Chapter 2Switched at Birth: I Was Replaced, But I Refuse to Play the Victim

"Chloe, Brenda Miller is Brenda Miller. The things she did have absolutely nothing to do with Serena."

My biological older brother, Grayson Sterling, spoke up.

The rest of the Sterling family nodded, completely agreeing with him.

But these were women who survived the cutthroat gossip circles of the neighborhood. With a single exchanged glance, the aunties saw right through the dynamics.

Before the Sterlings could say another word, Auntie Betty—a woman who refused to even coddle her own grandsons—went on the offensive.

"Oh, please, you can't spin it like that!"

"Whether the girl is innocent or not is one thing. But by standing there crying like a victim, what is Chloe supposed to do? Is she supposed to turn around and comfort her?"

Auntie Betty marched over and rolled up my sleeves, revealing the jagged scars on the backs of my hands.

"Look at this! Her own mother burned her with a red-hot clothing iron!"

"Now look at this girl. Draped in designer brands, raised with soft skin and delicate hands."

"If you expect Chloe to apologize to her and comfort her, do you honestly think that's fair?"

Auntie Betty then turned her sights on Serena.

"Listen, little girl. Maybe we can't blame you for what your mother did, but do you have any idea what kind of hell Chloe lived through for the past sixteen years because of her? Have some decency! Stop crying and playing the victim. Don't you realize you're just twisting the knife in Chloe's heart?"

With that, Auntie Betty wiped a tear with her sleeve and pulled me into a tight hug.

"You poor, sweet child. You always keep everything bottled up. Before, you had no one to love you, but now your real parents are here! Surely they won't play favorites and side with an outsider over you, right? These are your real parents! If you have grievances, you speak up!"

"Chloe's parents, am I right?"

The entire squad of aunties turned their piercing gazes onto the Sterling parents.

Richard and Catherine Sterling smiled awkwardly. "Yes, of course. If you feel wronged, tell Mom and Dad."

Choked by Auntie Betty's words, Serena couldn't say a thing. All she could do was stare at the Sterlings with red, watery eyes, biting her lip.