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Sophia remembered when Lily first arrived at the Thompson’s, she’d gifted her a stuffed bear.
But the very next day, Lily had run screaming from her room.
She claimed Sophia had hidden a snake inside the bear and it scared her half to death.
Sophia was confused and denied it vehemently.
But Lucian had taken scissors to the bear, revealing the corpse of a dead snake inside.
After Lucian slapped Sophia, Lily had whispered in her ear when no one was looking, smugly admitting she put the snake corpse there.
"You’re not a real Thompson. Why should you live like a princess?"
Lily threatened to make Sophia unwelcome in the Thompson home, and to replace her as the family’s only precious daughter.
Sophia had told the Thompsons what Lily said, but no one believed her.
"Sophia, you’ve disappointed me deeply!"
"Sophia, from now on, Lily is my only Sophiater!"
"Sophia, you scared her today. Go apologize to her!"
Since then, they always chose Lily over her, just because Lily resembled the dead Thompson girl.
Ethan signaled for Sophia to come downstairs,
"Lily kindly invited you down. Go toast her. Let bygones be bygones."
Sophia followed him downstairs.
The Thompson family friends and relatives were all there.
People who once smiled warmly at her now greeted her with cold eyes and stiff expressions.
That coolness and distance had started after Lily arrived.
Initially, Sophia didn’t understand why everyone treated her differently.
Until Lily confessed to her she’d spread malicious gossip and leaked some of their private secrets, all in the name of Sophia.
"Sophia, you’re late. Everyone’s already given their toasts. Now it’s your turn." Knowing full well she was allergic to alcohol, Ethan handed her a glass of champagne.
"Sophia, if you’re not feeling happy, you can go back to your room and rest. Don’t force yourself!"
Lily, a band-aid on her cheek, nestled between Ethan and Lucian.
Her words feigned concern, but her eyes gleamed with triumph.
That spot between her brothers had once been Sophia’s.
"Congratulations. May your next piece win too!"
Sophia offered a small smile.
No one step in to remind people about her allergy, or even remember it.
Sophia tilted her head back and took the champagne.
She soon broke out in hives. Her skin itched unbearably.
She headed to the restroom, just in time to overhear two distant relatives of the Thompsons whispering,
"Did you see? The Thompsons really dote on that Lily."
"An orphan, yet treated like royalty."
"Sophia’s wearing clothes from last year, while Lily’s in the latest designer pieces."
"That outfit Lily’s wearing? Ethan specially flew to Paris for it. I heard he bought her quite a bit of jewelry too."
"All the special treatment Sophia used to get is now hers. What did Sophia do to deserve this treatment?"
"Earlier, Ethan even made Sophia toast Lily. I remember Sophia accidentally sipping a cocktail one year and Ethan got frantic."
"Ever since, every time I come here, I remember Sophia’s allergy, terrified of offending Ethan."
The gossip abruptly stopped when they saw Sophia. They exchanged a knowing glance and quickly slipped away.
Sophia looked at her reflection in the mirror and offered a bitter smile on her crimson face.
Even outsiders remembered her alcohol allergy, but Ethan, who’d once adored her, had forgotten.
Sophia stayed in the restroom a while, only to feel worse. Her throat was starting to swell.
She rushed to the ER.
Before her first IV drip was half finished, Mr Thompson called.
"Where are you?"
His tone was harsh, clearly angry.
