Chapter 5

After returning that day, I stopped being the pampered young lady of the Sterling family.

This time, I wasn't throwing a tantrum; I just didn't want to fight anymore, or rather, I couldn't win.

I locked myself in my room, from morning till night.

I only came downstairs for meals, sitting quietly in a corner, and returning to my room when I finished.

Richard, Eleanor, and Ethan were surprised by my quietness, and their attitudes softened somewhat.

They would serve me food during dinner, but only after serving Chloe.

They would talk to me, but our conversations would barely last a few sentences.

With Chloe, however, they had endless things to say.

I listened quietly, and after eating, I'd put away my dishes, say,

"I'm done eating, please enjoy the rest of your meal," then head back to my room.

I didn't expect to be asked to stay, didn't expect any concern.

After living like this for a while, the hurt and sadness in my heart began to heal, like gradually closing wounds. The pain slowly subsided until it disappeared completely.

One day, Eleanor said the venue for my high school acceptance celebration was set up and wanted to show me the design plans.

Chloe also leaned over to look, her eyes full of envy.

"It's so beautiful! I've never had a party like this."

Ethan, sipping coffee nearby, suggested:

"Why don't we combine your welcome-home party with Mia's celebration?"

I instinctively refused, a hint of displeasure in my voice.

"Why? This is clearly for me."

Before, to avoid being called the spoiled Sterling girl,

I studied relentlessly, participated in various competitions, and earned an early admission slot to the best high school.

When they heard the news, they were overjoyed, their eyes red, as if they wanted to proclaim their pride in me to the world.

Now, hearing my refusal, Ethan frowned.

"You're sisters. Why the division?"

Chloe clutched the hem of her dress, her voice full of grievance.

"Maybe it's because my grades aren't good, Mia thinks I don't deserve a party like this."

Eleanor lovingly put her arm around Chloe, comforting her softly:

"You're my daughter, of course you deserve it. We'll hold them together. You come look at the plans too."

Hearing this, I swallowed all my arguments.

What good would it do to speak?

I was no longer their pride.

Now, the one they wanted to proclaim to the world was the recovered Chloe,

Not me.

I stood up, my voice low.

"Let her look at the plans. I'm going to rest."

Chloe still feigned reluctance.

"Never mind. Mia's already angry. I shouldn't steal her thunder."

Ethan snorted coldly.

"Don't worry about her. She'll cheer up when she sees the custom designer dress we picked out for her."

I walked into my bedroom without stopping.

Closing the door, I leaned against it and slowly slid to the floor.

I didn't cry. I just felt empty.

As if the last bit of expectation had been removed.

This celebration truly felt like my farewell party from them.

Time quickly passed to the day of the party.

Chloe and I were changing in the hotel.

Halfway through, Chloe's dress ripped.

Eleanor, without a second thought, turned to me.

"Give your dress to Chloe. It's her first time at an event like this; she needs to look presentable."

This was a dress I had waited for for a long time.

I had been looking forward to it since the day I got my early admission, repeatedly discussing the design with the designer, every detail personally confirmed by me.

But I still took off my dress, folded it, and handed it over.

Eleanor paused, surprised I was so obedient.

As she took the dress, she couldn't help but say with satisfaction:

"Mia has finally grown up."

With her words, the lines connecting us suddenly thickened by a few inches and gained a faint hint of color.

I stood there, frozen, an infinite sadness rising in my heart.

Fate, it seemed, was truly mocking me.

The thing I had strived for so long, finally found hope the moment I decided to give up.

But this hope, I no longer wanted.

Chloe changed into the dress and entered the ballroom before me.

It was as if she was the star of the show.

I wasn't in a hurry. I checked the time.

Almost an hour late, I finally walked into the hall.

But as soon as I appeared, Eleanor slapped me hard across the face, raging:

"Mia Sterling, I thought you'd matured, but it turns out you were just plotting to frame Chloe."

"Tell me, did you intentionally ruin both dresses to make Chloe look bad?"

My cheek tingled from the slap, and my head spinning, I looked over.

Chloe was truly wrapped in Ethan's jacket, sobbing in his arms.

Everyone looked at me with complex expressions, whispering amongst themselves:

"Mia Sterling is as bossy as the rumors say, she just can't stand the real heiress."

"At only 13, she's so cunning. How did the Sterling family raise such a malicious person?"

Richard, hearing the whispers, his face darkened, and he warned me in a low voice:

"If you still want to be a Sterling, quickly admit your mistake and apologize to Chloe."

"As long as your attitude is sincere, your reputation in our circle can still be salvaged."

I scoffed, refusing directly.

"Don't worry. From today on, I am no longer a Sterling."

Richard stared at me, his expression icy, and demanded sharply:

"If you're not a Sterling, where else can you go?"

Just then, two people walked in from outside.

They were wearing perhaps the best clothes they owned in their wardrobes.

Even so, there was still a considerable difference between them and the people gathered here.

But I felt they were radiating light.

Chloe saw them and shrank into Ethan's arms in terror.

"Are they... are they Mia's doing?"

"I'm sorry! I truly know I was wrong. I won't ever take anything from her again. Please, don't let them take me away!"

Ethan glared at me, scolding:

"Mia Sterling, what has Chloe done that you want to destroy her like this?"

I looked at him, my cheek stinging from the slap mark, feeling only despair.

Richard glanced at me, then scolded the two newcomers:

"You're not welcome here. Get out! Don't scare my daughter!"

But the couple just nervously rubbed the hems of their clothes, raising their voices to respond:

"We're here to take our daughter home."

Eleanor frowned in disgust.

"Can't you understand? Your daughter isn't here!"

"Someone, get them out!"

As her words fell, my voice rang out:

"Wait!"

"They're here for me."

The atmosphere froze.

Just three seconds later, those dim, thin lines suddenly grew thick and vibrantly red.