I was the real daughter who had finally been brought home—yet no one liked me. All my family members preferred the girl they'd raised for sixteen years. My three brothers, afraid I would take what they believed rightfully belonged to her, treated me with open contempt. My birth parents, worried my return would upset her, went out of their way to make it up to her. None of them ever cared how I felt. To them, my yearning for love was a threat, a proof of jealousy. Then I got sick, so sick I was about to die. Later, my second brother found the journal I had hidden beneath my pillow. And they all fell apart.

Chapter 1

I was the real daughter who had finally been brought home—yet no one liked me.

All my family members preferred the girl they'd raised for sixteen years.

My three brothers, afraid I would take what they believed rightfully belonged to her, treated me with open contempt.

My birth parents, worried my return would upset her, went out of their way to make it up to her.

None of them ever cared how I felt.

To them, my yearning for love was a threat, a proof of jealousy.

Then I got sick, so sick I was about to die.

Later, my second brother found the journal I had hidden beneath my pillow.

And they all fell apart.

***

I was the biological daughter of the wealthy Knapp family, brought home just six months ago.

Since day one, everyone in the house had been hostile toward me.

I used to crave their love. But by now, I understood the truth—they were never going to give it to me.

As I sat at the dining table, the doctor's words replayed in my head. "Ms. Knapp, you have stomach