Chapter 2
[So what if she's the real heiress? She looks like bad luck.]
My hand paused as I scrolled to the third comment.
What the hell?
People these days couldn't even insult properly.
The system seized the moment to fan the flames.
[Detected mass mocking.
[Task issued: Tear the fake heiress's gown. Reward: Online infamy +20%]
I muttered. "You're not just evil, you're stupidly consistent about it."
I turned off the system and headed upstairs.
My room was tucked away in the farthest corner of the third floor.
It was small and old, with curtains that looked like they'd been thrown up at the last minute.
Mira, on the other hand, had the master bedroom, and her walk-in closet was bigger than my entire room.
As soon as I walked in, Clara followed me inside.
"Summer, I know you resent us.
"But Mira isn't well, and she's lived in this house for eighteen years. Don't keep targeting her."
I sat down and looked up at her.
"And what about me?
"When I was burning up with a fever back in the county, where were you?
"When my hands were split and aching from the winter cold, still slogging through my homework, where were you?
"Now that I'm finally back, you don't even try to make it up to me. Just telling me to make room for the person who stole my place.
"Clara, do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"
Her expression soured.
"You're such a rude kid. Why do you have to talk to me like this?" she snapped.
I nodded.
"Fine. Let me make it simple for you.
"I want the room changed.
"I want the necklace back.
"And I want the banquet security footage.
"If anything's missing, nobody's sleeping tonight."
At midnight, Hunter knocked on my door.
He had a lollipop stuck between his teeth and waggled a tablet at me.
"This is the surveillance footage you asked for.
"And I've got something even better for you."
I took the tablet and checked it out.
Ten minutes before the banquet kicked off, Mira was in the lounge, touching up her makeup in front of the mirror.
Her assistant asked, "Are you really going to throw wine on her?"
Mira flashed a sweet smile. "Of course."
"A bumpkin just back from the countryside? First impression needs to be how trashy she is.
"Otherwise, how do I stay the Langley family's precious daughter?"
The video ended right there.
I set the tablet down and grinned.
"Perfect. She dug her own grave. Saves me the trouble."
Hunter leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow.
"So, when are you gonna take her down?
"I can help you out.
"I've been so bored lately."
I looked at him.
"Tomorrow, get everyone together for the family dinner.
"I'm going to make her destroy her own reputation right in front of the whole family."
He let out a low whistle.
"Savage. That's my sister."
The next day, at the family dinner, Madam Langley was there as well.
She was the one who really called the shots in the Langley family.
And she was also the only one who fought to bring me home.
The moment the old lady sat down, she noticed the necklace around Mira's neck. Her face darkened immediately.
"Who told you could wear that?" she demanded.
Mira panicked for a second, then quickly teared up.
"Grandma, mom said that since big sister just came back, she might not be worthy of something so valuable..."
Damn, she threw people under the bus like it's nothing.
Clara got nervous all of a sudden.
And she blurted out. "Mom, I didn't say that."
Mira immediately started crying, tears streaming down her face.
"Maybe I got it wrong.
"It's all on me."
The comment barrage fired up again.
[Here it comes, classic fake-nice apology.]
[She always says it's her fault while blaming everyone else.]
[The fake heiress is seriously a pro at this.]
I set down my fork and spoke slowly.
"Got it wrong? Perfect.
"Let's play last night's dressing room footage so everyone can understand together."
Mira's face instantly drained of all color.
Hunter set the tablet down on the table with a decisive flourish.
When the video ended, a suffocating silence settled over the table.
Victor was the first to blow up.
"Mira! Yesterday you said it was just an accident!" he yelled.
Mira shook her head, crying hard.
"Dad, I was just so scared.
"Now that she's back, and wanted to take everything from me. What was I supposed to do?"
Hearing that, Clara really softened up.
"Summer, honestly, Mira didn't mean—"
I laughed. "Didn't mean it?
"She deliberately splashed me, deliberately bought trending topics, deliberately called me a bumpkin.
"You want to brush that aside with 'didn't mean it'?
"Clara," I said, "Even the Goddess of Mercy herself isn't as forgiving as you."
The system popped up again.
[Mission update: Push Mira Langley down the stairs.
[If she gets hurt, the whole Langley family will turn against you. Perfect.]
I almost spit out my drink.
"Do you just hate seeing me happy?" I shot back.
The system went silent.
And right on cue, Mira backed toward the stairs, crying as she moved.
She kept retreating, tears streaming down her face as she cried.