Chapter 4The Price of a Piano: Erasing the Illegitimate Sister

The post went viral quickly.

By the afternoon, my reputation as a "mean girl" had spread throughout the school.

Walking around, I could feel people pointing and staring everywhere.

Even classmates who usually greeted me took detours to avoid me.

Arthur's buddies even came up to me specifically and said sarcastically, "Chloe, you can't be too selfish. You have to be forgiving when you can."

I couldn't be bothered with these pests.

However, when I ran into Liam again at the library entrance, he asked an extra question.

"The forum post, do you need help handling it?"

His tone was still flat, but I could hear the concern in his voice.

"No need. Just a clown jumping around."

He gave me a deep look and didn't insist.

"By the way, I've set up a project group for a research topic on the 'Digital Protection of Urban Cultural Heritage.' We're still missing a lead for data integration and analysis. Interested?"

I was a bit surprised.

I knew about this topic. It was a key project supported by the school, and only the top students from various departments could participate.

"Why me?"

"Because your grades are the best, and your logic is the clearest," Liam said matter-of-factly. "I've reviewed all your past papers and coursework."

I didn't expect him to pay attention to that.

"Alright, I'm in."

I needed something to distract me, to keep myself busy.

This project was the perfect opportunity.

For the following days, I practically lived in the library and the project group's activity room.

Dad and my brothers probably realized the silent treatment wasn't working on me and changed their strategy.

My eldest brother started frantically posting pictures on social media of him taking Mia out to play.

Disneyland today, skiing tomorrow, flying to an island resort the day after.

The caption was always: "Sisters are the most considerate. A man with a sister is a treasure."

My second brother was even more direct. He changed his profile picture to a selfie of him and Mia.

They thought this would provoke me, make me jealous, make me regret it.

I just muted all their posts.

I also deleted all past chat histories with my second brother. Out of sight, out of mind.

Until one afternoon, I received a frantic phone call from our nanny, Aunt Zhang.

"Miss, you have to come back quick! That piano your mother left... Mr. Davis is giving it away!"

My brain buzzed.

That piano was my mom's gift for my tenth birthday. It was one of her most precious relics.

I hung up, immediately hailed a cab, and rushed home.

All the way there, my heart was tied in knots.

When I reached the front door, I saw a few movers carrying the white grand piano out.

In that moment, I felt all the blood rush to my head, and my eyes instantly turned red.

But I gritted my teeth hard, forcing the tears back.

Mia stood by, directing them with a look of "concern."

"Be careful, don't bump it... This is very valuable..."

Seeing me, a flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly reverted to her usual innocent expression.

"Chloe, you're back? Dad said you don't play this piano anymore, and it takes up space in the house. A friend of mine studying music happens to need one, so..."

"Put it down!"

The workers looked at each other and stopped.

Mia bit her lip, her eyes turning red again.

"Sister, don't be like this... I know Auntie left this for you, but if it just sits there unused, doesn't it lose its value? Isn't it better to let it go somewhere it can be useful?"

Her twisted logic was exactly the same as what Arthur said when he swapped my duet song.

"Useful?" I sneered. "Its value is that someone like you has no right to touch it."

I took out my phone and dialed 911 directly.

"Hello, police? I want to report a crime. Someone has trespassed into my private residence and is stealing my personal property."

Mia's face went completely pale.

"Chloe, you... how could you call the police? This is our own home!"

"This is my house."

"The name on the deed is mine. All of you are currently living in my house."

"Including you, Mia. An outsider who doesn't even count as a guest."

Before Mia could retort, Dad and my brothers hurried out upon hearing the commotion.

Hearing that there was a theft in a wealthy neighborhood, the police arrived incredibly fast.

Just as the standoff was escalating, the police arrived.

Seeing the police, Dad's face immediately darkened.

"Chloe! Are you crazy! What are you calling the police for! It's such a small matter, why waste police resources? Tell them to leave right now!"

I ignored him and just said to the police, "Officers, this piano is my mother's relic, valued at over a million. Now, without my permission, they are trying to move it out and sell it."

Hearing the high value involved, the police immediately became serious and started questioning Dad and Mia.

Dad was shaking with anger, pointing at me and cursing. "You're out of control! I am your father! I need your permission to dispose of a piece of furniture?"

"Yes, you do. Because my mom left this to me. In this house, anything that belonged to my mom, you have no right to touch."

"Also, I am officially notifying you now. Please move out of this house within a week."