I was stuck at the airport for a whole day because of a torrential downpour. My fiancé completely ignored my pleas for help, instead driving halfway across the city just to bring my stepsister breakfast. When I voiced my frustration, his response was pure blame. “Chloe’s always been delicate; can’t you be a little understanding?” “I’m still going to marry you, aren’t I? When did you become so immature?” His words didn’t ignite anger in me, but a cold laugh. Liam Evans genuinely believed marrying him was some grand favor he was bestowing upon me. But I had never loved him. The moment I returned home, I was met with a massive downpour. I called everyone I could think of, begging for a ride, but no one could come. My parents and Liam both said they were busy preparing for a party and couldn’t leave. This particular party was supposed to be a welcome-home celebration for me, and also the formal announcement of the arranged marriage between the Davis and Evans families. Given its supposed importance, I swallowed my frustration. Once the rain finally stopped, I hailed a cab home, only to be stopped at my own front door by a staff member. “Please show your invitation, otherwise, I can’t let you in.” Rainwater dripped from my hair, and I stood there, drenched and disheveled, in front of my own mansion. I patiently explained, “I’m Stella Davis, the eldest daughter of this family. This party is meant for me.” The staff member eyed me up and down. “You’re probably just trying to crash and freeload, aren’t you? Our daughter, Chloe, is inside with Mr. and Mrs. Davis. This party is clearly for her!” “And you dare to impersonate our young mistress? I won’t be so polite then!” The accumulated frustration and anger from the entire journey finally exploded. I took a step forward, my voice as cold as ice. “You, a mere employee, daring to speak to me with such disrespect? And threatening to lay hands on me?” “You’re fired, effective immediately. Pack your things and leave the Davis estate!” Just then, a soft voice drifted from inside the house. “Sister, you’re finally back? Please don’t be angry.” My stepsister, Chloe Davis, walked up to me, already acting like the lady of the house. “He’s new staff; he’s only been here a few days, so it’s understandable he doesn’t recognize you. Please don’t blame him.” I looked at Chloe’s feigned innocent face, my stomach churning. Chloe was adopted by my parents when she was young. Because I had always pursued an elite education and spent years away from my parents, Chloe had become their closest child. But I’d only been gone for a few years. Had everyone forgotten who the real Davis daughter was? I didn’t give Chloe a pleasant look. “Even if he didn’t recognize me, he should at least know who this party is for, shouldn’t he?” Chloe lowered her head, her voice laced with a sniffle. “Sister, it’s all my fault… I recently won an award in a design competition and wanted to celebrate. I didn’t realize it would clash with your party. You can blame me.” It was then that I understood. This wasn’t my welcome-home party at all; it was Chloe’s victory celebration. Chloe’s eyes welled with tears as she pleaded, “Sister, please forgive him this once. His family isn’t well-off, and this job is very important to him. If he loses his job because of me, I’ll feel guilty forever.” With her saying that, I was instantly cast as the heartless villain, deliberately making trouble for the staff. Guests had already noticed the commotion at the door and began gathering, whispering amongst themselves. “Chloe is such a kind girl, always thinking of others, even at her own party.” “I know, unlike some people, who come back and immediately start acting like a demanding heiress, throwing tantrums at the staff.” The whispers weren’t loud, but every word reached my ears clearly. A familiar figure emerged from the crowd—Liam Evans. Seeing him, a flicker of inexplicable hope rose within me. He would stand by me, unconditionally, just like he always used to. But in the next second, Liam walked straight to Chloe, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Chloe, your sister might just be in a bad mood after her long trip. Don’t mind her.” Then, he finally looked at me. “Stella, try not to be so impulsive. Today’s a happy occasion; don’t let a small matter ruin it.” His words sounded like he was trying to smooth things over, but every single one of them favored Chloe. I looked at him, feeling a sudden profound distance.
I walked into the bustling ballroom, but the celebration felt completely irrelevant to me. Liam stayed by Chloe’s side the entire time, his eyes glued to her. They occasionally exchanged smiles, their intimacy natural and easy. Watching them, I couldn’t help but remember my first encounter with Liam. Back then, the Evans family’s financial status was far inferior to the Davis family’s. Liam’s late father had done a great favor for my father, and to repay that debt, my dad had promised my hand in marriage when we were children. Young Liam had been fiercely devoted to me. Whatever I wanted, he’d try his best to get it, and he was always the first to stand up and protect me. Back then, he only had eyes for me. While I wouldn’t say I was deeply in love with him, I didn’t dislike him either. I even once thought I might spend my life with him, settling down, getting married, having children, and living out my days. But now, it was clear that his eyes held no place for me. Only Chloe. Suddenly, the ballroom grew a little quieter. Liam pulled out an exquisite gift box and presented it to Chloe. It was a dazzling sapphire necklace, sparkling brilliantly under the lights. The moment I saw it, I recognized it instantly—a limited-edition piece I had fallen in love with years ago. I had mentioned it to Liam several times, and he’d made a note of it, but it wasn’t something money alone could buy, so the idea eventually faded. I never thought he’d actually found it. But he was giving it to Chloe. “Chloe, this is my gift to you. Do you like it?” Liam took the necklace and carefully fastened it around Chloe’s neck. Chloe blushed, lowering her head. “Liam, it’s too extravagant. I can’t accept it…” “Please take it. I chose it especially for you. Only you deserve it.” Liam’s gaze was filled with a doting tenderness that had once been exclusively mine. Guests around them cast envious glances. I watched the scene quietly, feeling no anger, no sadness, just a hollow numbness settled in my chest. I slipped out of the ballroom, unnoticed. The evening breeze carried a hint of coolness, brushing my face and clearing my head. Footsteps sounded behind me—Liam was following. Did he finally realize he’d crossed a line, here to apologize? I stopped, turned around, and waited for him to speak. “Stella, come back inside with me. Don’t let the guests gossip. If word gets out that the Davis sisters are feuding, it won’t look good for Chloe’s reputation.” So he wasn’t chasing after *me*. He was just worried about how I might affect Chloe. Before I could say anything, Liam pulled a similar-looking necklace from his pocket. “Alright, stop sulking. I know you’re upset about the necklace I gave Chloe. Here, this is for you.” My eyes were sharp; I instantly recognized it as a fake. “I bought a bunch of replicas trying to find the real one. This one isn’t genuine, but it looks close enough. You can wear this one for now; I’ll tell everyone it’s real so you don’t lose face. Later, I’ll find you something better, okay?” So, in his eyes, all I cared about was appearances, and a cheap fake could just shut me up. Before I could react, Chloe’s voice called out from the ballroom. Hearing her, Liam quickly shoved the box into my hand, muttering, “Go back inside, stop making a scene,” then rushed back to Chloe’s side. I looked down at the fake necklace in my hand, a strong wave of disgust washing over me. Without a second glance, I tossed it into a nearby trash can.
Liam had already left. I was about to head back to my room to rest when a tall, imposing figure walked up to me. “Ms. Davis, please accept this gift.” “You’ve got the wrong person, I’m not Chloe. The person you’re looking for is inside.” There were too many people fawning over Chloe; I instinctively assumed he was another one trying to curry favor. The man’s smile deepened at my words. “I haven’t made a mistake. I specifically came to see you today, Ms. Stella Davis.” “My name is Mason Thorne, heir to the Thorne Group.” The Thorne Group was a well-known, influential company in our circles. I understood his intentions. If my engagement with the Evans family fell through, the Thorne Group would undoubtedly want to seize the opportunity. In the end, he was just another person here for family interests, and I had no interest in people like that. Before I could speak, Mason continued, “While you’ve been abroad these past few years, Liam Evans and Chloe have been openly flirting.” My tone was flat. “Those things no longer matter to me.” Mason seemed a little surprised. “You don’t want to get back at Liam? Aren’t you resentful after how he treated you?” I couldn’t help but laugh, a hint of release in my voice. “Get back at him? He’s not even worth my attention.” True, I had once thought about spending a peaceful life with him. But now, he was nothing more than a betrayer. Someone like that didn’t even deserve my sadness. Mason nodded after hearing me speak. “Ms. Davis, frankly, I’ve been observing you for quite some time.” “And now, I admire you even more.” He presented the gift box to me again. “This gift has no ulterior motive; it’s simply something I personally want to give you. I hope you’ll accept it.” Looking into his sincere eyes, I hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted the gift box, softly saying, “Thank you.” After bidding Mason farewell, I didn’t return to the ballroom but went straight to my room on the second floor. Returning home a few days ago, getting around had been difficult. My old car had been given to Chloe by my parents, and I hadn’t bothered to reclaim it. The next morning, I went straight to a luxury car dealership downtown. The moment I walked into the showroom, my gaze was instantly drawn to a sleek, silver-gray sports car. Just as I was about to examine it more closely, a familiar voice came from behind me. “Stella Davis? What are you doing here?” Liam frowned, his tone clearly annoyed. Chloe, standing beside him, timidly hid behind him, looking startled. “Stella, I know we’re engaged, but you can’t just follow me around like this, can you? You’re so pushy; it’s suffocating.” I rolled my eyes. Such drama. Chloe whispered, “Liam, I saw this car yesterday and really liked it. I was planning to come and reserve it today.” Liam’s gaze at me grew colder. “Since Chloe already had her eye on this car, you should let her have it. You can just drive your old car. Anyway, once we’re married, you’ll be a housewife. Chloe and I are enough to run the Davis Corporation; you don’t need such a fancy car.” I was almost laughing at his sheer audacity. “Why should I let her have it?” “Why do you always have to cause trouble for your sister?” “It seems bullying her has become a habit for you. Do you think she’s easy to pick on, so you can just snatch whatever she wants?” It was clear Chloe had been badmouthing me to Liam for years. And that idiot, after knowing me for over a decade, was still so easily swayed by Chloe’s sweet talk.
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