My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 46

It was New Year’s Eve, and also my twentieth birthday. My parents left a single egg as a birthday gift before heading off to work.

I secretly ran out to buy a cup of instant noodles, but I discovered that my parents were spending the day with a girl, celebrating her birthday.

They had booked a luxurious restaurant for her, inviting many of their colleagues and friends.

They arrived in a fleet of luxury cars, accompanied by private drivers.

The birthday gifts they gave her were a villa, a pink sports car, and a ten-thousand-euros bank card.

My father gently patted her head and smiled kindly.

“My baby, once you graduate from university, I’ll hand over the entire company to you to manage.”

My mother held her in her arms, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Good child, even though you’re not our biological daughter, we’ll love you for the rest of your life, even more than our own daughter. We’ll give you everything we have.”

I tried to approach, but the bodyguards beat me up, leaving me bruised and tossing me aside.

The egg that I treasured so much rolled onto the ground and was crushed under their feet, just like the relationship between my parents and me — a mocking family bond.

I struggled to get up from the ground, my face covered in dirt, and my clothes were all dirty.

I wanted to call out to my parents, but their next words struck me like a heavy blow to the heart.

My throat felt as if someone had squeezed it, and I couldn’t bring myself to say “Dad, Mom.”

My parents, holding the girl, looked at me with mocking smiles.

“Mia Parker, look at that poor beggar. If you don’t work hard, you’ll end up just like her—pitiful.”

“Exactly, a worthless thing like her can only look up to you.”

Mom added.

They didn’t recognize me, laughing without a care in the world.

Mia, my college classmate, recognized me and gave me a look of both provocation and pity. She acted all sweet and coquettish in front of my parents.

“Mom and Dad, don’t worry, I’ll make you proud. I want to be your most precious little princess.”

Poor beggar.

Worthless.

Each word cut like a knife.

I picked up the broken egg from the ground, stuffed it into my mouth, chewed, swallowed, and left, feeling utterly miserable.

On my way home, I felt like my legs were made of lead, too heavy to move.

That short ten-minute walk felt like a century.

Tears soaked my clothes, streaming down uncontrollably.

Since I was born, my impression of home had always been one of decay.

No TV, no fridge, no microwave. Even the furniture was stuff my parents salvaged from trash heaps.

Dad did hard labor, and his hands were always covered in cuts and bruises when he came home.

I casually asked, “Dad, Mom, why are you still working so late on New Year’s Eve? I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

They smiled awkwardly, and then Dad placed a bag on the table, smiling in a fatherly way.

“Charlotte, you’re still awake. I brought a cake back, let’s celebrate your birthday.”

I gave them a cold glance, and noticed that their previously immaculate faces were now pale again. Their branded clothes had turned back into patched-up work clothes.

Dad took a small piece of cake, which had dirt on it from being dropped on the floor, and placed it in front of me.

“Daughter, this cake fell on the ground, but it’s still good, you can eat it.”

Every year, they used to give me an egg as a birthday gift, and if there was a cake, even if it was one they salvaged from the trash, I would have been happy.

But thinking that this cake was one they ate with their precious daughter, and then picked up from the ground to give to me, my stomach churned.

With a sharp pang in my heart, my body began to tremble uncontrollably.

I pushed the cake away.

“Dad, you eat it. I’ve had eggs before, and you and Mom have never had anything good. This cake should go to you both.”

“Especially Mom. She carried me for ten months and gave birth to me. My birthday is her day of suffering. She should eat it.”

They exchanged glances, and though they tried to hide it, I still saw the faint look of disgust and disdain in their eyes.

At this point, I felt even more heartbroken.

My biological parents fed their own daughter food that had fallen on the ground, while they ordered a nine-layer cream cake for their adopted daughter.