Chapter 4
“Valerie, I told you yesterday that you shouldn’t sell off the diamonds and Mom’s necklace.“]
Then, he pulled out a receipt.[]
It detailed the sale of ten blue diamonds and a gemstone necklace–allegedly sold by me for five million at a jewelry store.[]
At the bottom of the receipt, stamped with the store’s official emblem, was my very own signature.
“Sister! How could you be so foolish? We understand that you’ve had a hard life all these years, but you’re home now. Mom, Dad, and all of us will make it up to you!“]
“But no matter what, you shouldn’t be stealing diamonds from the house to sell!]
J
“Not to mention Mom’s necklace–that was passed down from our grandmother and holds immense sentimental value!“[]
“Luckily, I secretly bought it back afterward.“]]
With that, Damon handed a gemstone necklace back to my mother.[]
She examined it carefully, finally letting out a sigh of relief before turning to glare at me coldly.[]
Now that the evidence was stacked against me, they could no longer hold back. Their eyes, filled with disappointment and fury, burned into me as they struggled to keep their voices low–but their anger was deafening.
“Valerie! Why would you do something like this?“[]
“If you needed money, you could have just asked us! Do you have any idea how embarrassing your petty theft is for us? Absolutely disgraceful!“]
“Go back to your room and reflect on your actions!“[]
The outburst echoed through the hall, and laughter erupted among the guests.
“Born into a wealthy family, but completely unworthy of it. She’s lived as a commoner for too long–no matter how much you dress her up, she’ll never belong here.“[]
“Forget dressing her up–I’d be more worried about her selling off the family’s treasures.”
“Just goes to show, no matter how strong the genes, they can’t beat the environment.“[]
For the first time, Uncle Jack let out a loud laugh.“[]
“With my brother’s genes, what kind of decent offspring could he possibly produce?“[]
“If my father hadn’t been so biased back then, Preston Corporation wouldn’t have declined under his leadership.“[]
My father’s face turned red with fury as he glared at Uncle Jack. My mother, impatient, shot Damon a glance.[]
Chapter 4
A brief flicker of smug satisfaction crossed Damon’s face before he put on an apologetic expression and spoke softly:]
“Sister, let me take you back to your room.“[]
Then, he turned to the guests and gave a polite bow.]
“I sincerely apologize. My sister has suffered a lot while living outside. When she returned, we arranged for a medical check–up, and the doctor diagnosed her with severe psychological issues.“]]
“What happened today was understandable, given her condition. On behalf of my sister, I apologize to my parents and to all of you.”
The tense atmosphere eased significantly. Uncle Jack beamed with pride.[]
“Even though
an son, his composure is remarkable–far than a real one, don’t you “Even though Damon is just an adopted son, his composure is truly remarkable–far better than a real one, don’t you think?“]
The topic quickly shifted to Damon, with guests showering him with praise, calling him outstanding and accomplished, as if everything that had just happened was already forgotten.[]
Now, I was officially labeled as mentally ill. Every disgraceful thing I did, every shame I brought upon the family, had a perfect excuse.
Naturally, my parents wouldn’t waste this golden opportunity to step down from their embarrassment.[]
“Yes, yes, we’re already arranging treatment for her,” they said eagerly.[]
Damon grew even more smug, gripping my wrist so tightly it hurt.]
Just like in my past life, he was trying to drag me back to my room.[]
After the banquet, my parents would release a statement announcing that I suffered from mental illness.
From then on, I would endure a month of restless nights, tormented by their relentless reprimands.]
Afterwards, their traps would slowly unravel, and my parents would grow increasingly disgusted with me, even repulsed.[]
Eventually, under the influence of their manipulation and those hallucinogenic herbs, I would start doubting myself–Was I really sick? Until, in the end, I completely lost my mind… and died in agony.
That suffering–I refused to go through it again.]
Fortunately, I had already made my preparations.]
At that moment, a camera crew suddenly arrived, completely uninvited.[]
“Excuse me, may I ask which one of you is Miss Valerie Preston?“]
“We’re from the TV network, here at the invitation of the orphanage director. We’d love to interview you about your generous donation yesterday.“[]
“Society needs more kind–hearted people like you! We hope to share your story with a wider audience–your good deeds deserve to be known!“]
ane Good
