Chapter 2
The doors were pushed open. Violet appeared in a white dress, her face streaked with fears, her steps hurried and uneven.
Her delicate ankles made her high heels click sharply against the floor.
The princess the Fosters had carefully raised for over twenty years moved with innate grace and dignity than I ever could.
Even this undignified running and crying somehow made her look pitifully beautiful.
Everyone’s attention turned to her.
Mom reacted first, tears instantly falling as she hurried toward Violet.
“Violet, don’t be afraid. Mom is here.”
Dad followed with heavy steps. Such a reserved, serious man, yet his eyes were redden.
Mom eagerly embraced Violet. And then dad extended his arms, pulling both mother and daughter tight against him.
Blake finally seemed to breathe easier, looking at Violet with love practically seeping from his eyes.
Ethan glanced back at me, slowly shaking his head.
I ignored him and just stood up, trying to salvage some dignity.
A sharp pain shot through my ankle–I must have twisted it when I fell.
I limped toward the exit, but before I’d taken two steps, someone roughly yanked me back.
I stumbled, turning to face Ethan.
“Olivia, you’ve really disappointed me today.”
“I always thought you were a strong, resilient girl. But I never imagined you’d use such low tactics to get attention.”
“Violet has given back everything she once had that was yours. Yet you still won’t leave her alone, insisting on provoking her at this life–or–death
moment.”
“Olivia, what happened to you?”
The blood and champagne had dried on my face, sticking like a shameful brand of humiliation.
My carefully chosen designer wedding dress was now just a dirty rag, covered in stains. A painful acidity rose in my chest.
This dress was the most expensive piece of clothing I’d ever worn.
Before the wedding, I had touched it again and again, looked at it over and over, thinking it was so perfect, so dazzling.
I had been looking forward to this day for so long–wearing this dress, looking beautiful as I married Blake.
After all, I had secretly loved him for years.
Six months ago, Violet was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Her parents–Mr. and Mrs. Foster–wanted to donate blood but discovered their blood types didn’t match.
An urgent investigation led to my adoptive mother, the Fosters‘ long–serving loyal housekeeper.
Years ago, in a moment of madness, she had switched me and Violet.
16.7%
- Danto
Chapter 2
Unable to part with her biological daughter, she chose to stay and work for the Foster family.
When the truth came out, she committed suicide by drowning, leaving only a letter.
I read that letter. Two full pages, and not once did it mention my name.
When this happened, Violet couldn’t handle the shock and developed severe anxiety.
In desperation, my biological father made a swift decision to switch the arranged marriage with the Sullivan family from Violet to me.
His reasoning turned out to be: I was healthier and mentally stronger, more suitable for public life.
Violet was too delicate, better kept at home as a sheltered daughter.
Without hesitation, I agreed.
Blake Sullivan was the boy I’d had a crush on since childhood.
When I was young, I would help my adoptive mother with chores at the Sullivan house. Once, hungry, I watched Violet eating snacks. Blake came over and invited me to join them.
I was hesitant. Violet looked down on me, said I was dirty. But Blake gently told me:
“Everyone in this world is equal. You don’t need to feel inferior.”
From that day on, he became the haunting crush in my heart.
Whenever I saw him, he always smiled at me, warm like a freshly baked golden honey cake.
But I had nothing to offer, so I could only admire him from afar.
From age twelve to twenty–two.
But at our engagement party, he remained silent and solemn. Amid the toasts from the elders, he asked only one question:
“How is Violet feeling?”
At the mention of Violet, everyone’s expressions eased, conversation flowing more freely.
I was the only one, shrank into the corner, saying nothing. Blake looked at me coldly and said:
“So unrefined!”
I heard him then took it to heart. And I worked hard to improve, learning etiquette bit by bit.
I wanted to be a good wife for him, not let him down.
But the outcome?
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