Chapter 3
Mira said, "Summer, I know you hate me.
"But I didn't want to be switched at birth either.
"Don't push me. I'll just leave..."
Her ankle gave way and she started to fall backward.
Everyone at the table screamed.
Clara rushed over to grab her, but she was too late.
I stepped forward and caught her wrist.
I kept her from falling.
Then, just when everyone thought I was about to be the good guy, I let go and hit her with a backhand slap.
The sound was crisp, loud, and really woke everyone up.
Everyone was totally shocked.
Hunter was the first to laugh. "Shit, nice!"
Victor slammed the table in anger.
"Summer! Are you out of your mind?"
I flicked my wrist.
"She pretended to fall, I caught her.
"She was acting up, so I slapped her while I was at it.
"Got a problem with that?"
Mira clutched her face, her whole body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"W-What gives you the right to hit me?" she choked out.
I looked her straight in the eye, making sure she heard every word.
"You stole eighteen years of my life.
"You knew the truth and still chose to stay.
"Just now, you tried to play the 'true heiress goes crazy and drives away the poor fake' drama right in front of your whole family.
"Honestly, I went easy on you."
The live chat went absolutely nuts.
[She's totally unhinged, and I'm obsessed.]
[Not a villain—she's the real queen reclaiming her spot.]
[I could replay that slap a dozen times.]
Half an hour later, someone had already clipped my slap and posted it online.
The title was even wilder—True Heiress Slaps Adopted Daughter in Public.
The comments were a circus.
[She just got home and already threw hands. Typical country girl—no class at all.]
[Mira can't catch a break—first her spot gets snatched, now she's getting slapped.]
[This true heiress is clearly trouble.]
I scrolled twice, then tossed my phone aside.
Meanwhile, the system was having a blast.
[Congratulations on skyrocketing popularity!]
[Suggested follow-up: Steal the fake heiress's room tonight and smash her closet.]
I said, "Shut up. Keep it up and I'll start thinking you're standing Mira's said."
The system paused for a beat.
[You just dissed me. Grudge mode activated.]
I cracked up.
This system's a real piece of work—sneaky and petty as hell.
Just then, Clara knocked and came in. Her face looked even worse than before.
"Summer, the Vance family is hosting a charity tea party tomorrow. They've requested both you and Mira attend.
"Keep it together tomorrow. Don't stir up trouble like you did today."
I looked up. "The Vances? As in Mira's half-dead engagement?"
Her brows furrowed.
"Why do you always have to talk like that?
"Zachary and Mira grew up together. Both families have always expected them to get married, and everyone in our circle knows it."
I just went, "Oh."
"Got it. Assumed marriage. Assumed daughter. Assumed I'd go back to the countryside.
"You Langley folks really have everything planned out, huh."
Her face was livid with anger, and she turned on her heel and stormed out.
The system immediately chimed in.
[New mission: Seduce Zachary Vance at the charity tea party.
[Reward: Mira Langley's meltdown meter +20.
[Pro tip: Stealing a man is the quickest way for a villainess to go viral.]
I almost burst out laughing.
I scoffed. "Steal him? Hell no.
"Does a queen like me need to bother with second-hand goods? Please."
The next afternoon, I showed up at the Vance family's charity tea party.
All the wealthy wives and socialites of the city had shown up.The mom
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I spotted a whole row of white roses lined up at the entrance.
The scent was sweet.
The flowers were just for show.
Even the air was dripping with fake politeness—so phony it made me want to gag.
Mira wore a pale moon-white dress, standing in the crowd, smiling like a carefully cultivated little flower.
When she saw me, she hurried over.
Then she spoke. "Hey, you made it.
"I was worried you'd be nervous for your first event like this."
I glanced at her.
I glanced at her. "Don't worry.
"Even royal banquets are nothing new to me.
"This kind of pretend party? Please, it's child's play."
She had no clue what I meant.
Meanwhile, a few of the socialites around us burst out laughing.
One of them, a curly-haired woman holding a cup of tea, gave me a slow once-over, clearly sizing me up.
"Miss Langley, you grew up in a small town, right? I guess you haven't had much exposure to fine porcelain and incense ceremonies?
"If you don't know what you're doing later, please don't pretend."
Another chimed in, "Mira's just being kind. She doesn't want her sister to embarrass herself."
They were putting on a show, treating me like a circus monkey.
The system was practically buzzing with excitement.
[Here it comes—the socialite humiliation showdown!]
[Suggested action: Throw hot tea in their faces. Or flip the table, never gets old.]
I just tuned it out.
I glanced down at the tea on the table.
White porcelain cup, third steep of Earl Grey, but the water was way too hot.
I reached out, lifted the lid, and gently skimmed off the foam.
"The tea's not bad," I said." Too bad Madam Vance rushed it—the water's overdone.
"Earl Grey hates high heat. Once the water's too hot, the sweetness gets killed."