Chapter 1The Roommate Who Wanted My Family

Winter break was coming up, and my parents booked us a luxury cruise.

When my roommate, Chloe, found out, she immediately called my mom, crying hysterically.

"Godmother, did you forget you have another daughter?"

After my mom politely turned her down, she threw a massive tantrum in our dorm.

"How can parents be so biased?! We are both their daughters, why do they treat me so differently?!"

I was stunned.

She had just crashed at my house for a few weekends, and now she genuinely believed she was my parents' biological child.

* * *

"Emma, you're just going to go on vacation with Mom and Dad and leave me home alone?!"

Her question left me completely bewildered.

"Aren't you going back to your own home for winter break? Don't tell me you were planning to stay at my house?"

Chloe’s family lived out of state, so she usually stayed in the dorms on weekends.

Worried she’d be lonely, I started inviting her over to my house to hang out.

The very first time she walked in, she gasped involuntarily, "Emma, I've never been in a house this big and comfortable before! Can I just live here forever?"

Just being polite, I casually replied, "Sure."

From that day on, Chloe insisted on coming home with me every single weekend.

Knowing she was my roommate, my mom always prepared delicious meals whenever she visited.

She seemed well-behaved at first. She would offer to mop the floors and wipe the tables.

My dad, being the polite host, would always stop her.

"Chloe, you don't need to do any of this. Go watch TV with Emma."

"It's fine, Uncle! I do this all the time at home."

"Look at Chloe, such a thoughtful girl. If only you were my daughter too, I'd be so lucky to have two sweet girls."

I never expected that a polite, throwaway joke would be taken as gospel by Chloe.

"Why don't I officially become your goddaughter? Then Emma and I will be real sisters! My birthday is before hers, so I'll be the older sister."

"Godfather, Godmother, I promise to take good care of you both when you're older, just like Emma!"

My mom looked at her awkwardly. "It's the thought that counts, sweetie, but our family isn't really into the whole 'godparent' thing."

Chloe acted like she hadn't heard a word, continuing to call them "Godmother" and "Godfather" with every breath.

My mom tried to correct her, but my dad whispered, "Just let her call us whatever she wants. Don't embarrass the poor girl."

Fast forward to winter break. I thought my parents and I were finally going to enjoy some quality family time.

I couldn't believe she was still planning to come to my house!

Chloe looked at me with pitiful, wide eyes. "Emma, I couldn't get a train ticket home, so I have to go to your house for the break."

"I'm your older sister, you wouldn't kick me out, would you?"

I was already annoyed.

"Chloe, I don't care if you call me your sister. But my family of three is going on a trip this winter break. No one will be home."

"Besides, the holidays are coming up. Are your parents really okay with you not going home?"

"In my heart, this is my only real home. It doesn't matter if I go back to that other place. Since you three are going on a trip, I guess I'll just have to stay at the house by myself."

I seriously doubted my own ears.

"Wait, did I hear that right? You want to stay in my house by yourself for the entire winter break?"