Pain flared across her cheek, warmth blooming where her mother's palm had struck. The world around her narrowed to that single point of contact; everything else faded away, leaving only the rawness of the moment.
Feng Suyin inhaled sharply, biting back the wave of emotions threatening to spill forth. She met her mother's gaze, unwavering, refusing to let the sting of her cheek betray the strength swelling inside her.
She wasn't nothing but a stranger to this family. They speak to her as if they have given her a great favor by using their family name. How many times had she wished to experience motherly love? How many times did she wish she wasn't adopted but truly their flesh and blood?
The sting radiated through Feng Suyin's cheek, a sharp reminder of the clash between her and her mother. Dazed, she instinctively raised her hand to touch the fiery imprint left by Li Xinlian's palm.
