Part 1My Stolen Future

The moment I was about to be swapped at birth and doomed to a life of poverty, I was jolted awake by a stream of live comments flooding my vision.

「Wow, the male lead is so clever. He’s going to secretly switch his sick sister with the billionaire’s daughter. Now his sister’s heart condition can be cured!」

「My heart breaks for him. He has to send his own sister away and then go home to a drunk mom and a gambling-addicted dad. He’s carrying the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders.」

「Don’t feel too bad for him! He’s got our girl Lucy. She’ll wash his clothes and cook his meals when they’re kids, and after the big reveal, she’ll give up her fortune to marry him and be his devoted housewife. He’s totally winning.」

A lifetime of misery flashed before my eyes.

A piercing wail escaped my lips, waking everyone in the room.

* * *

The quiet hospital nursery erupted into chaos.

A young boy, Jordi, frantically clamped a hand over my mouth, his childish face etched with panic. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his pale forehead.

My father, who had been in an office next door, burst into the room.

His eyes locked on me, nestled in Jordi’s arms, and his expression darkened instantly.

“Kid, what do you think you’re doing with my daughter?”

My dad stood at a towering six-foot-three, built like a linebacker. His presence alone was enough to make most people tremble. But Jordi, after a brief moment of shock, quickly composed himself, his composure unnerving for a five-year-old.

“Sir, I’m a patient here. I saw that her sleeping position looked like it would hurt her neck. I was just trying to adjust her.”

The comments went wild with praise.

「I stan a genius king! Jordi is so smart to come up with that on the fly. Who would ever suspect a five-year-old?」

「LOL, our boy is a certified genius. If it weren’t for his trash family holding him back, he’d be famous by now.」

「Ugh, Lucy’s crying is so annoying. What’s the big deal? That’s her future husband. Soon enough, she’ll be dying to be in his arms 24/7.」

「She needs to get used to his embrace. He didn’t succeed today, but he’ll find another way. It would be a shame if she ruined his hard work again.」

My dad stared at Jordi, his expression a mixture of suspicion and confusion.

The more I read the comments, the more terrified I became of this little psycho. I wailed louder, spitting and gurgling, trying desperately to roll my eyes toward my dad.

Finally, he got the message. He slapped his thigh, pointing a finger at Jordi. “Wait a minute. Something’s not right here.”

He immediately ordered a full investigation.

Jordi was just a child, and his methods were clumsy. The trail of evidence was obvious. In less than half an hour, his plan was exposed: he had intended to kidnap me and replace me with his sister, Lily, so she could receive treatment for her congenital heart disease.

The entire hospital was in an uproar. My father was incandescent with rage.

I just sucked on my pacifier, watching the blood drain from Jordi’s face as I took long, satisfying gulps of milk.

Dad called security to have him removed.

As they dragged him away, Jordi’s eyes were fixed on me, a look of bitter resentment and longing in them. Just before he left, a call came through on his cheap smartwatch. The doctor’s voice was grim.

“Your sister is dying. It’s time to come take her home.”

Through the speaker, I could hear the faint, heartbreaking cries of a baby girl.

Jordi’s eyes welled with tears. He turned to my father, his voice cracking. “Please, sir, please save my sister, Lily.”

I took a deep breath. The absolute nerve of this kid.

My dad just scoffed and told him to get lost.

Jordi’s small fists clenched. Suddenly, his fear was replaced by a strange, unnerving determination.

“Sir,” he said, his voice steady, “I wasn’t just taking Lucy to save my sister.”

“Everything I’m about to tell you is the absolute truth.”