Fled Believing She Was Scorned, Crowned as Everyone’s Only Love Chapter 01

The day I found out I wasn’t the Hartwell family’s biological daughter, the secret I had hidden for years finally came out.

And that secret involved Declan–the one person I had always been afraid of losing.

So when everything changed, when Sloane returned and the truth about my identity was revealed, I made a choice I would regret forever.

I asked Declan to stay at my private villa because I was terrified he would leave before I could tell him everything.

During the day, I pretended nothing was wrong and searched for Declan with my family.

I was already the daughter who didn’t belong there by crimson.

Once they found out how much I depended on Declan, they would never look at me the same way again, right?

Until one day, the whole family started making plans right in front of me.

“Romy, there’s an international meeting Declan absolutely has to attend. Can you let him go for a while?”

“Just half an hour. We promise we’ll bring him back before you get home!”

Me: “?”

…

At seven in the morning, I walked down the spiral staircase.

Mother, Father, my little brother Milo, and Sloane were already sitting at the dining table, laughing and talking.

I stood there for three seconds, waiting for the dull ache in my torso to fade, then slowly walked over.

Sloane noticed me first and looked up with a smile.

“Why are you up so early today?”

She was dressed more and more like me.

Three days ago, Sloane had been brought back to the Hartwell family.

She’d arrived with a large bag, dusty and exhausted, the cuffs of her cargo pants worn ragged.

I heard she’d been injured during a field research trip and was taken to Hartwell Medical Center, where they discovered she was the Hartwell family’s biological daughter.

She hugged every member of the family, then looked at me.

Her gaze lingered on my face for a long moment.

While I was uneasy, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt, she suddenly pulled me into a hug.

“So you’re Romy?”

“Why do you look like a little kitten? Such fair skin and round eyes.”

I tried to step away quietly.

But Sloane was half a head loftier than me, and her fingers had calluses.

She wrapped one arm around me and held on tightly.

“You smell so good. What shampoo do you use?”

The next day, I noticed the same scent on Sloane.

The third day, she wore clothes and jewelry similar to mine.

I understood.

Sloane wanted to replace me and become the Hartwell family’s only daughter.

I didn’t hate her.

My torso just ached dully.

Those twenty-one years were never truly mine.

It was only natural she wanted them back.

There was only one thing I didn’t want to give up.

The one person who had always been there for me.

Declan.

I spread butter on my bread with a knife while listening to Mother talk about the welcome ball she’d arranged for Sloane.

“The time is set for the night after tomorrow. I’ve ordered new jewelry and gifts for both of you.”

Then she suddenly frowned.

“Declan is really something. He said he was going on a business trip, and now Sloane’s home and he won’t even show his face. His phone is unreachable too.”

“And with his condition, I don’t know if he’s been taking his medication on time.”

I pricked up my ears, wanting to hear more.

Milo interrupted jokingly.

“He wasn’t missing, was he?”

The whole family laughed.

“Really? With his build? If someone actually dared to cause trouble for him, I’d be more worried about them.”

Sloane propped her chin on her hand.

“He was in the military, so there’s no need to worry about his safety.”

Only I paused.

I forced a smile and put the last bite of toast back on my plate.

“I’m full. I’m going to school.”

Sloane’s head snapped up.

“That’s all you’re eating? I baked cookies. Take some with you.”

I glanced at them and found even the packaging was my favorite light pink.

She really was studying me.

“No, thanks.”

I refused quietly and picked up my backpack.

As I left the dining room, I thought I heard Milo teasing,

“Haha, how does it feel to get rejected by your new favorite sister?”

Sloane seemed to yell at him to get lost, embarrassed and angry.

I didn’t understand what they meant, because my mind was full of what Mother had just said.

Declan needed medication?

What illness did he actually have?