Adopted to Biological? Keep Your Golden Child Scapegoat Out novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Freddie Miller was my childhood sweetheart.

The only person who ever gave me warmth during the darkest years of my youth.

Another message from Vivian popped up:

[Scarlett, you okay? Want me to come over?]

I took a deep breath, wiped the dampness off my face, and typed back:

[I’m fine. Just compile the client’s specific requirements. We’ll meet tomorrow morning.]

[Got it.] Vivian replied instantly. [Scarlett, whatever you decide to do, I’ve got your back.]

I set my phone down and walked to the window. The night wind hit my face, cold and sharp, clearing my chaotic thoughts just

a little.

Freddie Miller used to be the person I leaned on most.

He lived next door. When I was little, every time my parents scolded me, every time Sienna deliberately left me out and I ended up crying alone in the yard-

He’d always climb over that low wall and pull a candy out of his pocket like magic.

“Scarlett, don’t cry. Here, have some candy.”

“Scarlett, when we grow up, I’ll take you away from here. We’ll see the world together.”

“Scarlett, let’s both get into NYU. We’ll be together forever.”

He was the only one in that house who ever called me Scarlett with warmth in his voice.

The only one when the whole world told me I wasn’t enough, would look me in the eye and say, “Scarlett, you’re good. Really. You’re good.”

But now he’s my sister Sienna’s fiancé.

Memories came flooding back like a dam had burst.

Before I turned seven, I was the happiest kid in the world.

I remember when I was five, I got into a fight at preschool over the swings. Bit some kid’s arm so hard it left a ring of teeth marks.

After school, I was so scared I hid under the slide at the playground. Dad was the first to find me.

He wasn’t even mad. He just crouched down and whispered tips on how to win a fight next time.

That night, when Mom found out, she made us both stand in the corner as punishment.

Dad snuck me a wink when she wasn’t looking.

I thought those warm days would last forever.

Until Sienna came back when I was seven.

I went from being the family’s only treasure to just the adopted daughter.

Sienna was three years older than me. She’d been kidnapped by traffickers when she was three.

I didn’t dare laugh too loud. Didn’t dare ask for anything. At dinner, I’d only reach for the dishes closest to me.

I studied like my life depended on it, bringing home certificate after certificate, because I’d heard that “good kids” don’t get abandoned.

I learned to please them. To please Sienna.

I gave her the pretty new hair clips Mom bought. I handed over the quirky toys Dad brought back from his business trips.

But Sienna’s eyes-they were always cold. Always rejecting me.

No matter what I did, she believed I’d stolen everything that should’ve been hers.

And Mom and Dad? Their attention, their love-it all poured into their long-lost biological daughter.

They were afraid she’d overthink things. Afraid she’d feel insecure. Afraid she’d think they were neglecting her.

So naturally, I-the adopted daughter-became a ghost in this family.

The atmosphere at home turned stifling and strange.

I never stood in the corner with Dad again, because I didn’t dare make a single mistake anymore.

I became a frightened bird, living in constant terror of being abandoned again.

Until I turned twelve.

That year, the thing I feared most finally happened.