Chapter 5
The next day, I was hanging laundry on the balcony when my phone rang. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Is this Stella Lee?" a cold female voice asked. "I'm the Carter family's housekeeper. Ms. Carter invites you to her birthday party next week."
I was stunned. "Why didn't she call me herself?"
"Ms. Carter is very busy," the woman replied curtly. "The invitation will be sent to your home. Please be sure to come."
Before I could reply, she hung up.
I stood on the balcony, staring out at the distant skyscrapers, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind.
Back in my previous life, around this time, the Carter family had already started dragging me to all sorts of social gatherings. They were arranged to get me ready for the "marriage alliance" they had planned.
Those fancy parties were nothing but a different kind of trading floor.
The Carter family's adopted girls were treated like goods, shown off to any potential "buyers" who came around.
That night, I told Mary about it.
She frowned. "Do you want to go?"
I shook my head. "No, but... I'm a little worried about Lily."
Mary let out a sigh. "That poor kid... If she ever needs help, we should be there for her."
I looked at her with gratitude.
Mary had witnessed Lily's treatment of us, yet her heart stayed soft and forgiving.
*****
Lily's invitation arrived the very next day.
The gold-embossed card announced: [Ms. Lily Carter's 16th Birthday Party.] The party was set for the fanciest hotel in Riverdale.
There was a note attached: [Don't miss it. You'll finally get to see what real high society looks like.]
The handwriting was messy, like she'd scribbled it down in a hurry.
On the day of the party, I wore a simple blue dress, hand-tailored by Mary just for me.
"Stella, you look absolutely gorgeous," Mary said, fussing over my collar, her eyes full of pride.
David borrowed a coworker's car to drive me to the hotel.
"Call me half an hour before the party ends, and I'll come pick you up," he said, making sure I remembered.
Out front, luxury cars were parked everywhere, and the uniformed staff were bustling about.
I took a deep breath and walked inside.
The party hall was dazzling, with crystal chandeliers overhead and guests dressed to the nines, mingling and toasting each other.
I spotted Lily right away, who was standing in the center of the room.
She was wearing a custom-made pink gown and a diamond tiara, looking just like a real-life princess.
As she turned, I was struck by how drawn her face appeared, fatigue etched in the faint shadows beneath her eyes.
"Stella!" she called out, throwing her arms wide in an exaggerated gesture. "You finally made it."
She pulled me over and introduced me to everyone around. "This is my best friend from the orphanage, Stella Lee."
I gave a polite smile, but I could feel the socialites sizing me up with critical looks.
"Oh, so this is the girl who got adopted by a blue-collar family," a girl in a red dress sneered.
Lily giggled. "Yeah, but Stella fits right in with the regular folks."
I ignored their mocking and turned my attention to Lily.
She wore a pearl bracelet on her wrist, cleverly hiding something underneath.
When she lifted her hand, I spotted a pale pink scar.
Back then, I'd had a scar just like that too.
Emily once burned me with a cigarette for saying the wrong thing at one of these parties.
I lowered my voice and asked, "Lily, how have you been?"
Her smile faltered for a split second, but then grew even brighter. "Of course I'm fine. My dad got me the best tutors. I can speak three languages now."
She dragged me over to a display table loaded with gifts.
"Check this out. The diamond necklace and this limited-edition purse were gifts from Richard's friends," she said proudly.
Watching her show off each gift like she was ticking off a list of trophies, I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness inside.
She was becoming an empty shell dressed up in luxury, with nothing real underneath, just like I had been in my previous life.
Halfway through the party, Emily, looking every bit the polished socialite, clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone, Lily is going to perform a piano solo for us," she announced.
Lily's face went ghostly pale for a second, but she quickly plastered on a perfect smile.
She walked over to the grand piano, and as she sat down, I noticed her fingers trembling ever so slightly.
As she began to play, the room filled with the haunting notes of a challenging piece.
Halfway through, she suddenly played a wrong note.
The guests probably didn't notice, but I caught Emily's gaze turning cold as ice.
Lily's fingers grew frantic, and the mistakes just kept piling up.
Finally, she barely managed to finish the piece.
As the applause rang out and she bowed, I saw a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead.
"I'm going to the restroom," she said quickly, and then hurried off.
I paused, and then went after her.
From inside, I caught the muffled sound of someone trying to cry quietly.
Pushing the door open, I found Lily at the mirror, dabbing at her tears.
She spotted me and instantly squared her shoulders.
"What, did you come here just to watch me crash and burn?" Lily sneered.
I offered her a tissue. "You played that beautifully," I said.
She slapped my hand away. "Save the fake sympathy. I know exactly what you're thinking. You think I totally embarrassed myself. Isn't that it?"
I shook my head. "I just... care about you."
"Care about me?" She burst out laughing, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What, worried my life's too perfect for you?"
Suddenly, she yanked up her sleeve, revealing several scars. "See? This is the price I pay to be one of them. But I'm fine with it. At least I won't end up living like a nobody, stuck at the bottom forever like you."
I looked at her calmly. "If that's what you really want, then I hope you find happiness."
She froze, clearly not expecting me to say that.
"Just wait and see," she said, biting her lip. "I'm going to be the best Carter heiress there ever was."