She laughed and looked at me in a way that
let me know that she had won.
Steven grabbed my arm and shouted, “Why
are you laughing?”
“Get on your knees, and apologize! Or I will
kick you out of this house!”
But she acted like she felt bad for me.
“Steven, don’t be mad. Everyone knows that
she is a fake.”
“Katherine, you can mess with me if you
want. But this is embarrassing for my family.”
Steven kicked me, “Apologize!”
I didn’t kneel.
Steven was my brother.
I looked at Steven.
“Steven, have you forgotten that you lived
here? You can’t tell me what to do!”
<
He laughed, “What do you mean? My parents
aren’t here. I am in charge!”
“You won’t kneel? Then I will throw you out!
Don’t ever come back!”
Amanda looked happy.
“You thought Steven was nice like me?”
“You can’t make me feel bad. Guards, cut her
face, cut out her tongue, and see how she
does now!”
Steven agreed.
Amanda thought she was about to win.
Then, a group of bodyguards came in and
cleared the way.
<
Then someone asked, “Who said they would
cut my daughter’s face and tongue?”
Chapter 2
Everyone turned to look at the entrance to
the ballroom.
My dad, using his cane, and my mom, holding
onto his arm, walked in together. Ice cold.
Everyone in the room practically bowed.
“Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood.”
My dad didn’t even acknowledge them. He
walked straight toward us, radiating power.
Amanda, meanwhile, went white as a sheet,
standing there trembling like a leaf. scared to
She could do whatever she wanted around my
brother, Steven.
But around my parents? She was quiet as a
mouse, never daring to step out of line, or
she’d be crushed.
Since nobody spoke, my dad slammed his
cane on the floor, glaring at Amanda.
“Who said that?” he barked. “Who said those
words?”
He didn’t even tell her to kneel. She dropped
to the floor, tears and sweat falling
everywhere.
She didn’t dare look my dad in the eye.
く
Steven was silent.
He knew who I really was.
He just took advantage of my parents being
away to mess with me, bully me.
Now that they were back, he was cowering,
silent.
But Amanda’s friend, Brittany, decided to be
brave and speak up, “Mr. and Mrs.
Blackwood, Amanda said it.”
“But she was just punishing Katherine, the
orphan you took in.”
“You don’t know how awful she’s been. She
called Amanda a nobody, and she said she
was the real Katherine Blackwood. It was
く
awful.”
Amanda was trying to deny it, but Brittany
sold her out.
Amanda gave her a look that could kill.
Brittany smiled, thinking she was going to get
a pat on the back.
My dad gave a look, and a bodyguard kicked
Brittany.
She fell, bleeding and screaming.
The room froze. Nobody dared to speak, all
standing there, scared.
Nobody knew why my dad was so angry.
く
“You don’t get to speak to me,” he said.
“Tell your dad to come here and beg at my
door for three days. Then I will see if his sins
can be forgiven.”
“If he doesn’t do it, he will be broke!”
Brittany couldn’t say anything. She was
dragged out, crying.
Then, Michael stepped forward, smiling.
“Mr. Blackwood, Brittany is young. If she said
something wrong, please ignore it.”
“But what she said was right. Katherine is
crazy.”