Chapter 2

"Alright, we've decided to punish Penny. It's a family reunion. Let's not ruin the atmosphere," Hayden said to me.

Ethan snapped a warning, "Exactly. Behave yourself and don't upset Ann."

"Now that you've taken Daddy, Mommy, and even Ethan from me, can't you at least spare my biological mom?" Ann whined pitifully, yet her expression was downright provocative.

Hearing this, a pained look appeared on May's face. "Oh, silly girl, what nonsense are you saying? You'll always be a Sear, and I'll always be your mom."

Then May turned to me and said, "I know you're still upset, but Penny has been with our family for years. We're really close to her.

"She's getting old now, and I just can't bear to see her suffer in prison.

"Be the bigger person, show some kindness to the elderly, and let it go, okay?"

Hearing May's shamelessly biased words, I couldn't help but smirk.

"Okay," I said.

At my words, everyone visibly froze for a moment.

Ethan's reaction was the most dramatic. "You agreed? You're really not going to make a scene?"

I ignored him and walked straight to the dining room, asking, "I'm starving. Can we eat now?"

"Sure! Penny, go and get everything ready," May answered merrily.

Seeing that I let Penny off the hook easily, she looked positively delighted. "We've prepared a whole feast to celebrate your homecoming. That's my daughter! Even though I didn't raise you myself, you've still inherited my generous and kind-hearted nature."

Hayden nodded approvingly and handed me a credit card. "That's right. It's been tough on you all these years. This card has the same limit as Ann's. You can get yourself anything you like with it."

"Thanks, Dad." I accepted the card with a practiced smile.

In my previous life, I couldn't accept how they punished Penny, so I made a huge scene.

Not only did I not get the credit card, but I was also grounded as punishment.

Later, I insisted on calling the police and had Penny arrested.

This nearly implicated Hayden, leading to a complete fallout with my family.

But in this life, Penny would be the deadliest weapon in my hand.

I wanted each of them to get a taste of their own medicine.

Ann stared daggers at the card in my hand, her eyes bloodshot with envy. She leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with malice as she hissed, "So you're not as stupid as I thought."

I deliberately raised my voice. "What did you just say?

"What do you mean, I'm not as stupid as you thought?

"Wasn't it you who begged me to let Penny off the hook?

"Now that I actually did, why aren't you happy?"

Ann was caught completely off guard by my words. Under everyone's suspicious gaze, she explained hastily, "No, you misheard me. I was just saying I knew you weren't the petty type."

"Of course, I'm Mom's real daughter after all." I deliberately imitated Ann's behavior from my previous life, putting on an affectionate act with May just to provoke her.

"You, stop right there!" Ethan clamped onto my wrist and yanked me right in front of him.

He snapped, "Who do you think you're talking to? How dare you ignore me?

"I'm the future heir of the Sear Group, your brother.

"How dare you treat me like this? You're so ill-mannered!"

Ethan was stronger and older than me.

My wrist was squeezed so hard that it was turning red, yet I couldn't break free.

I nearly gagged as Ethan's foul spittle sprayed onto my face with each angry word.

"Let go of me!" I spat, struggling in his grip.

"No way. Not until you apologize!"

I was seething with rage, my teeth clenched, and I almost wanted to blurt out the truth.

Thankfully, Owen stepped in to help me out. "Ethan, Yvette, dinner is ready. Please take your seats."

Ethan flung my hand away with a rough jerk and let out a contemptuous snort. "Just wait till after dinner. I'll settle with you then."

Rubbing my bruised hand, I decided to speed up my revenge plan.

At the dinner table, Ann put on a perfect act of family harmony, all while making sure I was iced out.

I couldn't care less and focused solely on filling my stomach.

After dinner, Ann pulled the same stunt as in my previous life.

Not only did she take over the master bedroom that was supposed to be mine, but she also turned the spare room meant for me into her walk-in closet.

She kept whining while flaunting her overflowing collection of designer clothes and handbags.

And she claimed that only the room they were now giving me was big enough to hold all her precious belongings.

In the end, May told me to be the bigger person and make do with the smaller servants' quarters for now.

In response to Ann's triumphant and provocative gaze, I simply smiled and accepted the arrangement without protest.

I could get my business done much easier in the servants' quarters.