[Aw, that's rough, dear sissy. Meanwhile, I was born a shareholder of Gardner Industries. I could lie on the couch all day and still burn through more money than I'd know what to do with for the next ten lifetimes.]
That one hit hard. I saw it in her eyes.
In her past life, the billionaire never gave her a single share of anything. The entire family avoided her as if she were cursed. She never found a moment of peace.
[Don't get too full of yourself! Once I win Best Actress, I'll have my fans drag you through the dirt online. I'll crush you under my heel!]
Watching her twist herself into knots, I couldn't help but sigh inside.
[Why is it that every time you oppose me, you never see me as your sister?]
Then, Freya leaned close to my ear, her voice dripping with venom as she loudly voiced out. "It's your big day, Pearl. That freak adopted brother of yours is only putting on a front for everyone. Just wait and see. He'll shatter you, just as he did to me. He'll tear you to pieces and discard you from the Gardner family."
She leaned in and hissed the words in my ear, then stormed off as if she had just revealed some grand truth.
The thing is... she wasn't entirely wrong.
Lance was acting, and he was frighteningly good at it.
From across the room, I watched him mingle with guests, sip wine, and smile politely. But his eyes? They never left me.
Not even once.
Later that night, after the last guest had finally gone, Lance casually made his way over to me, still holding that same unreadable half-smile.
Without a word, he took my wrist and pulled me into a quiet, dimly lit private room nearby.
"My sweet little sister," he said, his voice low and teasing, "you've been very naughty. Don't you think that deserves a little punishment?"
