Chapter 3

The welcome-home gala was a private, high-society affair, held right at our estate.

I hid in the shadows, watching Chloe mingle effortlessly with the wealthy heiresses. A deep, familiar sense of inferiority washed over me.

Whether in my past life or this one, I could never wash away the insecurity carved into my bones...

Chloe stood by the garden pond, waving at me enthusiastically, calling me over to join them.

I hesitated for a long time before slowly walking over.

I held the hem of my cheap dress, keeping my head down, trying to make myself invisible.

Chloe looked me up and down, then handed me a glass of champagne.

*“A peasant is a peasant. Her skin must be made of leather. That incredibly cheap, itchy knock-off dress doesn't even seem to bother her.”*

I looked down at my dress. I didn't know anything about designer fakes; I had truly believed it was a nice gown.

I awkwardly took the champagne glass, which immediately drew snickers from the girls around us.

"Hahaha! Look at her, she doesn't even know how to hold a champagne glass!"

"Chloe, is this country bumpkin really your sister?"

"If you don't fit in, don't force it, okay? Watch closely, I'm only showing you once."

Chloe watched them mock me from her high horse. My face burned with intense humiliation.

Chloe's inner voice sneered: *“Heh, you useless piece of trash. You can't even hold a glass right. You deserve to die by my hands.”*

A gentle breeze blew past. Chloe, standing next to me, suddenly pinched her nose in disgust.

"What is that smell? Why is it so bad? Nora, did you even shower? It’s so strong I can barely open my eyes!"

The other girls joined in the mockery. I felt like a monkey in a zoo, paralyzed with shame.

*“Loser. She sprayed so much of my perfume, but she still can't cover up that cheap, filthy stench of poverty. Disgusting.”*

Her words pushed my fragile self-esteem over the edge. I wanted nothing more than to disappear into the ground.

"What are you waiting for? Do you expect our princess Chloe to wash you herself?" one girl sneered, glancing toward the pond behind me.

Driven by sheer humiliation, I put down my glass and threw myself straight into the deep water of the pond.

I didn't struggle. I let the cold water swallow me whole.

Chloe's thoughts screamed in delight: *“Yes! Just like that! Stay down there! Die in there!”*

As suffocation took over, I thought I was finally free. But then, someone dragged me out.

The guests looked on with cold, detached amusement. The only person panicking was our private family doctor.

If I died here, his career would be over.

Chloe’s venomous thoughts pierced my ears again: *“Damn it, why didn't you just drown, you cockroach?”*

Through my blurry vision, I saw the frustration on Chloe's face.

And...

The brief worry on Eleanor's face.

The utter coldness in Julian's eyes.

The disgust on my father, Robert's, face.

And the mocking amusement of the crowd.

Mom, do you really love me?

Or... is it all just a show?

When I finally regained consciousness, the room was empty.

As expected, I was entirely invisible in this house.

My eyes fell upon the mud-stained dress on the floor. "What a waste. It was such a pretty dress."

I stood up, opened the closet, and pulled out one of my old, worn-out outfits from the mountains—the only decent-looking one I had.

The moment I stepped downstairs, the joyful laughter of the family of four instantly died. They looked at me with immediate disgust.

Robert frowned. "Did we not give you money? Or clothes? What are you wearing? Who are you trying to gross out?"

"You smell like a barn. Don't tell anyone you're a Foster."

No... I had washed these clothes more than ten times. There was no smell left...

Before I could explain, Chloe spoke up first. "Dad, Mom, please don't blame yourselves. I spent the two million dollars you gave to Nora..."

"It’s my fault. I didn't guide her properly. I let her get obsessed with vanity."

Eleanor looked confused. "Chloe, what are you talking about?"

Chloe looked incredibly guilty. "Mom, Nora asked me to buy her a dress with that two million... the one she wore to the gala today... What a shame it's ruined..."

"It’s all my fault. I shouldn't have spoiled her."

She sobbed. But her inner thoughts were laughing hysterically: *“Stupid girl. You couldn't even tell the dress was a fake. Go ahead, get angry! That two million is mine now!”*

Before I could speak, Julian's hand swung across my face. A sharp, stinging slap landed on my cheek.

"We didn't care that you came from the gutter. Letting you live here was already a massive blessing. How could you do something so shameless?"

"That’s two million dollars! Do you think it grows on trees? Our family's money is earned through hard work, not blown in by the wind."

But I knew the designer bag Chloe was holding cost way more than two million...

And she had never mentioned any two million dollars to me, in this life or the last.

I had no way to defend myself. I turned to leave, but Robert barked at me.

"Where do you think you're going? You ruined the gala. You’ve been home for weeks and you haven't even formally greeted your parents yet!"

"Mrs. Gable, bring the tea."

The moment I tried to sit on the couch, Julian yanked me up.

Julian glared at me like I was his worst enemy. "Who said you could sit? You reek of pigs. Don't ruin my multi-million-dollar sofa."

"We couldn't even get enough selling you to pay for it."

I didn't argue. I just obediently walked over and stood near the maid.

Seeing my submissive silence, Julian actually looked a bit lost.

Mrs. Gable brought out four cups of tea and laid a small rug by the sofa.

Julian kicked the rug away aggressively.

"She’s not some delicate princess. She doesn't need a rug."

"The Foster family is prestigious in this city. If you want to be part of this family, you need to show some real respect."

He pressured me with his eyes, forcing me to kneel. And of course, being the "coward" I was, I did.

The moment my knees hit the hard floor, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

I picked up a cup of hot tea and held it up to Robert. But the word "Dad" stuck in my throat. I couldn't say it.

Robert’s brow furrowed. "And? Are you mute?"

"A wild street rat indeed. No manners whatsoever."

"Who am I? You're serving me tea, shouldn't you call me something?"

Eleanor had tears in her eyes as she whispered, "Nora, call him Dad..."

Julian stepped forward and kicked the hot tea out of my hands.

The boiling liquid splashed all over my hands, instantly turning my skin bright red.

Julian roared, "If you don't want to be here, then get the hell out!"

"The Foster family has no room for an ungrateful, disrespectful brat like you."

Chloe looked down at me like a victorious queen. Her thoughts echoed in my mind.

*“Finally! Julian is kicking her out! Once she’s gone, no one will ever take what’s mine again!”*

Holding back the pain, I limped upstairs, packed my few ragged clothes into a bag, and prepared to leave.

As I crossed the living room, Eleanor called out, "Nora, where are you going?"

I curled my lips into a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

"Back to where I came from."

Robert slammed his hand on the table, standing up. "Nora! You have Foster blood in your veins! How can you just walk away?"

Chloe was throwing a party in her mind: *“Yes! Go! Go back to your dirty pigpen, you trash! All my planning paid off!”*

But in that exact moment, my parents and Julian froze. A look of absolute shock washed over their faces.

Finally. The time had come.

My dear parents, my dear brother... This is the daughter you have spoiled for twenty years.

***