From Orphan to Billionaire: The Foster Girl's Secret

The atmosphere buzzed with joy at the Brick Manor. Everyone was dressed to impress, their faces lit with smiles. Everyone, that is, except Daisy.  Sitting alone at a round table in the poolside corner, she wore simple jeans that made her an outlier among the glitz and glamour. Her gaze fell on the delicate pastries in front of her. Taking a spoonful, the overwhelming sweetness lingered unpleasantly on her tongue.  She never liked desserts like these. But Wendy Brick adored them. Now that her real daughter had returned, even their tastes aligned.  Daisy had once held the title of the Brick family's eldest daughter, but that identity had been stripped from her a month ago.  It all started when Wendy had a car accident and urgently needed a blood transfusion. Daisy, the adopted daughter, was brought in to donate, but even after drawing nearly all her blood, it wasn't enough.  They offered a huge reward to find a compatible donor. As fate would have it, the woman they found was a match, but pre-transfusion tests revealed her blood had a severe rejection response to Wendy's. Further testing uncovered the truth—this woman was none other than the Brick family's long-lost biological daughter, Phyllis Brick.  Now that Phyllis had returned, Daisy, the adopted daughter, was naturally cast aside.  Without hesitation, Liam Brick filed a report to help Daisy locate her birth relatives, who turned out to be impoverished laborers from a slum. Today's reunion banquet wasn't just a celebration for Phyllis. It was also Daisy's last meal with the Brick family.  But no one paid attention to Daisy. They were too busy fawning over Phyllis and noting her every preference.  In the past month, Daisy had endured constant framing and slander from Phyllis, which only fueled the family's disdain for her.  Daisy had finally understood—she was nothing more than a tool for Wendy to vent her emotions and, when needed, a living blood bank. She had never truly been treated as family.  She'd borne every insult and hardship in silence, not out of weakness, but to repay her final debt of gratitude. Now, that debt was settled. They had nothing left to do with each other.  After eating a little to stave off hunger, Daisy prepared to leave. But just as she stood, a mocking voice interrupted.  "If not for my reunion banquet, you'd never get to taste such exquisite desserts in your life," Phyllis sneered.  Clad in an opulent evening gown, Phyllis approached Daisy with a haughty air, looking down at her. Turning her back to the crowd, her face gleamed with ridicule and smugness.  "Savor this last bite of luxury. Once you're in the slums, forget about desserts—you'll be lucky to have a full meal. I heard your birth parents are so poor they've starved before. Consider this my gift to you, Daisy. Eat up."  Her words were sharp daggers meant to stab deep, but Daisy remained unfazed. She glanced at Phyllis, her expression calm and indifferent. Her gaze, as though piercing through Phyllis's façade, moved away without a word.  Phyllis fumed at Daisy's unbothered demeanor.  When Phyllis learned Daisy's biological parents were mere paupers, she'd felt triumphant, confident in her superior status.  But Daisy's composure grated on her nerves. How dare she act so serene, as if nothing could touch her? Phyllis seethed with jealousy.  Why did Daisy always seem so composed, so dignified, while Phyllis appeared petty by comparison?  Her face twisted in anger. Clenching her teeth, she snapped, "Daisy, stop pretending. Do you still think you're the part of Brick family? You're about to be thrown back to the slums, where you'll struggle to scrape by. You should be begging for a chance to leave with dignity, but since you insist on acting out, I'll make sure you regret it!"  With that, Phyllis grabbed the half-eaten cake in front of Daisy and smashed it against her expensive gown.  "Ah!" Phyllis shrieked.  Her voice was piercing, drawing the attention of everyone at the banquet. She clutched her dress, a mixture of panic and fury etched across her face, as tears welled up in her eyes.  "How could you, Daisy?!" Phyllis cried out, her voice trembling with accusation.  "I only wanted to talk to you, but you ruined my dress! This gown was a special gift from Mom. Even if you don't like me, you shouldn't disrespect her like this!"  Daisy looked up, her eyes reflecting mild annoyance.  Watching Phyllis's poorly executed act, Daisy's lips curved into a sarcastic smirk.  "Phyllis, if you're going to frame someone, at least put some effort into it. Your acting is pathetic."  Phyllis's face twisted with anger as she glared at Daisy. "What did you say? Are you accusing me of acting? You're the one bullying me!"  Daisy couldn't be bothered to argue. She turned to leave.  But before she could take a step, Phyllis reached out, trying to grab her.  Anticipating the move, Daisy easily sidestepped, leaving Phyllis stumbling and nearly falling.  Phyllis regained her balance and was about to lash out when Daisy raised an eyebrow, her expression sharp. "You like bullying people? Let me teach you how it's done."  Without hesitation, Daisy took two steps forward.  Slap!  A loud smack echoed as Daisy's hand connected with Phyllis's face, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her cheek swelled almost instantly, a deep red mark blooming on her skin.  Phyllis clutched her face, a mix of shock and venom flashing in her eyes. Just as she opened her mouth to spit out the word "b***h," she noticed the gathering crowd of guests. In an instant, her expression softened, and tears began to stream down her face, her voice trembling. "Daisy, I know you're upset about losing your identity as the Brick family's daughter, but how could you treat me this way?"  Her tears fell like broken pearls, evoking pity from the onlookers.  Daisy, however, simply stared at her coldly. "Annoying."  Then, with a swift kick, she sent Phyllis plunging into the nearby pool.  Gasps erupted from the surrounding guests.  "Someone save her!"  "The adopted daughter of the Brick family just shoved the real heiress into the pool!"  "Is she trying to kill Phyllis so she can keep living the high life? How despicable!"