Broken Ties, Sweet Revenge

My biological parents, the wealthiest couple in Mapleton Heights, tracked me down one day and offered me the chance to inherit their billions. After getting home, I couldn’t wait to tell my adoptive parents, Robert and Shelly Evans, about it.

I casually joked with them, saying I’d be moving in with the richest family in town.

But the moment the words left my mouth, Robert and Shelly’s faces darkened. “You think you can just up and leave? You’re our daughter, and you’re not going anywhere!”

That’s when it hit me—Robert and Shelly had switched me with their son at the hospital all those years ago, sending him off to live in luxury while they raised me instead.

And now, to protect their real son, they’d do anything to keep me from leaving this messed-up situation.

***

I covered my face, completely bewildered. “Mom, why did you hit me?”

I couldn’t wrap my head around how our peaceful little family had suddenly blown up over a simple joke.

Shelly sneered at me. “You ungrateful little brat! We’ve taken care of you all these years, and the second your real parents show up, you’re ready to run off to them like a dog after a bone!”

Tears stung my eyes.

“Mom, what are you even talking about?”

I gave her a small push, and before I knew it, she slapped me so hard that I was knocked to the floor.

Robert calmly finished his cigarette and then reached for the kettle of boiling water. “Maybe if we burn that pretty face of yours, they won’t recognize you anymore.”

I stumbled back in terror. “Dad, Dad, I was just kidding! What’s gotten into you both?”

The home that once felt so safe and secure had suddenly shattered into pieces.

Robert and Shelly shared a look. “As long as you can’t go back to them, our son will keep his life of luxury.”

Shelly grabbed a kitchen knife and swung it at my leg. I screamed and staggered back.

My hand found the doorknob, and somehow, I managed to drag myself out of there.

Maybe it was a pure survival instinct, but they didn’t manage to catch me, even though I was seriously hurt.

I made it to the police station and reported everything.

As the female officer comforted me, memories of my family started flooding back.

We used to be so happy together.

Robert and Shelly never yelled at me for bad grades. They bought me a phone, and a tablet, and they never skimped on food or clothes.

The only strange thing was how Shelly would sometimes pick up a photo and gently stroke it with her fingers.

She’d say, “This is your brother.”

It all made sense now—I was supposed to live a life of luxury for eighteen years, but that life had been stolen and given to their precious son.

Now that I wanted it back, they were having none of it.

The officer called for medics to treat my wounds.

The cut on the back of my calf was so deep you could see the bone, a clear sign Shelly was trying to cripple me.

A shiver ran through me.

How could they do something so horrible after living with me for eighteen years?

My birth mother suddenly called. “Irene, what happened? Your dad’s phone just got an alert that you’re at the police station. I’m so worried about you!”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

It was clear my real parents actually cared about me—unlike Robert and Shelly.

“Do you have a son, too?” I asked.

She didn’t hesitate. “I’ll have him out of our house right away if you come back to us, Irene!”

I wiped my tears away.

I had been willing to leave that boy alone, but after what Robert and Shelly did to me, I wasn’t about to let their son off so easily.

“I want you to kick him out and make him live the life he should’ve had all these years!” I demanded.

My words, said in a moment of anger, were taken seriously. A couple of beeps later, my bank account showed a transfer of $100,000.

“Okay, we’ll get him out of Irene’s house immediately. We just sent you $100,000—if you need more, just let us know,” my mom said.

It was time to set things right, to reclaim the life that was meant to be mine.

I glared at my injured leg.

Most families try to resolve things peacefully.

But after what they did to me, I wasn’t about to forgive and forget.

Robert and Shelly were standing outside the police station, too afraid to come in.

I locked eyes with them. “I won’t accept any settlement. I’m pressing criminal charges—this is attempted murder!”

Shelly suddenly lurched forward, slamming her hand on the table. “You ungrateful little wretch! You really want to drag us to court?”

I smirked. “You’re both guilty of premeditated murder. You’d better find yourselves a good lawyer.”

The female officer next to me widened her eyes, glancing between the three of us.

This was a big case. If their precinct could take it on, it would be a major win for them.

The officer squeezed my hand. “Sweetheart, if there’s anything you need to say, just say it! You’re in the police station now—you don’t have to put up with these bullies!”

I nodded. “I want to report that eighteen years ago, they kidnapped me and swapped my life with their son’s. That’s an illegal transfer of residency. And just now, they tried to kill me!”

I made sure to emphasize the word "kill." The room fell silent, and everyone strained to hear what was happening.

Shelly spat, her voice dripping with venom. “Hah! We gave their son to your parents! Do you think they weren’t happy about it? It’s not like they were forced to raise you, you little money-grubber!”

“Having kids is my parents’ business, not yours!” I snapped. “And you sent your son away so he could have a better life. But to give him that life, you treated mine like it was worthless! You even thought about pouring boiling water on my head—I was terrified!”

I let out a cold laugh and didn’t bother explaining further.

Robert glared at me. “That wealthy family raised our son all these years, put so much into him. Do you really think they still want you? They’re just throwing some money your way to get rid of you.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but smile even more. “Oh, and by the way, your son’s already been kicked out of my biological parents’ home. He’s probably on his way to find you right now.”

“And he must know he’s not really my parents’ biological child, right? All these years, he’s been living the life meant for me while you two fooled my parents.”

Shelly's face turned white as a sheet. She quickly pulled on Robert’s sleeve. “Stop talking. The more you say, the worse it’ll get.”

“We’ll keep quiet until our lawyer gets here,” Robert said.

When the lawyer finally arrived, we couldn’t reach any agreement. I stuck to my accusation of attempted murder.

Both Robert and Shelly were sentenced to fifteen days in jail for the attempted murder charge.

As they were leaving, Robert shot me a venomous look. “You’ll never find a husband or have children! Your family line will end with you!”

I just laughed, finding his curse laughable. “Thanks for the good wishes.”