Chapter 3

The very first thing the Hermans did after taking me in was to give me a new name.

I chose the name Elena for myself, which meant bright and shining.

The Hermans threw an extravagant welcome party for my return.

That night, nearly every relative, acquaintance, and business associate connected to the Herman family gathered together. The entire villa was ablaze with lights, buzzing with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

My parents, each holding one of my arms, proudly escorted their meticulously dolled-up daughter onto the stage for a ceremonial introduction.

My story was already an open secret in their social circle, so when I looked out at the crowd, all I saw were polite, curious smiles—no one seemed the least bit surprised.

But as I caught sight of Carly chatting and laughing gracefully with others below the stage, a cold smirk curled at my lips.

That scheming girl was definitely plotting something against me.

Sure enough, as soon as I stepped off the stage, she walked over with practiced grace and slipped her arm through mine.

She said to me, "Come, Elena, let me introduce you to my friends."

She carried a radiant smile, feigning genuine concern for me.

Even my mother, standing beside me, nodded with a gentle, encouraging smile.

"Go with Carly, Elena. She will introduce you to some new friends. It'll help you in the long run," said my mother.

I gave a slight smile and followed her lead.

Not far away, in the outdoor lounge area, a group of impeccably dressed rich kids were talking. As we approached, they looked me up and down, making no effort to hide the mix of curiosity and contempt in their eyes.

A flaxen-haired young man holding a champagne flute even snorted through his nose.

He scoffed, "Who let this country bumpkin in? You actually think getting accepted by the Herman family qualifies you for our circle?"

Carly instantly put on an anxious act, making a show of "defending" me.

"Oh, Vincent, be nice to my sister. She's just returned and isn't yet familiar with our ways. Don't scare her," said Carly.

A glamorously dressed girl suddenly yanked Carly to her side and said, "Carly, you're too kind. That country bumpkin is already trying to step all over you, and you're still defending her?"

After saying that, the glamorous girl shot me a defiant glare, daring me to respond.

The girl said to me, "Listen up—in our circle, it doesn't matter if you're from the Herman family. We only respect those with real talent.

"They say you used to be a rebellious girl, always hanging out with a bunch of grease monkeys. You'd better know your place. Don't even think you can replace Carly.

"You're not even in the same league as Carly. She masters many skills, excels academically, and is about to be guaranteed a spot at a top overseas university.

"She even helps Bryce handle company affairs all the time. She's truly exceptional. What can you do, besides tinkering with that greasy scrap metal?"

I listened with interest as they took turns hurling contemptuous remarks at me from every possible angle. Then, Carly would chime in with a few well-timed explanations on my behalf—each one subtly implying just how unworthy I was.

After those noisy peacocks finally tucked away their showy plumage for a moment, I leaned back.

With a lazy smile, I glanced at them and said, "Done talking? Then make me a cocktail and bring me a slice of cake. Get it right, and I might consider forgiving your earlier rudeness."

Without a glance at anyone, I sank into an empty sofa.

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Then, the whole room erupted into exaggerated, mocking laughter.

Vincent doubled over with laughter, and champagne sloshed from his glass.

He scoffed, "Good lord. I'm laughing my ass off. Carly, where did you dig up this freak? She actually expects us to wait on her? Has she lost her mind?"

Carly shot me a reproachful look, but I caught a flash of smug satisfaction in her eyes.

She said, "Elena, how could you speak to my friends like that? That was really out of line."

"Why can't I?" I retorted.

Feigning innocence and batting my eyes, I took out a small USB drive from my purse and glided gracefully to the nearby media console. Connecting it to the projector, I pressed play.

Instantly, the massive projection screen at the center of the party hall lit up, clearly projecting the full video and audio of those young heirs and heiresses mocking me with their biting sarcasm just moments ago.

"Who let this country bumpkin in?"

"They say you used to be a rebellious girl..."

"You'd better know your place."

...

The laughter died instantly. An eerie silence fell over the entire hall. The parents of those haughty kids, along with some important business partners, turned ashen with displeasure.

As for those young brats, they turned deathly pale, gaping at me with a mixture of sheer terror and utter disbelief.

Of course, no one's reaction was more priceless than that of my so-called "kind and innocent" sister, Carly.

My parents stormed over, their faces dark with fury. Without a word, their piercing glares swept across the parents of those insolent brats.

Even Bryce, who'd never missed a chance to criticize me, now stood protectively at my side, his face unreadable.

Carly's lips trembled as she tried to explain that she'd been trying to stop everyone, but to no avail.

After all, my parents had showered her with years of affection. My mother gave her hand a reassuring pat, silently soothing her unease.

A smirk played on my lips, and my heart brimmed with scorn.

The arrogant bunch from earlier were now herded before me by their furious parents, each forcing a smile more terrible than a cry.

"Oh, Elena, this brat really spoke out of turn. Please don't take it to heart. I'll make sure to give him a proper lesson when we get home," a woman said.

Another woman chimed in, "Yeah, Elena. We've spoiled her, and she speaks without thinking. I'll ground her as soon as we get home. Honestly, how dare she criticize others when she failed her last art appreciation class?"

My parents's stern expressions softened slightly as they turned to me with tentative inquiry.

"Elena, what do you say? Shall we let it go? I believe they were just joking," said my father.

Of course, as a sensible and thoughtful daughter, I had to do as my parents said.

With an angelic smile, I looked at the group of young socialites before me.

"I told you to bring me a cocktail and a slice of cake, and I'll consider forgiving you all," I said.

This time, no one dared to laugh anymore. Under the watchful eyes of the entire gathering, they swallowed their pride and scrambled to get me drinks and snacks.

I took my time savoring the custom cocktail and exquisite cake, then delicately dabbed my lips with a napkin before casually remarking, "I forgive you all. I'm such a kind angel."

Later that night, Carly never managed a genuine smile again. In the following days, she kept a low profile at home.

I thought she'd learned her lesson, but turned out she was cooking up an even bigger surprise for me.