Chapter 2
Quiana had grown up in the rough parts of Janivielle, thinking she was just another broke kid.
Then, she found out she was switched at birth with some other girl. The mom who loved her like crazy wasn’t her real mom at all–she was actually the legit heir to the big–shot Larson family in town.
The lady was Mandy Larson, Quiana’s biological mother. Mandy, with her eyes all red, looked Quiana over real close. “Let me have a good look at you. You’ve had it tough, but now that you’re home, finally…”
Mandy bawled her eyes out, but Quiana’s face stayed as cool as a cucumber.
Quiana’s father, Simon Larson, came back just then. He was a stern–looking guy in his forties. When he saw Quiana, his eyes got all teary too. “It’s good to have you back, Quiana, really good!”
Simon and Mandy were about to lose it when a soft, shaky voice came from upstairs. “Dad… Mom…”
Winona Larson, the girl who was swapped with Quiana, stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a white velvet dress, her shiny hair pulled back.
At twenty, Winona glowed with that young, fresh beauty. Her eyes flicked over Quiana, and for a second, a trace of jealousy flashed across her eyes.
Winona looked at Simon and Mandy, tears welling up. “Are you going to leave me behind now?”
Mandy was paused. “What are you talking about?” She went over, looking worried. “There’s no way Mom and Dad would ever leave you.”
Winona looked at Quiana, biting her lip. “But she…”
Mandy and Simon froze, exchanged a look, and Mandy turned to Quiana, her voice all business–like. “Quiana, even though Winona isn’t my blood, we’ve raised her for twenty years.
“She’s not like you, tough as nails; she’s been coddled and spoiled. If we make her leave, she’s got nowhere else to go, so we’ve decided to let her stay.”
Mandy took a breath and went on, “Winona’s just starting her career in showbiz and she’s on the up and up. If people find out about her background, it’ll all be over.
“So, we’re telling everyone that you’re twin sisters and you got lost years ago. Quiana, you don’t mind, do you?”
Simon chimed in, “Quiana, we’re really sorry you had to go through all this without us, but as for Winona-”
Quiana looked at the four across from her, tilted her head a bit, her face all innocent. “What if I say I do mind?”
do you think you can measure up to Winona?
Xavier frowned, sneering, “What right do you have to complain? Look at you, Just because you’re back, you think you’re some rich heiress? Get real.”
Before they decided to bring Quiana back, the Larson family had checked all her background.
Quiana was raised by adoptive parents in the slums, living in a cramped, old basement, barely getting by with the little money from a breakfast stand. Four years ago, Quiana’s adoptive parents died in a car crash, leaving a five–year–old boy and Quiana.
Quiana dropped out of school, hung out with a rough crowd. To support her little brother, she delivered food, did bit parts, and took any job she could.
When Xavier went to pick up Quiana, she was setting up a stand under the overpass to sell phone screen protectors. Just the
1/2
11:24
Wed, 16 Apr
Chapter 2
thought of the screen made him feel disgusted.
* 87%)
Truth was, if it hadn’t gotten out, even if Simon and Mandy felt guilty, they wouldn’t have wanted to claim Quiana,
The Larson family was a high–class family, and having a daughter who grew up in a dirty slum and was uneducated was more than embarrassing–it was a black mark on their family name.
Xavier’s words made the room go tense.
Quiana was about five–seven, lean and cool, with delicate features, hinting at defiance and pride, with a don’t–care attitude. Her eyes were calm and steady, her beautiful face blank.
Simon felt a bit awkward. “Don’t worry, now that you are back home, we’ll definitely treat you like our own daughter”
That almost made Quiana laugh. She squinted her eyes and said casually, “I thought I already was your biological daughter?
The room went icy for a moment. Simon got even more embarrassed and quickly said, “What I meant was that now that you’re back, we’ll make it up to you properly.”
Mandy nodded a lot. “Yes, don’t worry. We won’t play favorites.”
AD
Comment
