No More Lucky Star

Sandy really did have a heart of gold. Not only did she save me, but she also had her personal assistant take me back to the Bakers.

When we arrived, I could hear laughter and joy from outside the house. My parents and all three brothers had decorated the whole place, happily celebrating Jade's eighteenth birthday.

"Don't worry, Jade. We've already arranged for you to go to a college. Your three brothers will still take care of you. These shares are your birthday present," Graham said.

Everyone was gathered around Jade with so much love, completely forgetting that I had been thrown out of the house just a day ago.

When I walked in, all their smiles froze.

The personal assistant holding me simply announced, "Mrs. Shaw would like to know how the Baker family raises their children. What kind of family dumps a five-year-old out in an alley in the middle of the night?"

Graham's smile stiffened as he reached out to take me back. "It's nothing. Kids get into trouble sometimes. Thank you for bringing her home."

I dodged behind the assistant, sobbing.

The personal assistant's face turned even colder. "Looks like we'll have to reconsider our partnership with the Bakers."

Graham's hand hung awkwardly in the air. He turned and snapped at my brothers, "How did you take care of your sister? How could you lose her and not even know?"

Jade spoke up, her gaze sharp. "It wasn't their fault. They were keeping me company, so they didn't notice Mindy ran off. If you want to punish someone, punish me. Please don't make things difficult for my dad… It was all my fault."

With that, she ran out crying.

James immediately panicked. "It's not Jade's fault! This was our idea! Mindy, are you ever going to stop complaining?"

I looked at my parents. "I went missing, and you aren't even worried?"

They exchanged a glance and muttered, "You're just a kid. What do you know?"

But then, the personal assistant pulled out a USB drive. It was footage from a nearby security camera showing me being abandoned in the alley.

They tried to argue, but there was no way to deny what the video showed.

Their faces turned sour as the assistant said, "Mrs. Shaw said she and Mindy share a connection. If Mr. Baker can't raise his daughter properly, she'll take her instead."

I grabbed the personal assistant's hand tightly, knowing my chance to leave was right in front of me.

Just then, James suddenly burst in, shouting in a panic, "Something has happened! Jade's been kidnapped! The kidnappers want ten million dollars or Mindy!"

The video from the kidnappers showed Jade was pitifully tied up and locked in an old van.

James glared at me with pure hatred. "It has to be her fault again!"

My parents' expressions changed. Amanda lunged at me, gripping my throat in a frenzy. "If you hadn't shown up, Jade wouldn't have run outside! You must save her! If Jade doesn't come back safely, you'll pay for your sins!"

Just as she finished, the front door was kicked open, and a voice rang out.

"I'd like to see anyone try!"