I stood frozen in the doorway of the restroom, watching them walk past me.
Dressed in my janitor's uniform, they didn't recognize me. They didn't even glance in my direction.
But I recognized them. Yet, I didn’t dare approach.
Was it really them? Weren’t they kidnapped? Why were they here, unharmed?
Unless...
It was all a lie.
A deception carefully orchestrated by my own family to get rid of me.
I looked at their goddaughter, surrounded by their love and attention, and felt a bitter ache in my heart.
Twenty years ago, I got separated from my parents.
I was picked up by Aunt Zamara, a humble bathhouse worker who raised me on her meager salary.
Meanwhile, my biological parents adopted another daughter to fill the void, showering her with love and luxury.
When I finally returned, I thought I would receive the same affection. I thought they would love me.
I never expected that they never considered me part of their family.
"Rianne, today is your birthday. Pick anything you like," my father said cheerfully.
Rianne, their goddaughter, feigned modesty with a delicate expression. "Dad, now that my sister has returned, my birthday shouldn’t be celebrated so extravagantly anymore."