7.
Everyone, rich or poor, knew the story.
The real daughter tried to kill the kind fake
daughter and got kicked out in less than a
month.
Nick and my crew were angry, but I shrugged.
“It’s nothing. I got two million!”
Nick looked down, and everyone was silent.
They didn’t want to hurt me.
But I never cared about people who weren’t
important, so I wouldn’t get hurt.
And I had two surprises waiting for the
Johnsons and Ashley.
After school, I took out cash and paid back
<
everyone who had secretly helped me pay for
school.
If I gave the money to Nick and his crew,
they’d spend it all on games.
The adults smiled when I told them what I was
doing.
“We knew they were giving you money. We
were just mad they were acting like such
delinquents!”
I paused and bowed to them.
They didn’t say anything, but they heard what
happened to me.
“Good girl, live your life.”
I thanked them and turned to leave, but I
looked back.
They were smiling warmly.
I felt warm inside.
When the exam results came out, Ashley
couldn’t take it.
That was her choice.
<
People always had to pay a price.
I was one of the best in the state.
Heather Smith thought I was at the bottom.
But I wanted to escape her.
I had to escape the hell.
I had to fake it. How else would I have gotten
this chance?
The school was shocked. They accused me of cheating.
But they didn’t find anything, because I didn’t
cheat.
Harmony Johnson was one of the top
students in the state.
Everyone was shocked.
Including the Johnsons.
They seemed regretful. I don’t know if it was
because of my score or something else, but I
didn’t care.
The Johnsons came to see me the day after
the results.
I had already rented an apartment. They
found me and squeezed into my small
apartment.
Ashley wasn’t there.
Mom looked like she was going to say something. Dad frowned. Josh sighed.
“We fought for too long, it’s time to come home. Ashley’s forgiven you, and we’ve forgiven you.”
I laughed and took off my shoes.
“You know that what you’re doing is breaking
and entering?”
Dad frowned harder.
“What are you talking about? We’re your
parents, we came to see you.”
I pulled out the agreement.
“Did you read it? We aren’t related, leave me
alone.”
The Johnsons got angry and left.
And I didn’t care.
<
I went to the junkyard and waved. As the little
girl ran over, I dropped the card and ran
away.
The note on the card fluttered in the wind.
“For Ashley’s treatment.”