Chapter 1

My mother-in-law and I gave birth on the exact same day in the same hospital.

Secretly, she swapped her newborn baby girl with mine.

Afterward, she subjected my supposed daughter to unimaginable abuse, forcing her to sleep in a muddy barn stall, eat pig slop, and eventually even broke both of her legs.

Meanwhile, my husband and I poured every cent we had into raising her biological daughter to become a glamorous Hollywood star.

When her daughter landed her first major movie contract worth five million dollars, my mother-in-law rushed to us waving a DNA report.

“The nurse mixed up our babies back then,” she announced smugly. “It is time to swap them back.”

My husband exploded in fury, but I smiled without missing a beat. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

1.

On Thanksgiving Day, my mother-in-law kicked a frail teenage girl right into the pigpen behind the farmhouse.

“Stay right where you belong, you filthy mutt! You do not deserve to sit at our table!”

Covered in grime, the girl huddled in the cold mud wearing threadbare rags, her hands and face swollen purple from the freezing wind.

She looked at me with desperate, pleading eyes. “Sister-in-law... I’m so hungry...”

In reality, she was supposed to be my daughter. Sixteen years ago, my mother-in-law, Gertrude, and I gave birth on the very same day.

Gertrude had secretly swapped her own newborn daughter, Chloe, with mine.

Then, she gave the swapped child the humiliating name of Wretch.

Gertrude figured that since Jason and I were educated professionals, we would provide superior care and groom a child for greatness.

Having given birth so late in life, Gertrude naturally wanted her own flesh and blood to live in luxury, so she pulled off the switch.

I merely glanced at the shivering girl with a calm, detached look before linking my arm through Gertrude’s.

“Come on, Mom. It’s Thanksgiving. Let’s head inside and eat.”

“Chloe said she’s starving.”

Hearing Chloe’s name, Gertrude’s face instantly broke into a beaming smile.

“Yes, let’s go inside! We can’t let my precious granddaughter go hungry.”

There was probably nothing more absurd in this world.

The girl calling Gertrude “Grandma” was actually her biological daughter.

And the girl calling me “Sister-in-law” was supposed to be mine.

Inside the dining room, my husband, Jason, was discussing elite acting academies with Chloe.

Over the years, Jason and I had dedicated ourselves entirely to grooming Chloe for stardom.

We had poured an absolute fortune into her vocal lessons, dance classes, and wardrobe.

Listening to their conversation, Gertrude’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

“Oh, Chloe, sweetheart, you make me so proud.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a thick envelope packed with cash.

“Take this. A little holiday bonus from Grandma.”

Chloe beamed and took the money. Just then, Wretch stumbled inside.

Tears streamed down her dirt-streaked face when she saw the thick stack of bills. “Why do you have thousands of dollars for her, but won’t spare a single dime to feed me or send me to school?” she shrieked at Gertrude.

“I’m supposed to be your daughter!”

Smack!

Gertrude lunged forward and slapped her across the face with all her might.

“Look at how hideous you are! A worthless stray like you belongs in the barn with the pigs!”

Wretch’s cheek flared bright red, her small body trembling uncontrollably.

Underneath all the dirt and severe malnutrition, her features faintly resembled Jason’s. She actually had a pretty face, just hollowed out by starvation.

Jason glared at her with disgust. “Get out. You know you don’t belong in here.”

He had no idea she was his child.

Back when Gertrude had gotten pregnant at an advanced age, Jason had fiercely opposed it because I was also pregnant, complaining that his mother wouldn’t be able to look after our household.