Chapter 1

I was pampered since childhood and never had to lift a finger for anything. My dad and brother doted on me, and later on, Edward Foster took care of me.

However, even in my twenties, I still acted like a child, focusing only on my appearance and not learning anything else.

I never thought there was anything wrong with this lifestyle until my mom came back from abroad with my older sister.

My sister, Elizabeth Sinclair, was smart and composed, admired by everyone as the epitome of success.

She got involved in company projects, discussed future plans with my husband and talked about their visions for the future.

One day, I sneaked into the company and overheard their conversation.

"Mr. Foster, aren't you going home? Isn't the lady at home jealous?" Elizabeth teased.

Edward's brow furrowed slightly, his tone mocking.

"Jealous? Without me, what can she do? Charlotte's just like a spoiled pet," Edward scoffed.

I stood there stunned. Looking around, I saw my beloved brother, William Sinclair, standing nearby, his expression indifferent.

"Charlotte has been too spoiled. It's time she learned some hard lessons," he said.

*****

In the morning, the maid, Mary, woke me up. When I walked into the bathroom, the bath was already drawn, and even the toothpaste was squeezed out and set neatly by the sink.

Mary stood just outside the bathroom door.

"Mrs. Foster, just call me if you need anything," she said.

After I finished getting ready and put on some light makeup, Mary led me out to breakfast. Edward was already at the table.

He didn't even glance my way.

"I won't be back tonight. Something is going on at the company," he said.

I bit my lip, annoyed.

I muttered, "Is it really work, or is it just you and Elizabeth again? You've been stuck to her like glue these days."

Edward frowned, finally meeting my eyes.

He snapped, "She's your sister and my business partner. Elizabeth's brilliant, and you can't just throw accusations around."

When I heard him scold me, tears welled up instantly.

"Tell me, am I wrong? She's been back for two months, and you've spent every day with her. Have you ever come home on time once?" I shouted.

Annoyance flickered in Edward's eyes as he grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth.

"You're being ridiculous," he said.

He shrugged on his coat and left without another word.

I lost my appetite and cried my eyes out, sobbing until my makeup was a total mess.

I turned to Mary, feeling helpless, and asked, "Am I not pretty anymore? Why does Edward act this way toward me?"

Mary hesitated; her eyes were soft with pity.

"Mrs. Foster, you're the most beautiful," she murmured.

Of course, I looked good. I put all my effort into making myself look great every day.

From makeup and skincare to fashion and taking photos, I made sure every detail of my appearance was meticulously polished.

Elizabeth was my sister. Two months ago, my mom came back from abroad with her.

When I was little, my parents got divorced. My mom chose Elizabeth, and the court gave custody of me to my dad.

I cried and made a fuss, but my dad and William pampered me to the extreme out of pity. Soon, I forgot all about missing my mom and just enjoyed my worry-free life.

Every day was just about dressing up and snapping pretty pictures, and I hardly ever walked anywhere myself.

Every outing meant a chauffeured ride, every meal was at a high-end restaurant, and by the time I hit twenty, I'd already toured every hotspot at home and abroad.

When I got older, I was set up on a date and met Edward. After a year together, we got married.

Edward was just like my dad and William. He treated me like royalty, never letting me worry about a thing. All I had to do was wait for him at home and ramble on about my little daily dramas.

He never really shared much about himself, but he always listened patiently to whatever nonsense I had to say.

Like how I had found a cute dress today, or how my makeup didn't turn out right, or how my new heels are killing my feet, or if this photo looks good after I edited it.

Everyone around me was jealous. At twenty-eight, I was still living like a princess, totally carefree. My dad and William spoiled me as a kid, and now my husband did the same.

I grew up without learning any practical skills. I didn't have a single skill to my name. Without a maid looking after me, I couldn't even manage to live on my own.

I never questioned my way of life, at least, not until Elizabeth came back into the picture.

When my mom came back with Elizabeth, she was wearing a trench coat. Age had only made her more elegant, and the fine lines around her eyes gave her an extra touch of grace.

Elizabeth stood by her side, practically her mirror image: radiant and poised, turning heads wherever she went.

My mom was all business, already making work calls the moment she stepped off the plane. Elizabeth was right there, assisting her, and together they were like two queens ruling the corporate world.

I stood there in awe, and even my dad, waiting to pick them up, was just as taken aback.

My mom walked up to me, her brows knitting as she looked at me.

For the first time, I glanced down at my princess dress and felt a wave of insecurity wash over me.

That was when I felt a sense of crisis for the first time.

From that moment on, it seemed like everyone had changed. Elizabeth's exceptional abilities won everyone over, and I, being a daughter who couldn't do anything, was made to feel utterly worthless in comparison.

I couldn't help but start resenting Elizabeth, especially when Edward started singing her praises too. My jealousy was off the charts.