Framed by the Fake Daughter, I Rose Above Them novel
They ran into me, who was operating a little street stall.
I wore an apron, calling in buyers, while the fake daughter trailed behind her parents in a designer long dress.
Seeing the dirt still on my face, my parents eyes showed soft regret.
Well buy all the flowers.
I waved my hand. Just choose a few; otherwise, you wont be able to take care of them.
Mom got tense. Were trying to take care of your business!
Really, no need. Some of these are reserved by customers.
Dad sighed. Youre still holding it against us.
I stopped.
Back then, we really thought it was best for you, not that we liked her more
A few customers got the wrong idea.
I smiled. I truly didnt mean anything.
From the moment I let go of wanting their love, my life had risen on its own.
Hattie, quit fussing. Pack them up.
Dad pointed at every flower.
Theres honestly no need; you dont require this many, its just wasteful.
This isnt something you need to handle.
Mom cut me off. Brielle just got into flower crafting lately, so well buy them for her to practice.
Even so, this is far too much for her.
I pressed down Moms hand as she reached for the flowers.
Brielles eyes grew slightly wet. Sister, are you still upset with me, refusing to sell to me on purpose
I felt at a loss.
Im not. You cant use this many for arranging. If you want some, I can choose a few for you
Sister, you didnt attend college, and you have a criminal record. Life will only become tougher for you.
Brielle interrupted me. I know you still hate me. Im saying sorry to you, begging you to accept Mom and Dad, and my help.
Even if youre mad, you cant bet your own future on anger!
She spoke softly, sadly.
People passing by couldnt hear her tone, only saw her look, so they would think I was bullying her, just like before.
I grew tired. If youre not taking any, leaving.
Hattie Hopkins!
Mom knit her brows. Brielle is doing this for your sake! Back then, we were the ones who handled it, we were the ones who made the decision!
If you want to blame someone, blame us! Dont trouble the one who didnt do anything!
I was completely fed up with them. I said, if youre not taking any, leave.
Brielles tears dropped at once.
My parents rushed to pull her behind them. Hattie!
They frowned at me, waiting for me to say sorry like before. But I simply turned to sort my flowers, not even giving them a look.
A sigh came. These five years we never moved.
Before walking off, Dad turned around. If one day you feel regret, well be waiting.
Before getting into the car, Mom spoke, Honestly, back then, we truly didnt mean to ruin your path We werent favoring Brielle
I put on a polite smile.Thanks for your support.
Moms eyes grew even wetter, and Dad lowered his head to hold back tears. Then, the Rolls-Royce pulled away.
My assistant, Ivy Collins, stuck her head out. Was that a Rolls-Royce earlier? Sis, a big client!
I neatly trimmed the flower stems. Just passing by.
Wow! Serious gossip alert!
Ivy let out a breath. Isnt that the plate number of the Hopkins family? The biggest corporation in Charleston came to our flower booth!
I heard their daughter just finished college and is about to take over the company!
Did they show up to buy flowers for the handover event? Sis, did you grab another massive deal?!
Not one flowers are sold.
Hearing my cold tone, Ivy froze.
A fake daughter, getting flowers from the real daughter to celebrate?
Ivys eyes grew huge. Huh?!
The day I was taken back to that house happened to be right before the college entrance exam.
I put all my focus on studying and had no plan to join any real and fake daughter mess.
However, my parents reply surprised me.
No one thought that my return meant I would replace the fake daughter.
Instead, to make up for the years they missed with me, my parents handed me a monthly allowance of fifty thousand dollars more than the fake daughter.
Each month, the housekeeper would bring pricey health goods to my campus, reminding me not to push myself.
Even if I didnt score high, I still had my parents as my backup.
After the exam, Mom and Dad even asked where I wanted to travel. It was the first time I learned that graduation trips existed.
Brielle had enjoyed them since preschool. So cheerfully, I said, Portland.
I was too thrilled back then to notice the tight smile on Brielles face.
That night, I heard Brielle sobbing in my parents room. Clearly, Im the kid who grew up with Mom and Dad. Why should they follow her?
I paused.
Then I heard my parents breathe out. Hattie really is too careless; Brielle said before the test that she wanted to visit Austin, yet she insists on Portland.
Weve already shown her so much kindness, yet she still wants to push back and compare. Sigh.
That night, I pushed open their door.
Austin works. As long as Im with family, I can go anywhere.
Mom hurried to take my hand. Youre so thoughtful. Mom and Dad are truly glad.
We will visit Portland, but Brielle has been hoping for Austin for a long while. Lets go there first, alright?
I nodded firmly.
But when I finished packing, I found the house already silent.
The butler told me they had left before sunrise. The flight was in the afternoon.
Yet they were so rushed, they departed in the middle of the night.
For the first time, I understood my family was avoiding me.
On Brielles social page, she wore traditional folk outfits, smiling brightly while standing beside Mom and Dad.
Many users had tapped like on the post. At the top of the list were my parents.
Maybe to stop me from stirring trouble, they wired two hundred thousand into my account.
I paused for a moment, then took the money and dragged my suitcase to Portland by myself.
When Brielle came back, she shared over a hundred trip portraits.
I posted a picture of Cannon Beach with a note. [Wish fulfilled.]
My parents didnt tap like. None of the Hopkins relatives did.
Only Brielle Hopkins commented, [Sister went out to have fun too?]
I returned the day she was getting ready for her enrollment party.
Everyone inside was helping her pick a custom gown for the event.
Pulling my suitcase, I stood by the doorway, facing a room full of bright faces.
Mom paused mid-tie on the ribbon of Brielless dress.
The designer they had brought in to take sizes looked at me with interest.
Were planning to hold a shared enrollment party for you two in a couple of days.
Mom cleared her throat and passed me a sample gown from the designers rack. This one looks proper for you.
A deep red dress covered in overdone plastic gems, completely out of place next to Brielles sky-blue, fading floor-length gown.
The designer let out a sudden laugh.
I gave a cold laugh. You simply forgot you had to hold an enrollment event for me, too, right?
My parents faces changed.
Mom led me into a room. Dont make trouble. Brielle ranked in the top fifty thousand in the whole state; it wasnt easy. Its normal to praise her more. If you had placed, we would surely have praised you too!
Dont cause trouble.
After saying that, she turned and walked out.
I let out a dry laugh, but I was the eighth-highest scorer in the whole state.
Anyone could spot my name clearly on the school honor roll. Why didnt anyone notice?
On the day of the enrollment banquet, Brielle stood at the entrance, greeting relatives and friends.
I was placed to stand next to her.
As the daughters of the parents, side by side.
The smiles on Mom and Dad didnt drop until an elder frowned at me.
Brielles dress is dragging on the ground. As the one next to her, dont you know to hold it for her?
My parents spoke up in discomfort. President Wagner, this is our older daughter. Shes also graduating this year.
President Wagner froze, then let out a joking laugh. Oh I made a mistake, sorry.
Honestly, I wasnt shocked.
My deep red dress with loud plastic gems had nothing similar to Brielles designer crystal-decorated gown.
It was normal that people couldnt place us together.
I didnt stay long before walking out.
Even though it was called an enrollment banquet, many well-known local figures had shown up.
Though Mom and Dad led Brielle and me around to greet everyone, they never once mentioned my name.
I understood they never meant to bring me into contact with those important people at all.
Watching Dad down a glass of alcohol for Brielle, I held my own cup of orange juice and quietly stepped aside, leaving all the bright lights and noise behind me.
Out in the garden, the wind cleared my mind a little.
I was about to call a taxi home when Brielles voice came from behind.
Sister, how could you slip off by yourself? Dads drunk and you werent even there!
Her tone was loud.
People walking past turned their heads.
Sister, Dad drank himself sick for us! Even if you wont take care of him, at least dont just walk off!
Among the guests, a few recognized me.
Isnt that the girl who was brought back later? Leaving her own father passed out at the banquet? No wonder children who werent raised by their parents dont feel close to them, even if they share blood.
Poor President Hopkins, drinking himself half-dead for that ungrateful child.
I glanced at Brielle.
He drank himself sick for us, or only for you?
Brielle went frozen. Sister!
She held onto me. Why cant you see Dads thoughts?
I ranked in the top fifty thousand in the state. My future chances are naturally better than yours, so of course I can support you later!
Support me?
I lifted the schools honor roll.
You think a Western Meridian University admit like me needs your support for anything?
Brielles breath caught. She opened the school page with shaking hands.
Seeing my name on the honor roll, her voice trembled. Youre eighth in the state?
That cant be
You studied in a small-town school your whole life, you couldnt even pay for tutors
I gave a cold laugh.
Maybe Mom and Dad thought the same way. They never even checked the schools honor roll.
They simply believed I couldnt ever outscore Brielle.
I turned and walked off, ignoring her yelling behind me.
When I reached home, my Western Meridian University admission letter had arrived.
Just as I opened it, someone knocked on my bedroom door.
I slipped the letter under my pillow and pulled the door open.
Daughter
Mom carried a small cake.
Dad smelled strongly of wine, his eyes red as he looked at me.
I hadnt thought they would bring me anything.
You blame us, dont you?
Mom cut the cake for me herself, while Dad tapped my shoulder with a sigh.
Truth is, at times, we worry the child we raised ourselves will think we dont care for her anymore, so we try so hard to make up for it.
At times, we worry if we make up too much, you, our own daughter, will feel pushed aside.
All this while, weve tried to keep things even, but
Dad actually choked slightly. but we noticed that if we look after one side, we hurt the other; if we look after that side, we hurt this side.
I stared at the cake in my hands, and my chest tightened.
This cake was made by Mom with her own hands. The staff from the welfare home told us you liked sweet things the most.
Mom brushed my hair. Daughter, Dad and Mom are sorry to you, but we truly never meant to favor anyone.
Lately, we might have focused too much on Brielle and overlooked you. Dad and Mom apologize.
Weve been learning how to be good parents. You should also give us time to learn, alright?
My eyes stung.
I looked at my childhood nickname written on the cake. And the blessing words. [Happy Enrollment, Bright Road Ahead].
My eyes reddened. Okay
It was the nicest cake I had ever tasted.
For the first time in my life, Mom gently soothed me to sleep.
I cried in shame. And drifted off with the softest rest I had ever known.
But the next morning, the instant I opened my eyes, I heard Brielle sobbing.
My diamond necklace was a present from Dad and Mom for my enrollment day! It cant just vanish!
The door swung open loudly.
The nanny suddenly pointed toward my pillow. Miss, whats under your pillow?
Brielles breath tightened. MCmy my necklace?
The necklace was pulled out from under my pillow.
I stared blankly. How could it show up.
A slap struck my cheek.
Mom went mad. We thought you finally got things straight! How can you be so disobedient? You just want to take everything!
Call the police! Call them right away!
I stood there, shocked. I didnt! I dont even know how it ended up under my pillow! Someone must be setting me up!
Let it go, Mom.
Brielle rushed to hold her back.
The diamond necklace is worth tens of millions. If you really call the police, my sister will end up in jail.
Let her! A girl this young already dares to behave like this? What will she do when she grows older, harm people, and burn places? Call the police!
Dont!
In panic, I pulled out my admission letter:
Dad, Mom, I have no reason to stir trouble when Ive just been accepted!
My parents eyes widened.
Brielle frowned and bit her lip.
You youre actually
Dad stared at the admission paper with disbelief.
Mom also looked at me, shocked.
The letter was torn apart.
No!!
I threw myself forward, but only caught loose scraps on the floor.
Dad, Mom, how could you tear my admission letter?!
My voice was rough
The Hopkins family can accept a child with poor grades, but we cannot accept a thief.
Success follows character. The family will not push troublemakers into society!
The police soon brought us to the station.
At first, there was no proof. But every person in the home stepped out to claim they had seen me take the necklace.
All their words lined up exactly.
I knew so many matching claims existed only because Mom and Dad gave the command.
I dropped to my knees.
My parents stiffened.
Eyes burning, jaw tight, I said, Dad, Mom, Im begging you! I worked eighteen years for this day! With no proof at all, why must you push this charge onto me?!
Mom gritted her teeth.
If we dont let you taste some hardship, youll only go further off track later!
Dad nodded coldly. Thats right. Only by letting this charge stay on you will you stop having any wild hopes!
I didnt!!
But my parents had no plan to hear a single word from me. Only Brielle.
As she walked off, she coldly smirked. Didnt sister act so proud that night? And now?
On the day the judgment came, Western Meridian University withdrew my admission.
My parents wailed wildly in front of the reporters.
The headlines all praised them. [The Hopkins couple chooses law over family, even a daughter admitted to Western Meridian University cannot be allowed to be a thief!]
The Hopkins familys stock price shot up.
Brielle turned into a rising figure, the flawless contrast to me.
Hearing this, Ivys eyes went wide.
So that means that fake daughter is still going to run your parents company?!
I handed off the last flower, brushed my palms, and before I spoke, the Rolls-Royce rolled up before us again.
Mom and Dad stepped forward, eyes swollen.
Hattie, we talked it over. We can hand you some company stock. Will you come back now?
I took off my apron.
A line of guards moved in and quietly helped me slip on my coat.
My parents stared, stunned, at the guards who appeared out of nowhere.
Th-this what is
No need, you two.
I answered coldly, The Hopkins familys little worth isnt even qualified to be my competitor.
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