Chapter 2

The atmosphere in the living room was icy.

Vincent and Helen looked at me like they wanted to devour me alive, but with Yael behind me, they had to swallow their anger.

Lila was both angry and scared. She couldn't figure out how a new maid could know everything about her family.

I thought, 'Damn, this is so satisfying. Watching these people get owned is better than chugging a cold soda on a scorching summer day.'

Inside, I was popping champagne, but on the outside, I kept my face blank, like I was an emotionless truth repeater.

Vincent took a deep breath, then forcefully changed the subject. He snapped at Zara, "Zara, hurry up and apologize to Lila. If you hadn't suddenly come back, none of this drama would have happened."

I exclaimed inwardly, 'Did I hear that right? Is this guy for real?

'So his real daughter coming home is somehow a problem? What kind of galaxy-brain logic is that? Is he hoping aliens will dissect him for being so unique?'

My mouth ran faster than my brain. "Mr. Jennings, your logic is honestly next-level. So your real daughter coming home is somehow a problem, but the stranger who hijacked twenty years of her life is what, the family's emotional support animal?"

Vincent was so stunned that he couldn't even breathe. He pointed at me, sputtering for what felt like forever, but not a single word came out.

Helen jumped in, playing the good cop. She took Zara's hand and said earnestly, "Zara, don't let the help stir up drama.

"Lila might not be our real daughter, but we've raised her for twenty years. There are feelings there. You got back, so you should cut us some slack and let your sister have her way."

I scoffed inwardly, 'Here it comes, the guilt trip package. Fashionably late, but it always shows up.

'She's still a kid. You need to let her have her way. You got back. The triple emotional manipulation combo all comes in one go.

'They mean that even though you're the actual victim, you're expected to be the big-hearted sucker.'

I cleared my throat and kept going. "Mrs. Jennings, you make it sound like Zara hit the jackpot. She was switched at birth, suffered for twenty years, and now she's back.

"Not only does she get zero compensation, but she's supposed to be understanding toward the ones who wronged her and keep accommodating the person who stole her life. What kind of logic is that?"

"Shut up." Helen finally lost it and screamed, "Who are you to butt into our family's business? You're an outsider."

She almost called me a maid, but caught herself in time.

I smiled, "I don't want to butt in either, but my system... Oh, I mean, my conscience won't let me lie."

System: [You've dealt two S-tier emotional critical hits. Reward: 200 thousand dollars.]

My system account balance had already shot up to 360 thousand dollars.

I glanced down at my plain work uniform, and my heart was all over the place. 'Back then, I was timid, making 1,000 dollars a month.

'Now I'm out here ranting nonstop and raking in 360 thousand a minute. Looks like losing my mind is the real money-maker.'

Just then, Zara, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was soft, with a barely noticeable tremor. "Yvonne's right."

She lifted her head and stared straight at her parents, speaking each word firmly. "I didn't do anything wrong. I don't need to apologize."

With that, she gently placed the thin bank card with 1,500 dollars on the coffee table. "I don't want this money either."

She turned and walked over to me, whispering, "Thank you."

I saw her eyes were red, but her gaze was steadier than ever. 'Well, well, looks like she is finally waking up. Not bad. She's got potential,' I thought.

Before I could react, the Jennings residence's front door was flung open, and a man in a designer suit strode in, radiating that rich-guy vibe.

Two bodyguards trailed behind him.

He walked right up to Lila, flashing a pampering smile. "Lila, I'm here to take you to the evening party."

It was Lila's fiancé, Xavier Sullivan, the Sullivan Group's heir.

Xavier's arrival was like Lila finally found her anchor.

She threw herself into his arms, pointing at me and sobbing, "Xavier, this new maid is bullying me. Even Mom and Dad are taking her side."

Xavier shot me a look, his brows furrowed, eyes dripping with contempt. "A maid dares to be so bold in the Jennings family?"

He turned to Vincent. "Vincent, get rid of this kind of maid who doesn't know her place."

I thought, 'Here comes another one. Seriously, are you blind? Your fiancée, Zara, is standing right here, and you're getting all lovey-dovey with the mistress in front of her. Man, you're so shameless.'

My mouth was itching to say something again.