a diary,

This time, I wrote in French.

“December 10, 2024

“Farewell!

“A question has been on my mind for years. Why did you bring me back since you don’t like me at all?

“Do you dislike me because you didn’t raise me up personally?

“Il so, why are there parents who love and cherish their lost children more than before after the latter go home?

“I know that you hate me. You don’t love me an inch.

Your hatred before your partiality and me to be your child at all. I would choose to be born in Ouray if there were choices for me. If so, I wouldn’t feel broken and unloved.

I wrote down the confusion and resentment I had for years.

“Terry, your wish comes true now. From now on, you will have only one sister, and that is Grace.”

In the end, I wrote to Adam.

“Adam, you said that you would get back with me after your wedding with Grace.

“I have waited for you so many times, but not this time.

“Wish you and Grace happiness.

“Farewell.”

I put the diary book back on the table, together with my medical report, which clearly stated that I had only one kidney.

Time was up when I got everything done.

Without luggage but wounds, I limped out of the house.

Behind me, the crowd talked and laughed happily.

Not far away, a black bulletproof car hid in the darkness.

I walked towards my future without any hesitation.

The vehicle drove away from the bustling street and soon disappeared into the night.

Chapter 9

The Hacker’s house was brightly lit.

There was laughter and cheers.

The next morning came.

The noise indicated the beginning of the wedding for Grace and Adam.

The Hacker couple had happiness on their faces while they entertained their guests,

Adam was confirming the details with his best man.

Right then, Terry looked around and failed to see Amanda.

She couldn’t help but frown. “Terry, where is Amanda? Does she intend to be late for her little sister’s wedding? How ill–bred!”

Terry casually replied, “I don’t think that she wanna see Adam marry Grace. She has liked Adam for years.”

Terry was displeased

“You, go and invite Amanda out. People will talk if she is absent from their wedding.”

After a nod, the maid was ready to leave with the order, but she got stopped by Terry.

“You go help with the decoration of the garden. The wedding will begin soon. I will invite Amanda out,”

Terry paused for a moment and asked, “Which room does Amanda live in?”

“The utility room,” the maid replied.

“What?”

Whoever heard the answer was shocked.

Kim asked with confusion, “Why does Amanda live there?”

The maid lowered her eyes and said, “When Ms. Amanda arrived home, there were no rooms for her. Mrs. Hacker told us to let her live in the utility room temporarily.”

The temporary arrangement lasted for ten years.

A room renovated for her, but I forgot. Why doesn’t she remind me? I am her mother, so how will I know?

Kerry couldn’t help but frown. “I planned to get her a room. Does she think I maltreated her? Her temper is so unlike mine,”

Wearing a tailored wedding dress and an expensive diamond necklace, Grace said on the sofa, “Our utility room is much better than her shabby home in the remote village. I don’t think that she will have a problem with it.”

Terry instinctively disagreed with Grace, but he didn’t say anything.

Frowning, he walked to the utility room at the end of the corridor.

He pushed open the door of the utility room and saw countless dust particles dance in the air.

Terry quickly took one step backward.

Covering his nose, he walked into the room cluttered with many things.

Amanda’s bed was right next to a row of shelves full of stuff.

The so–called bed was made with a thin wooden board and a few buckets.

On the bed was a large water tank, on top of which there was an old desk lamp, a diary book, and a pile of papers.

These were all that Amanda had after years in the Hacker family.

Terry got overwhelmed by astonishment, so he forgot to cover his nose.

Never had he expected his little sister to live in such a terrible place.

This was the Hacker’s house, Amanda’s home.

It took Terry only one glance to confirm that Amanda wasn’t in this small room.

Amanda wasn’t in her room, so where was she?

Terry felt weird.

He walked towards that water tank, which might have been Amanda’s table.

“Mom and Dad!” Terry shouted to his parents.

He picked up the diary book and the medical reports, which had been arranged by date.

Amanda is not there, but she left these things.”

Just as Kim intended to check the stuff left by Amanda, Adam arrived.

“She probably went out in a fit of anger. She is spoiled. Terry, come, Adam is here,” Kerry said.

Kim followed his wife out to welcome Adam.

So Terry was left behind.

Holding a bouquet of flowers in the living room, Adam had no joy on his face.

He looked around, failed to find Amanda, and furrowed his brows.

“Where is Amanda?”

Grace was displeased because Adam’s first question was about Amanda.

She said aggrievedly, “Adam, she probably went out because she didn’t want to attend our wedding. Don’t be mad at her.”

Kerry said, “Adam, don’t worry. We will discipline her later.”

These words angered Adam.

Wasn’t it agreed that this wedding was fake?

Why was Amanda so unreasonable?

Adam took out his phone and sent a message to Amanda, “Can’t you be good? Where are you?”

Once the message was sent, it was like a stone dropped into the sea.

Adam stood in place and waited for a long time, but Amanda did not reply.

His face grew increasingly gloomy.

And Terry, who walked at them, looked at the stagnant atmosphere and couldn’t help but clutch the diary and medical report.

He had only had a few glimpses of the report, but the situation was alarming enough for him.

Terry wondered, “Why is Amanda’s health so poor? And why does she only have one kidney?

He recalled Amanda’s actions from childhood to adulthood.

Terry felt it necessary to verify the authenticity of these reports.

He did not hand over these things.

Instead, he called in his trusted assistant and asked him to privately investigate what happened to Amanda in Ouray in those seven years.

“Adam, what are you waiting for? Aren’t you here to pick me up for our wedding?

In the end, it was Grace who broke the suffocating silence.

She walked up to Adam and took hold of his arm.

“Leave Amanda alone since she has gone. She is an adult; she won’t be in any danger out there.”

Upon hearing these words, both Terry and Kim furrowed their brows.

Grace didn’t care about Amanda at all.

Adam said coldly, “We can skip the rest of the procedures. We don’t need to go to that extent for a fake marriage. Grace, you just wanted to wear a wedding dress and walk into the church with me back then, now we can go directly.”

“Adam!” Grace stomped her foot.

Adam withdrew his hand from hers and walked out of the Hacker family’s house.

At the Church……

As it was a fake marriage, Adam did not invite any guests.

No one was in the church except for the Hacker family and a priest.

“This is completely different from what I thought!”

Upon seeing the deserted wedding scene, Grace finally erupted.

“Adam,” she cried, tears streaming down her face, “Amanda has left, but you still have me, don’t I deserve better than that uncultured bastard? And I heard she even got married in Ouray. How is she good for you?

Adam became a little impatient and also felt anxious about Amanda’s disappearance.

“Grace, back then, when you attempted suicide and jumped off the building, I agreed to a fake marriage with you. Now, I have done everything I was supposed to do, and your wish has been fulfilled. I am going to find Amanda.”

He looked at the Hacker family and at Grace again and said, “And don’t forget, the life that Amanda has endured should have been yours!”

As soon as the words fell, everyone present was stunned.

No one expected Adam to bring up this matter at this time.

Suddenly, Grace took out a knife and held it against his neck.

“I don’t care, Adam. How am I inferior to Amanda? Why do you only like her and not me? Have you forgotten that it was I who gave you a kidney when you were injured?” Grace asked in anger,

Her mother was scared by this scene,

She hurriedly went to snatch the knife from Grace’s hand and comforted Grace, “Grace, don’t do anything foolish, Mom is here. Moms will help you talk to Adam.

Chapter 10

“Don’t come over!”

Grace swung the knife forward, instantly scratching her mother’s arm.

She murmured, “Mom, I just want Adam. Why can’t I get what I want?

“It’s all Amanda’s fault! Damn it! She should go to hell!”

Curses echoed in the church, and chaos immediately ensued.

The farce ended with police cars and ambulances arriving at the church.

Adam also got injured to snatch the knife from Grace’s hand.

At this moment, he was sitting in the ambulance, and medical staff were bandaging his wounds.

However, Adam seemed not to be in pain, as he kept calling and texting Amanda nonstop.

“Amanda, our fake marriage with Grace has ended. Where are you?

“Don’t be angry, shall I come and find you?

“I did these things because she is your sister, and I was helping you, right?

I just want you to have a better life in your family, and make your parents like you a little more.”

No matter how many messages were sent, Amanda did not reply.

And at the hospital at that time……

Ignoring the wound on her arm, Grace’s mother earnestly instructed the doctor, “My daughter has depression and has only one kidney and has already suffered a lot. Please be gentle when stitching her wound. She’s afraid of pain.”

Seeing her so worried, the accompanying nurse couldn’t help but stop walking.

“Madam, I understand your feelings as a mother, but we have already conducted a preliminary examination on this lady.

“She’s in good health and not missing a kidney, as you said. Please don’t worry too much.”

She was stunned.

“What did you just say?

Kim, who was supporting Terry, slightly furrowed his brow.

The nurse thought he didn’t hear clearly, so she patiently repeated it.

“Ms Hacker’s body had no other issues, apart from the skin injury on her neck, and she doesn’t have a kidney as claimed by this lady.?You can rest assured that once the wound is treated, the lady can go home with you.” Her kidney is perfectly complete.

“How is it possible?”

Both of their faces revealed varying degrees of doubt and shock.

Finally, it was Terry who finally realized.

Kerry grabbed Kim’s hand and said, “Dear, we can’t tell Adam about this for now. If he finds out, he will go to Grace and ask for clarification. Grace can’t handle any more stress right now.”

Kim maintained a trace of clear rationality.

He said in a deep voice, “Have you ever thought about who donated a kidney to Adam since Grace has two kidneys?”

In the blink of an eye, the same name flashed through their minds.

It was their forgotten and neglected biological daughter.

That person was Amanda.

“It’s impossible,” Terry instinctively denied.

Kim frowned as he looked at the sleeping Grace.

He suddenly felt that perhaps he had never truly understood his daughter, whom he had loved for 25 years.

Until Grace was pushed into the ward, neither Kim nor Terry said another word.

They saw the wavering in each other’s eyes…

In the office of the executive president of the Hacker Group.

Two hours ago, Terry returned to the company alone from the church.

The assistant was quick and efficient.

The information that was found was printed and delivered half an hour ago.

In addition to the medical examination reports and medical records that were not much different from those left by Amanda, the assistant even obtained two video recordings.

One was about Amanda and Adam entering the operating room to get a kidney transplant,

Another was about Amanda being beaten and tortured by her foster father and villagers in Duray.

The video was blurry and shot at a bad angle.

It could be seen that it was just accidentally captured by the surveillance.

Terry’s eyes reddened as he watched the footage.

He thought to himself, “That’s my biological younger sister!

“No matter how much I disliked her when we were young and how badly she treated Grace, she’s my younger sister.

“This is something that can’t be changed.

“How could people in Ouray Bully Amanda like this?

“Why did these people dare to bully Ms. Amanda?

We had given Amanda’s foster father a large sum of money. All the relationships were well taken care of.

“And why does Amanda look so thin and fragile? I remembered that my family and Adam had sent over a lot of things for her.”

One question after another circled in Terry’s mind.

He called his assistant again.

“Keep looking. Keep investigating for me. Why did these people bully Amanda? Find out who gave them the courage!”

“Yes, Mr. Hacker”

The assistant nodded and quickly left to complete the task.

After the assistant left, Terry slumped down in the chair

Amanda was missing one kidney, limping on one leg, and had scars on her body, some deep and some shallow, that had not faded over the years. Terry closed his eyes.

He recalled the cluttered room that Amanda had lived in for ten years, which he saw at home this morning.

It took a long time before he opened his eyes.

He looked at Amanda’s old and cheap diary.

Terry suddenly felt that it was like a Pandora’s box.

There might be many things in it that might subvert the ideas of these years.

It would be like the thick stack of medical examination reports and medical records in front of him.

As if gathering up courage, Terry finally opened the first page of the diary.

While reading, I found out my younger sister was not very happy about my treatment of her.

“Today is December 13, 2012. It’s a sunny day. I don’t know why, but I feel that my parents, older brother, an return home, especially my younger sister, Grace. Her gaze towards me is a bit strange.

“But it’s probably just me overthinking. I’ll try my best to fit into this family and be a good daughter and sister!”

Another two hours passed.

Terry finally read the last page of the diary.

When he saw the full page of French, he could no longer keep a calm expression on his face.

He was shocked that Amanda knew French.

That meant that Amanda understood everything that they had said about her in the Hacker family.

When Terry saw the sentence “Afterwards……

He suddenly realized something……

He will only have one younger sister,” his hand holding the diary couldn’t help but tremble.

He realized that Amanda was not throwing a tantrum and was not trying to seek anyone’s attention.

He muttered, “She’s gone. She’s left the home where no one loves and cares about her.”

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