The Billionaire's Stolen Daughter My Mother’s Twisted Lies

My dad is the richest man in New York, but my monthly allowance is only fifty dollars. My mother always told me that my dad abandoned us.

She said he despised me for being a girl, left a divorce agreement when I was six, and vanished into thin air. I never saw him again after that day.

That was until I saw him on the news, spending a hundred million dollars to buy a skyscraper for his new son. For years, my heart was filled with bitter hatred. I am his child too.

Why did he treat me like garbage? Until one day, I ran into his new son. The very first words out of the boy’s mouth were: "Where have you been all these years?

Dad has been looking for you everywhere." "Sweetheart, your meal card has been declined." The lunch lady, Mrs.

Higgins, leaned out from behind the counter after the card reader beeped loudly, flashing a red error light. I suddenly realized this month had thirtyone days.

The money I saved from my parttime jobs was only enough to feed me for thirty. I squeezed out an embarrassing smile and looked at Mrs. Higgins. "It’s okay, Mrs. Higgins.

I’m on a diet today. I don’t need any sides. Just a scoop of plain white rice, please." Mrs. Higgins saw right through my lie.

Deep pity flashed across her face. "You poor child, you’re already skin and bones!

What do you mean, a diet?" Without another word, she scooped a massive ladle of rich, savory meat gravy and poured it all over my rice. "Next time you’re short on cash, just whisper to me.

I’ll sneak you a whole roasted chicken leg, okay?" Looking at her kind gesture, a wave of bitterness rushed to my throat. Even a complete stranger knew how to pity me.

Yet, my own biological father had never once checked on me in over a decade. My best friend, Chloe, came back with her tray.

When she saw only white rice and gravy on my plate, she slammed her fist on the table in a rage. "I’m telling you, Elena!

You need to go protest right outside your dad’s corporate headquarters!

He’s a freaking billionaire, and his own daughter is literally starving!" "I want the whole world to see what a monster this famous 'philanthropist' really is behind closed doors!" Though I had long grown used to this miserable life, Chloe's words still made my heart ache.

If our college cafeteria didn't offer cheap white rice, I probably would have starved to death by now. Ever since my dad left, my mother had completely given up on life.

She spent every single day getting wasted in our cramped trailer. She squandered every penny of our remaining savings on cheap whiskey. Once, a kind neighbor, Mrs.

Gable, couldn't stand it anymore and tried to talk some sense into her. "Sarah, you can’t keep living like this. Your daughter is still so young.

You need to pull yourself together and raise her!" "Look at how thin Elena is!

I’m terrified a strong gust of wind will just blow her away!" But my mother just sprawled on the mattress, screaming profanities at Mrs.

Gable. "If it weren't for this useless piece of trash, my husband would have never abandoned me!" "She’s a girl! A worthless girl that even dogs wouldn't look at!

And you want me to raise her? In your dreams!" Back then, I was too young to understand why my mother was so furious. But I could read her expression.

She had degenerated into this pathetic, broken state entirely because of me. If I hadn't been born, or if I had been born a boy... Her life would have been completely different.

During the rare moments when my mother was sober, she would pull out old, yellowed photographs and show them to me. "Look, look how much your father used to adore me.

He took me traveling all over the country." "He wouldn't let me lift a single finger.

He did all the cleaning and dishwashing himself!" "Even when he worked until midnight, he would still go into the kitchen to cook me a hot meal.

He was like a machine that never got tired!" Looking at the deeplyinlove couple in those photos, a seed was planted in my young heart. It was all my fault.

I had to do everything in my power to make it up to her. From the moment I was old enough to work, I helped the local farmers clear fields and mow lawns to earn spare change.

They took pity on me and often let me take some vegetables and potatoes home. That was how I barely survived, raised by the pity of strangers.

After getting into college, I worked multiple parttime shifts every day after classes. But I had to send almost all my earnings back home to support my mother.

I only kept fifty dollars a month for myself. I was barely keeping my head above water, relying on the university's financial aid for impoverished students.

I had accepted this as my destiny—until the day I saw my father on the TV news. [Vance Group CEO William Vance spends a hundred million dollars to construct a luxury highrise named after his sixyearold son, Leo Vance.] For the first time, a massive, painful void tore open in my chest.

With tearfilled eyes, I asked my mother. "Mom... if Dad has so much money, why has he never come back to see me even once?" "Does he not have a single shred of love for me?" My mother let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Why ask the obvious?

He hates you more than anything in this world."

I quickly stuffed the remaining rice into my mouth. I had to rush to my next parttime gig.

I had recently landed a tutoring job teaching English literature to an elementary school kid. The hourly pay was several times what I made washing dishes at the diner.

I absolutely could not be late. Chloe frowned, her eyes filled with deep concern. "Elena, can your body even take this anymore?" "Why don't you take a day off?

I’m terrified you’re going to collapse..." I didn't stop my hands. I kept shoving the rice into my mouth.

I ate so fast that I started choking, my face turning bright red as I coughed violently. I pounded my chest hard. Once I managed to swallow the food, I spoke quietly. "I can’t rest.

If I rest, what will my mother do?" Hearing this, Chloe's temper flared, her voice rising in frustration. "Your mother is incredibly irresponsible!

How can she expect a college freshman to carry the financial burden of the entire household?" "Does she even care if you live or die?!" I could only offer a helpless, bitter smile. "I owe her this." For all these years, I had lived in constant guilt.

If I hadn't been born, my mother wouldn't have become a broken alcoholic. So, I had no right to complain about being tired.

After taking three different public buses and walking under the scorching sun until I was on the verge of heatstroke, I finally reached my destination.

It was a massive luxury mansion perched halfway up a hill. I had to hike up a steep private road for thirty minutes just to reach the front gate.

An older gentleman dressed as a butler walked out, offering a warm smile. "Are you the new tutor for the young master?" I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nodded.

The butler led me inside. The sheer opulence of the mansion blew my mind. Even the golden retriever in the yard had its own airconditioned, twostory dog house.

The butler brought me into a grand study and handed me a glass of ice water. "Please rest here for a moment.

I will go fetch the young master." I pulled out the lesson plans I had prepared. Before I could even lay them out on the mahogany desk, a little boy came running into the study.

He saw me and beamed, showing off two cute little dimples. "Hello, Ms. Tutor!" I was taken aback by how polite and sweet this rich kid was.

The anxiety in my chest instantly melted away. I gently patted his head and said softly, "Hi there. You can call me Ms. Elena." The little boy literally jumped in excitement. "Ms.

Elena! My last name is Vance too!" "My name is Leo Vance!" The moment the words left his mouth, the smile froze on my face. Leo Vance. I had heard this name on the news.

He was the boy for whom my father had spent a hundred million dollars to build a skyscraper. The little boy standing in front of me was my father’s new son.

Which meant... this was my father’s house. Panic hit me like a tidal wave. I stood frozen in place, my mind spinning. My hands began to shake uncontrollably.

Years of builtup resentment, grief, and anger rushed to my chest. I wanted to run through the mansion, find my father, and scream in his face. Why did you treat me like this?

Why did you abandon mom and me? But my logic quickly kicked in. An emotional outburst would only make them despise me more. And worse, I would lose this highpaying tutoring job.

I needed this money to survive. After a few tense seconds, I decided to act normal. I forced a smile and proceeded with the lesson. The two hours flew by.

Fortunately, Leo was incredibly obedient and smart. We got along famously, talking like old friends. He didn't have a single drop of arrogant, richkid attitude.

I packed up my materials, assigned Leo his homework, and prepared to leave. Suddenly, Leo grabbed the edge of my cardigan. He looked up at me with a secretive expression. "Ms.

Elena, I’ve never really had any friends. You’re my very first real friend!" "Can I tell you a secret?" I paused.

I was surprised that a billionaire's son had no friends, and even more surprised that he wanted to confide in me. Still, I knelt down to his level and asked gently, "Of course.

What is it?" Leo leaned in and whispered in my ear. "I actually have a big sister. My dad has been looking for her for so many years." "But he can’t find her.

I decided that when I grow up, I’m going to find my sister myself!" My mind went completely blank. "What... what did you say?"

He’s been looking for me all these years? How is that possible?! I could hardly believe my ears.

Leo didn't notice the storm of emotions on my face and kept babbling excitedly. "Yeah! I have a sister!

But I’ve never met her." "Dad says she’s the sweetest, most wellbehaved girl.

But over ten years ago, Dad’s exwife took my sister and ran away." "Dad has been searching for her ever since, but he just can’t track her down." My brain felt like it was shortcircuiting.

There were way too many contradictions here. Why did my dad claim that my mother took me and ran?

My mother had always told me that Dad left a signed divorce agreement and abandoned us. My mother's downward spiral was supposedly caused by his sudden abandonment. Who was lying?

Seeing that I was unresponsive, Leo took my hand and pulled me into another room.

He pointed at the beautifully decorated bedroom and said, "This is the room Dad keeps ready for my sister!

He says when she comes home, she’ll have her own space right away." "Dad said my sister’s favorite color is orange, so the whole room is orange!" "I even helped pick out the curtains!

Pretty, right?" Holding back my tears, I looked around the room. On the nightstand, I saw a framed, slightly faded photograph.

It was my father, holding me as a toddler, both of us laughing on a grassy lawn.

Suddenly, a warm, gentle voice came from the doorway. "That’s my husband’s daughter from his first marriage. Isn't she adorable?" I turned around to see a kindlooking woman.

It was Helena, my dad's current wife. Helena sighed softly. "It’s so heartbreaking.

No matter how much money William sends to his exwife over the years, she refuses to let him see the child." "Just last month, William wired another two million dollars to her as a high school graduation gift for the girl." "We have no idea how she’s doing now.

William hasn't slept a full night in years because of this." My jaw dropped. I literally doubted my own hearing.

My dad... has been wiring millions of dollars to my mother all these years? Then why did my mother force me to work multiple grueling jobs?

Why did she confiscate every single dollar of my paychecks, leaving me with only fifty dollars a month for food?

There were nights when I had a burning high fever and couldn't even afford a clinic visit, forced to just shiver through the night in our cold trailer.

Why had my mother been lying to me my entire life? I desperately wanted to scream the truth right there—to tell them that I was that lost daughter. But I had to keep my head.

I needed to find out the absolute truth first. I had to know why my mother had subjected me to a lifetime of abuse and lies. I didn't reveal my identity to Leo.

I made up an excuse and quickly left the mansion. After requesting a week off from my college classes, I rushed back to the trailer park.

The moment I pushed the door open, the overwhelming stench of cheap alcohol hit my nose. My mother was slumped on the stained sofa, surrounded by empty liquor bottles.

Seeing me home early, she blinked in confusion before grabbing an empty bottle and hurling it straight at my head. "Why the hell are you here?!

Shouldn't you be scrubbing plates at the diner right now?!" "If you don't have rent money next month, don't you dare cry to me!

I’m taking every cent of your paycheck to punish you for being lazy!" "Never forget, Elena! I am in this pathetic state because of you!

You owe me your entire life!" Normally, I would have quietly cleaned up the mess and endured her screaming. But today, I couldn't do it anymore.

I walked right up to her, staring cold and hard into her bloodshot eyes. "Mom, today my meal card was declined because I didn't even have a dollar and fifty cents left." "Starting next month, can you please let me keep an extra ten dollars for food?" My mother froze for a second, and then she completely lost her mind. "Are you blind?!

Do you think we have money to throw away?! We are broke because of you!" "If you weren't a worthless girl, your father would have never left!

I would be living in a mansion in New York right now enjoying luxury!" "You want ten dollars? In your dreams!

Ten dollars is enough to buy me another bottle of whiskey!" "Starting next month, your allowance is cut by another ten dollars!

If you can’t afford food, go eat the free rice at your school!

Don't think I don't know they offer free food to beggars like you!" Looking at her twisted, greedy face, the final string of affection in my heart snapped.

My mother threw me out of the trailer, slamming the door in my face. "Get your ass to work and bring me money!

I don't want to see your ugly face!" The last bus back to campus had already left.

With nowhere to go, I hid in the dim stairwell of a nearby building, planning to shiver through the night. But around midnight, I heard a click.

I peeked through the gap in the fire door. My mother was sneakily leaving the trailer in the middle of the night. A dark suspicion crept into my mind.

I quietly slipped out and followed her.

She navigated through the shady back alleys of the town, eventually slipping into a dingy, abandonedlooking warehouse at the end of a street.

Strangely, the warehouse was dead quiet from the outside. What was she doing here at this hour? I crept inside, following her footsteps down a dark hallway.

But when I reached the end, it was a dead end. She had vanished. Suddenly, I noticed a loose brick on the wall with a hidden toggle switch behind it.

I flipped it, and a section of the wall swung open, revealing a hidden room. As I stepped through, it felt like entering a different world.

The underground room was massive, filled with thick cigar smoke and shouting people. Dozens of tables were set up, and everyone was gambling like manic devils.

It was an illegal underground casino. I quickly blended into the crowd and spotted my mother at a highstakes poker table. In front of her sat a mountain of highvalue chips.

The people around her were shamelessly flattering her. "Wow, Sarah! You’re playing big tonight!

Must be nice having a filthy rich exhusband!" My mother laughed loudly, tossing a twothousanddollar chip to one of her cronies. "Take it! My treat!

I’m in a great mood today." "My rich exhusband just wired me another two million dollars.

I have more money than I know how to spend!" She threw money around like water, placing massive bets without even blinking.

Within thirty minutes, the entire two million dollars was completely gone.

Not only did she blow all the cash, but she also borrowed on credit, owing the house over five hundred thousand dollars.

Several heavily tattooed thugs with bats wrapped in barbed wire walked up, looking incredibly hostile. "Pay up, Sarah.

Otherwise, things are going to get very ugly." But my mother didn't even flinch. She waved her hand carelessly. "Chill out, boys.

I’ll just make up another excuse and get my ex to wire more." "I’ll tell him our daughter has stagefour leukemia and needs ten million for chemo.

Trust me, he’ll send the cash within minutes!" I shook with absolute rage. I wanted to storm over and rip her face off.

My father’s hardearned money—money meant to secure my future—had been fed into her bottomless gambling addiction. I watched as she pulled out her phone and dialed my father.

After a quick, tearful performance, she hung up and smirked at the thugs. "See? The money will hit my account in ten minutes." "Deal me in again!

I’m going to win it all back!" Realizing how dangerous the situation was, I slipped out of the casino as fast as I could. Once outside, I dialed the number Leo had given me.

The call was answered almost instantly. "Vance residence.

How can I help you?" Arthur’s polite voice came through. "Tell William Vance that his daughter, Elena, is on the line." Ten seconds later, my father’s frantic, breathless voice blasted through the speaker. "Elena?!

Where are you?! We need to meet right now!"