The Mindreading's Victim

Today was my eighteenth birthday and coming-of-age ceremony—the day I had long awaited. Dressed in a haute couture gown, I stood beside my parents, accepting blessings from friends and family. Then the door was pushed open, and a plainly dressed couple walked in, accompanied by a girl. The girl wore a faded, washed-out dress, her hair carelessly tied back, her eyes full of timidity and unease. "Mom, Dad, Benjamin, this is..." I asked, confused, looking at them. My mother Lena White's face immediately darkened, her tone filled with unmistakable disdain: "This is Joan Underwood, the child who was switched at the hospital all those years ago—our biological daughter." The entire room fell into stunned silence. Joan lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of her clothing. My father, Howard Underwood, frowned, his voice cold and stiff: "Since she's been found, we'll keep her here for now. Everyone will just have to adjust over time." My brother, Benjamin Underwood, turned away sharply, refusing to even glance at Joan: "I only have one sister—Anna Underwood." I looked at Joan's pitiful expression, feeling a twinge of sympathy and wanting to step forward to comfort her with a few words. At that moment, a clear voice suddenly echoed in everyone's minds: "Anna is nothing but a curse. In the future, she will conspire with outsiders for money, drain the Underwood family dry, and bring ruin and death upon the whole family!" Everyone froze, exchanging stunned glances, unable to believe what they had just heard. "Wh-what... what is that voice?" Lena stared at Joan in horror. Joan lifted her head, her eyes filled with innocence: "I... I don't know. What did you hear?" The look my parents and Benjamin gave me shifted from affection to doubt and suspicion. "Anna, is what she said true?" Lena's voice trembled. "Mom, I didn't!" I hurriedly explained. "This has to be a misunderstanding. How could I ever harm the family?" "She's the one responsible! She's long despised the family and wants to claim all the inheritance for herself!" Joan's voice echoed again, matching her pitiful expression and lending her words cruel credibility. Just then, Howard's assistant rushed over, his face grave. "Sir, we found... Miss Anna's intimate clothing on your bedroom bed." "What?" Howard flew into a rage, pointing at me, "Anna, you've crossed the line! Why would you do this?" "I didn't!" I trembled with fear. "Dad, I truly don't know—someone is framing me!" "She's trying to seduce Dad and destroy this family!" Joan's words pierced everyone's hearts like knives. My parents and Benjamin looked at me with utter disgust and coldness. Lena snatched the necklace from my neck—the gift from my coming-of-age ceremony—and said harshly, "From now on, we are no longer your family. Don't expect to receive anything from us ever again!" Benjamin said coldly, "A person as cruel-hearted as you doesn't deserve to be my sister." I stood frozen in place, my whole body cold, unable to defend myself. My coming-of-age ceremony had turned into my day of judgment.