Chapter 3

Zachary let out a mocking snort. "Why bother pretending? She just wants everyone to feel sorry for her."

His voice was quiet, but since I was sitting right next to him, I caught every word.

"I can't eat pulled pork," I said.

Zachary said, his mouth dropping open in exaggerated shock, "No way. Don't tell me you're going to claim you're allergic to pork now.

"Honestly, I think you just resent how well we treat Daphne."

I put down my silverware and stared at him. "The doctor said I have starved for so long in the past that I can't even absorb the nutrients from an egg.

"So I can only eat vegetables."

I hadn't expected my words to have such a dramatic effect. Ignoring the stunned silence, I picked up my fork again and buried myself in my food.

At the moment, my top priority was to nurse myself back to health.

I knew that if I didn't get better, once I transferred to that elite school, I'd be completely defenseless against any bullying that came my way.

The entire Garrett family fell silent, all of them choked up and at a loss for words.

Zachary opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He'd wanted to say, "Didn't the Romero family treat you well?"

However, he remembered how I'd been knocked over by just the slightest touch. His expression soured.

'Daphne was getting anxious,' I noticed.

She thought, 'It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Polly wouldn't have had such a hard time, and she wouldn't have ended up stealing.

"Mom and Dad should just listen to her and send me away. She'll only be happy if I'm gone. I'm just the extra one in this family..."

Jordan and Lois both frowned, and whatever guilt they'd felt just moments ago disappeared without a trace.

Because of me, nobody at the table had any appetite left. I was the only one enjoying the food.

"I'm full," I said.

Zachary glanced at my plate. It was barely finished. Even Daphne had eaten more than I did.

I was truly stuffed. Seeing how down the Garretts were, I forced myself to eat a few extra bites. Any more and I'd probably puke.

After going hungry for so long, I knew I had to take it slow and let my stomach get used to eating again. However, I felt bad that all these delicious food was going to waste.

Jordan frowned. "I've already arranged for you to transfer schools. Tomorrow, you'll go to school with Daphne."

I kept walking without missing a beat.

As soon as I left, the rest of the Garrett family had the servants clear the table. Jordan immediately made a call.

He said, "Get a nutritionist for Polly. I want all her medical reports from the past few years sent to me immediately."

The next morning, Zachary frowned when he saw me in my old clothes. "Seriously? You're going out in that?"

He handed me a card. "Dad gave you this for your living expenses. You get 30 thousand dollars a month.

"Go buy yourself some decent clothes and toss all that junk."

Daphne said gently, "I have a lot of clothes I've never worn. If you don't mind, you can wear them."

She thought to herself, 'A lot of those are my favorite clothes, but I'm willing to give them to Polly. I just hope that she will like it.'

I shot her a cool glance. "No need. You're too big. Your clothes wouldn't fit me anyway."

Daphne's eyes reddened with grievance, looking utterly wronged. Zachary wanted to comfort her.

However, after thinking for a while, he said, "Well, you are indeed heavier than her, but the way she is isn't healthy..."

Daphne trembled with anger. After holding it in for a long moment, she finally forced out, "Thanks, Zachary."

Zachary just grinned like an idiot, completely oblivious to the storm brewing on Daphne's face.

As soon as I got in the car, Daphne deliberately kept quiet, clearly hoping to see me embarrass myself.

But to her surprise, I calmly found the door handle and opened it without any trouble.

Daphne was so surprised.

The ride was uneventful. When we passed by a mall, I got out to buy a new outfit. By the time I came back, the car was already driving away.

I frowned as my brand new phone started ringing.

Zachary's voice came through, sounding apologetic. "Sorry about that. Daphne hasn't finished her homework, so we left."

I knew that she did it on purpose. She waited until it was almost time for class before leaving, just so I'd end up late on my very first day.

I remembered how it was in my previous life. On the first day of school, she deliberately drove me to some out-of-the-way alley, saying she lost her necklace.

When I got out to help her look, she asked the driver to drive off and leave me there.

I ran into some thugs in that alley, and they harassed me, leaving my clothes ripped and ruined.

Not knowing the way and without a phone, I had to walk six miles to school.

I would never forget the mocking looks from my classmates or the disappointed stares from the teacher.

I remember breaking down and asking Zachary why he left without me. He just replied impatiently, "Daphne wasn't feeling well..."

The school was so far away, and I didn't know a soul around there.

Still, they just left me there without a second thought, not even bothering to send a driver for me.

I pushed those memories aside and opened my phone to order a ride.