When Li Xue looked out of the peephole, she could see three people standing with no hints of affection on their face. Their scornful faces looked like they had only come here to show their contemptuous feeling for her. Just by looking at them like this, she had no mood to open the door and entertain them.

Even though the pair outside were none other than her parents, there was no feeling of belongingness in anyone's heart. How can she adhere to such feelings for them when they have done nothing to earn it? How can she have any gentle emotions for them when they have been the first one to abandon her when she needed them the most.

It is said that your family will be the one to support you during the rough and tough times, but she has never felt anything like that to support that word in her life.

There was no doubt that she shared the same blood with them but it was the emotion that lacked. The connection that a child feels with her parents was something that has never been between them. Apart from her only younger sister, there was no one else with whom she has shared that close, warm family bonding.

Sighing in her heart, she thought for a moment then moving her fingers on the doorknob, she opened it to greet the three guests outside. "Good morning! How may I help you?" She greeted the same way she would have greeted any stranger.

"Li Xue! Is this the way to greet your parents? Can't you be a little more filial with your attitude? Is this how we brought you up?" Liu Hua, her mother blasted up with righteousness, the moment she completed her words.

"Brought me up? Are you sure, Mam? Or have you been confused with the person you are referring to? Okay fine, fine, fine; let me clear everything out. Me … I mean Li Xue was never brought up by you? It should be adopted … oops, pardon me. She is not an adopted one. She is the original piece and it's not me whom you have brought up rather her. Look that that's the reason she is standing with you and not me", Li Xue said, gesturing her eyes to the Wen Sying, who has come accompanying the two oldies.

"Li Xue don't say that. Uncle and Aunt love you too. Look, that's why they have come to visit you the moment they got the news of your return. Don't think anything else, okay?" Wen Sying said, coming to a step ahead and hooking her hands with Liu Hua.

Looking at her presenting herself as fragile hearted, Li Xue could not control her chuckle. "Really? How come I never knew that they have loved me so much?"

"You … Li Xue, can you please not behave so indifferent? They are your own parents. I have said to you before too that all these years I have just helped you look after them. I was not your replacement but a shadow in their lives. Can you please believe me once?" Wen Sying said making her expressions go all pathetic. Tears were waiting at the edge of her eyelids, ready to be shed for gaining sympathy.

"Sying, what are you saying child? No, not at all. You are definitely not her shadow. Let her say whatever she wants, you don't have to feel guilty. You are our child, not by blood but by heart. What does she know? Hundreds of own blood-related daughter can't stand in comparison to one like you. Sometimes I complain to God that why didn't I birthed you instead of this useless characterless girl" Liu Hua said, her heart getting melted finding Wen Sying blaming herself for everything.

Li Xue remained expressionless at those words. She has grown long used to with those words. Her mother has never been her mother then how those words can leave any deep impression on her. Before she would have felt regret or a little disappointment but now after cutting all strings with them, she no longer feels anything for them.

"That's enough! Don't create a scene outside. Let's go in and talk. Family matters should be dealt with inside the four walls", at this moment Li Sheng, Li Xue's biological father broke his silence and interjected. His tone sounded more like a man who has come with his own motive. About his character, how can Li Xue not know?

Her father has always been the epitome of materialistic personality. In the past years too, he has always made sure to take every ounce of benefits using his daughter's name and fame. Booking her to make appearances at parties, social gatherings and others without her knowledge was something that was normal for him.

Since she has always been a way for him to fulfil his material possessions, for years she had remained an apple of his eyes. But the day everything was snatched away from her, this man who was known to be her father cast her far aside first. Like she has never belonged to them. Like she was not the child they have given birth.

A cold glint passed through her eyes when all those memories surfaced again in her heart. She laughed with a hint of self – contempt. This small sudden change in her aura made the three standing in front feel a shiver in the warm sunlight.

"What family? I don't have any family like you people", she declared with a hard voice, enough to make people realize how firm and resolute she was in her heart. Her amber eyes pierced each of them, trying to warn them to never mention the same words again.

"Li Xue … You disrespectful evil! Can't you see we are here to mend our relationship with you? You should be thankful that even after seeing your worst side we are still ready to accept you back. But here you are all arrogant in front of your father", Saying her words, Li Hua charged a little forward to bring a hard slap to Li Xue's face.

Wen Sying looked at the scene and smiled in her heart. She has never thought that just a little of her efforts would easily bring her the satisfaction that she failed to receive last day. Anticipation filled her every heartbeat waiting to hear the loud smacking voice. Her eyes went still, restraining her lids to blink so that she can't miss even the tiniest moment of happiness that she will get seeing her dearest friend at her lowest.