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Sophia stammered,furious,raising her hand to slap me.
“Sophia Bradley,how long will you keep this up?”
A woman’s voice echoed from the estate,freezing Sophia’s hand.
I stood up,looking over to see a poised,short-haired woman dressed in elegant clothes,frowning at Sophia.
“Mom,what are you doing here?”
Sophia turned,surprised.
“If I didn’t shown up,what mess would you make of this birthday?”
After scolding Sophia,Mrs.Harper approached me,smiling.“Sorry,Sophia’s immature.I apologize on her behalf.”
Looking at her face, which resembled mine so much, tears welled up in my eyes.
This was my mother,the one I’d dreamed of countless times.Now,I’d finally met her.
“Hey,my mom’s talking to you!”
Sophia’s snap jolted me.
I waved it off,stammering,“It’s okay,really.”
“Sophia,where’s your manners?What have I taught you?”
Chiding Sophia,Mrs.Harper studied me.
“You feel so familiar.We need help at the estate.If you’re willing,stay on as staff.”
I agreed without hesitation.Staying,no matter in what capacity,was my chance to expose Sophia’s fake identity.
Having grown up doing chores for the Bradleys,I excelled at the Harper estate.
Cooking,cleaning,laundry—I was a pro.The Harpers loved my meals,and I won their favor.
Even when Mr.Harper was swamped with work in his office,I delivered food to his office.
My care,in Sophia’s eyes,was brown-nosing.
She put hundreds of needles in my pillow,released venomous insects in my room,and even convinced the other staff members to ostracize me.
Her childish attempts to make my life miserable were laughable.I ignored her.
Either tired or bored,she stopped for a while.
But it wasn't long before trouble found me again.
As I wa setting the table for dinner,a commotion broke out outside.
“Mariam Harris,you dirty liar,come out here right now!”
“You fraud,where are you hiding?”
It was Tom’s voice.A sense of dread washed over me.
At the door,I saw Tom with his parents,gleefully dragging the Harpers into it.
Spotting me,Tom smirked maliciously.
“That’s her!A con artist who gambled away all our money!”
“She tricked me into marriage in our village,took the dowry,and ran!That money was our life savings!”
Tom wailed,painting me as a villain.If I didn’t know better,I’d have bought it.
“That’s slander!I can sue you for this!”
I stepped forward,rebutting.
“Mr.Harper,I swear I’m honest.Look at my mom’s leg—crippled by debt collectors!”
“They couldn’t find her,so they took their anger out on us.She has no heart!”
Tom pointed at me,cursing.His parents wailed on the ground.
His mom’s leg?She got that stealing from a store,caught and beaten.
In his story,I was a monster!
Sophia added fuel to the fire.“Dad,Mom,we can’t keep a criminal like Mariam.She’ll ruin our name!”
So that’s why Sophia had been quiet lately—she’d been plotting with Tom.
“Mr.Harper,Mrs.Harper,I’ve done none of this.If you don’t believe me,call the police.They’re trying to frame me!I-”
“Enough!”
Mr.Harper cut me off,frowning,hesitating.
“Whether it's true or not,the Harper family can’t afford rumors.Leave.”
“Mariam,go…”Mrs.Harper added.
I opened my mouth,words failing.
I got it.For a family like the Harpers,even false scandals hurt.
Getting rid of me was the easiest solution.
