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She searched for spare keys but couldn’t open the door.
Finally, she called a locksmith.
Sophia knew she’d be late even after unlocking.
She called James.
James arrived with a locksmith.
He freed Sophia and rushed her to school, arriving just in time.
"Sophia, you made it after all! Congratulations! Soon you’ll be back with your real family. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!"
Lily waited for Ethan after her exam.
When everyone left, she approached Sophia, smirking victoriously.
"That night I was locked in the bathroom? That was you too, wasn’t it?"
Sophia waited deliberately.
"And this morning? Ethan locked me, but it was your idea."
Sophia pressed.
"Cutting your own foot, needing stitches… wasn’t that painful?"
Sophia had anticipated Lily seeking her out.
She’d been waiting.
These days, the hunter had become the hunted.
"Yes, it was all me. Who else in that house would target you? They all wanted to give you everything! If I didn’t pull some tricks, how could I win their affection?"
Lily admitted shamelessly.
"Ethan’s an idiot. A little sweet talk, and he does whatever I say, believes anything I tell him. So easy to manipulate."
"And Mr and Mrs Thompson? Their hearts belonged only to their real daughter. They were nice to you because they thought you were her. After finding out you weren’t, they focused on me."
She sneered.
"Of course, they don’t truly care about me. They’re just easing their guilt over their dead daughter."
Sophia recorded everything she needed.
"Aren’t you afraid they’ll see your true colors someday?"
Sophia was genuinely curious about Lily’s audacity.
Before Lily, she’d never imagined such calculated malice existed.
"Of course not! I’ll hide it forever!"
Lily boasted confidently.
"I doubt you can hide it."
Sophia had never planned to let Lily off the hook after leaving.
If Lily wanted to hide? She’d give all her evidence to the Thompsons.
"Even if I can’t hide it, I’m not scared. As long as I have this face, I have a get-out-of-jail-free card!"
Lily retorted defiantly.
"Fair point."
Sophia saw Ethan approaching.
She stood up and walked past him without a word.
She didn’t call him ‘brother’.
"Sophia! How did you get out?"
Ethan, seeing Sophia walk by, turned in surprise, staring at her retreating back incredulously.
Sophia knew Ethan was speaking to her, but she no longer saw him as her brother.
She spotted James’s car parked nearby and hurried towards it.
"I told you not to come; why did you?"
Sophia admitted feeling safe seeing James.
Even with Ethan nearby, she wasn’t afraid he’d harm her.
She gave him a bright, relieved smile.
Closing the car door, she radiated vitality.
Ethan was stunned by Sophia’s smile.
He hadn’t seen her smile like that in ages.
Who was that man? Her boyfriend? So her boyfriend rescued her?
Ethan felt a complex mix of emotions.
He watched their car drive away, then went to carry Lily, his mood subdued.
He didn’t initiate conversation.
"Ethan, what’s wrong? Upset seeing Sophia? Sophia moves out today. She won’t be coming back."
Lily remembered Sophia telling Mrs Wilson she’d leave after finals.
Today was the day.
From now on, she’d be the Thompsons’ only daughter.
Everything would be hers.
She was ecstatic.
"Not coming back? Isn’t she just traveling? Why wouldn’t she come back?"
Ethan was confused.
"Ethan, don’t you know? Sophia is going back to the Harrisons! She’s not traveling; she’s moving out!"
