Chapter 4

At events like this, Olivia was the dazzling swan everyone adored, while I, the "real heiress" who came out of an orphanage, was her perfect backdrop.

They only wanted me present to flaunt who the Carters truly favored. They paraded their so‑called generosity for taking me in, boasting of their magnanimity in overlooking my past.

"Okay," I said, looking up with a touch of grateful surprise on my face. "Thank you, Mom. I'll be a good companion to Olivia."

Olivia gave me a gentle smile. "Em, don't be nervous. Stick close to me when the time comes."

I returned her smile, with the same gentle, obedient expression.

Andrew, who had been sitting nearby, set down his newspaper and spoke in a cool, detached voice. "You'll need a dress for the banquet. I'll have my assistant take you to pick one out this afternoon."

I looked at him, genuinely surprised.

Is he actually being nice to me?

No way.

Knowing how paranoid he is, this is probably his way of keeping tabs on me.

I responded obediently, "Thank you, Andrew."

That afternoon, Andrew's assistant Ethan Lane showed up at my door right on time.

He was a sharp-looking young guy with gold-rimmed glasses, and he gave me a polite nod. "Miss Emily Carter, Mr. Carter asked me to take you to pick out a dress for the banquet."

I followed him into the car, and we headed straight for the swankiest luxury mall downtown.

Ethan led me into a couture boutique, and the sales assistant greeted us with a bright, welcoming smile.

"Ethan, good to see you. This must be Miss Emily Carter, right? She's a real stunner," the sales assistant said.

Ethan adjusted his glasses and said in a businesslike tone, "Pick out a dress for Miss Carter. And make it quick."

The sales assistant quickly brought out several stunning designer gowns for me to try.

I changed into a pale lavender gown and walked out. The girl in the mirror looked delicate and almost breakable, her skin ghostly pale. But there was a stubborn spark in her eyes that made her beautiful in a way you couldn't ignore.

"This is the one," I said quietly.

Ethan glanced at me, nodded, and was about to pay when I suddenly spoke up.

"Wait a second," I said.

I walked over to another rack, pointed at a simple but impeccably tailored black gown, and said to Ethan, "Doesn't he need a suit for the event as well?

"The men's section here looks great too. Maybe I could pick one out for him? Consider it my way of saying thanks for the dress."

I played the part of a little sister eager to win her family's approval, my gaze filled with anticipation and a touch of unease.

Ethan froze for a moment, looking surprised. He clearly didn't expect me to ask that.

He checked with Andrew, and Andrew said yes.

I took my time picking out a suit, asking Ethan about Andrew's preferences and measurements from time to time, making sure to look extra thoughtful.

As I was picking out suits, my fingers "accidentally" brushed over the cuff, and I secretly planted a tiny bug, barely bigger than a speck of dust, inside the stitching.

I got it off the black market with my last few dollars.

Andrew, you want to spy on me?

Let's see who's really spying on who.

Once I'd finished everything, I picked out the priciest-looking suit in the store and told Ethan to wrap it up, feeling a wave of satisfaction at a job well done.

Back at the Carter house, I brought the suit straight to Andrew's study myself.

He was working through some documents, and when I walked in, he looked up.

"Andrew, I picked out this suit for you. Thank you for the dress," I said, placing the bag on his desk, looking at him like a child hoping for praise.

He glanced at the logo on the bag, then at me, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"That was thoughtful of you," he said lightly.

I smiled and turned to leave.

As soon as the study door clicked shut behind me, my smile disappeared.

Step one, complete.

At the charity gala, I slipped into that pale lavender gown and brushed on some light makeup, masking any trace of illness from my face.

Olivia, meanwhile, stunned in a radiant red dress, a diamond necklace from Helen gleaming brilliantly at her throat.

Standing together, the contrast was clear as day.

She was a rose in full bloom, while I was an unassuming violet.

The banquet hall was packed with guests, glamour and elegance filling the air.

Olivia affectionately linked arms with Helen, mingling effortlessly among the wealthy elites, laughing and chatting cheerfully.

Meanwhile, I tagged along quietly behind them, like their little sidekick.

"Helen, is this the daughter you recently brought back? She looks pretty ordinary," a glamorous, bejeweled socialite said, sizing me up with a hint of disdain.

Helen smiled, not the least bit embarrassed. "She's been through a lot out there for over ten years, so she's a little shy. Not like our Liv, who's always been so poised and confident."

As she spoke, she affectionately patted Olivia's hand.

The people around them immediately chimed in.

They said, "Yeah, Liv has that grace about her. You can tell she's been groomed to perfection since she was a kid."

"So what if she's the real heiress? Good manners aren't something you inherit just because of your bloodline."

I hung my head, fists clenched tight, nails digging deep into my palms.

I'd heard all this before, in my previous life.

Back then, I was so furious I was shaking, and I argued with them on the spot. But Richard scolded me, and everyone else mocked me.

But now, I listened in silence, burning every single face into my memory.

Olivia basked in all the praise, giving me a barely noticeable, smug look from the corner of her eye.

This was exactly what she wanted.