Chapter 3The World Is One Big Fake Show

The consequence was Luna getting a three-day detention for disturbing the peace.

Three days later, she showed up at our door again.

She demanded to move in, claiming she wanted to feel the "warmth of family" she had missed for years.

Cold Dad: "Mrs. Higgins, prepare a room."

Luna cried tears of joy. "Mom and Dad have already accepted me in their hearts! This is wonderful. From now on, I'll be by your side every day."

She shot me a provocative glare and announced loudly: "I'm going to make up for all the lost time!"

I turned away, trying to keep a straight face.

Make up for lost time?

Since I can remember, I woke up every day in a 5,000-square-foot mansion and ate breakfast at a 20-foot-long table. The only consistent members of the household were Mrs. Higgins, Mr. Chen, Ethan (on weekends), and the two Dobermans in the yard.

"Lonely, Cold, and Empty" were the tags of my childhood.

As a teenager, my favorite hobby was looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, posting melancholic updates like "Money can't buy love" on Instagram.

That stopped the year Ethan screenshotted my posts, blew them up to poster size, and played them as a slideshow during Thanksgiving dinner.

I didn't want to relive that social death. I felt a pang of sympathy for Luna. Her dream was doomed.

But my glamorous Mom laughed delightedly, clapping her hands. "That's wonderful! I also want to make up for lost regrets! You're so pretty; I'm going to dress you up like the most stunning princess!"

Stunning princess?

Ethan and I simultaneously took a step back. We looked at each other, wanted to speak, but decided against it.

...

"I have so many beautiful clothes that no one wears. Finally, I have a model!"

"Mom, if you want, I'll be your model forever!"

"Really? Oh, you're so sweet. I'm going to cry."

Luna was basking in the attention. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Mom, didn't you ever dress up... her?"

"I guess not. Since she's not your real daughter, you wouldn't be as close..."

"Just like those dogs outside. Only a real mother and child have that bond. Fakes can never be real!"

Luna was waxing poetic. "Look at how the dogs lean on each other... it mirrors our family..."

I couldn't help it. "Rex and Buster are both male."

Luna froze.

Me: "And they were neutered ten years ago."

Luna's face went through a rainbow of colors.

But soon, she recovered her smug expression. Mom excitedly dragged her upstairs. Before leaving, Luna gave me a victorious look.

She didn't notice the pity in my eyes. Good luck, girl.