Chapter 3

Stella Mercer POV

The air in the study seemed to freeze instantly.

Julian's pupils contracted sharply. His face flashed from dark to deathly pale, then flushed a deep, angry red.

“Shut up!” Julian snapped back upright, pointing at my face, his voice trembling with rage. “Stella Mercer, don't project your own filthy, disgusting thoughts onto others! I respect Gemma and have never crossed the line with her! Do you really think you can slander me with such disgusting lies?”

Looking at his explosive embarrassment, I found it utterly hilarious.

Leaning back in my chair, I stared at him coldly. “Whether I slandered you is something you know best. As for forcing a marriage? I merely made a condition, and it was Mrs. Mercer who agreed to it. If you really care about her so much, you can just take her and leave. Why waste your impotent rage on me?”

“You—” Speechless for a moment, Julian then let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with disgust and disdain. “Stella, as the real heiress of the Mercers, you haven't shown a single ounce of gratitude since returning to this house. Instead, you target Gemma at every turn. You're jealous because she is better than you, jealous because she is more beloved. That's why you came up with such a wicked scheme to torture her! You are utterly shameless!”

Jealous? Targeting her?

I quietly chewed on those words, feeling as if a dull knife were carving up my heart. Ever since I returned to the Mercers a year ago, I had eaten Gemma's leftovers and worn the out-of-season clothes she didn't want. Gemma had purposefully smashed an antique vase and pinned it on me, making me kneel in the snow all night as punishment. Gemma had thrown herself down the stairs, weeping and claiming I pushed her, which earned me a harsh slap from my father.

I lived worse than a dog in this house, yet here was Julian, accusing me of targeting Gemma Mercer?

“Yeah, I'm wicked, and I'm jealous of her.” I stood up, my gaze turning completely cold, devoid of even a shred of warmth. “Think whatever you want, Julian. The two of you truly deserve each other.”

With that, I didn't even bother giving them another glance and walked straight out of the study. Staying in this house for even another second made me feel suffocated.

I left the Mercer residence and took a cab to the Sunshine Orphanage in the suburbs. This was where I had lived for fifteen years, and it was my only refuge in this world where I could still feel some warmth.

Director Evans was overjoyed to see me, holding my hand as she chatted with me. Watching the children in the yard laughing brightly despite their worn-out clothes, my tense nerves finally began to relax. I handed out the candies I had brought, sat on a swing, and stared up at the sky, trying to push the Mercers' toxic drama out of my mind.

However, this peace did not last long.

With a screech of brakes, a flashy red sports car pulled up at the orphanage gates. The door swung open, and Gemma Mercer stepped out, dressed in designer brands, wearing sunglasses, and strutting in high heels. Following behind her were several bodyguards carrying large boxes of high-end toys and imported snacks.

“Wow! It's the pretty Ms. Mercer!”

“Ms. Mercer is here to see us again!”

The children who had been crowding around me immediately cheered and ran toward Gemma when they saw the fancy toys. Gemma took off her sunglasses, flashed an incredibly sweet smile, and handed out the toys, not forgetting to shoot me a provocative glare.

Sitting on the swing, watching the kids who used to be closest to me swarm around Gemma, a sharp pang of sorrow pierced my chest. But I didn't blame the children; they were simply longing for the beautiful things they had never seen before.

After handing out the items, Gemma walked over and looked down at me, mocking in a low voice, “Do you see this, Stella? Even on your own turf, all it takes is a tiny bit of charity from me to make them follow me around like dogs. Do you think you're so special? So what if you're the real heiress? You're destined to be crushed under my feet for the rest of your life!”

I stared coldly at her twisted face, having lost even the energy to get angry. I stood up and brushed the dust off my clothes. “Are you done putting on a show? If you're done, get the hell out of here. Don't ruin this place.”

I turned around, preparing to say goodbye to Director Evans.

The split second I turned, Gemma suddenly let out a sharp, piercing shriek: “Ah—Stella, why did you hit me?!”

I whipped my head back, only to see that Gemma had actually slapped herself hard across the face. The blow was so severe that five clear red finger marks instantly rose on her fair cheek. Gemma fell to the ground on cue, clutching her face as tears streamed down her cheeks like broken pearls, looking the absolute picture of pity.

“Stella Mercer! What are you doing?!”

A furious roar thundered from the main entrance.

At some point, Julian Vance had arrived at the orphanage. He rushed over, shoved me aside, and carefully cradled Gemma Mercer in his arms.

"Julian... it hurts so much... She didn't want me to visit the children. She accused me of stealing her spotlight..." Gemma leaned against Julian's chest, sobbing pitifully.

Julian looked up, his usually deep and mesmerizing eyes now burning with a bloodthirsty, murderous rage. Glaring at me, he spat through gritted teeth, "Stella Mercer, you are utterly malicious! Gemma came here out of the goodness of her heart for charity, and you actually dared to strike her in broad daylight! The cheapness and vulgarity bred into your very bones can't be hidden even if you wear a haute couture gown! Someone like you belongs rotting in a gutter!"