Chapter 3
“Tomorrow is Clarissa’s birthday. Seven PM, Imperial Hotel.” The voice on the phone was cold and distant. “Don’t be late.”
“I don’t-”
“That’s final.”
The call ended abruptly, not even giving her a chance to refuse.
On the night of the party, Elizabeth chose the simplest black dress she could find.
The moment she walked in, she spotted Clarissa surrounded by admirers, and Sebastian, who she hadn’t seen in days.
“Clarissa’s so damn lucky,” two socialites whispered nearby. “Her adoptive parents spoil her rotten, and even Sebastian Whitmore is wrapped around her finger.”
“No kidding. I heard Sebastian personally organized this whole thing. See that champagne? Flown in from France this morning-six figures a bottle. And those flowers? Fresh from Holland. The whole ballroom’s decorated like Monet’s garden, just how Clarissa likes it. Cost over a hundred million.”
The guests’ chatter filled Elizabeth’s ears.
She sipped her wine, watching Sebastian across the room.
He was wearing a black suit tonight, his shirt collar casually open, showing off his collarbones with that lazy, aristocratic air.
And this same man was now crouched down, adjusting Clarissa’s dress hem, that perpetually cold face actually showing a smile.
“Now let’s have Mr. and Mrs. Skylar give their blessing to their beloved daughter!”
The moment the host finished speaking, Elizabeth’s parents walked on stage arm-in-arm with Clarissa.
Connor Skylar cleared his throat, scanning the crowd. “Today, I’m announcing an important decision. Sixty percent of Skylar Corporation’s shares will be inherited entirely by Clarissa.”
The room erupted in gasps. Elizabeth’s grip tightened on her glass.
Then Sebastian stepped onto the stage, pulling out a velvet box from his pocket.
Inside was an antique jade ring.
“That’s the Whitmore family heirloom, isn’t it?” someone in the crowd exclaimed. “I heard that jade ring was left by the old Mrs. Whitmore for her eldest grandson’s wife.”
“Jesus, giving the family heirloom to his sister-in-law… Sebastian’s basically slapping Elizabeth in the face in front of everyone…”
The ring slid perfectly onto Clarissa’s ring finger.
“Dad, Mom, Sebastian, is this really okay?” Clarissa suddenly looked toward the corner, her voice deliberately hesitant. “After all, Elizabeth is the real daughter of the Skylar family, the real Mrs. Whitmore. These things should belong to her, shouldn’t they?”
At her words, Connor and Delilah immediately grabbed her hands. “Don’t talk nonsense. Elizabeth married well-she’s got the Whitmore family backing her. We naturally need to think more about you. Giving you the assets is only right.”
Sebastian’s voice was even more cutting: “If it weren’t for that accident, this ring would have been yours from the beginning.”
Elizabeth stood in the middle of the crowd, feeling like she’d been stripped naked in public.
Her parents’ words hit like slaps. Sebastian’s words cut like knives, striking her face over and over.
The guests’ stares were like spotlights, leaving her nowhere to hide-pitying, mocking, gleeful-every single one screaming “pathetic.”
She could even feel Clarissa’s smug gaze, like a victor showing off her spoils.
But now, she only felt calm.
Elizabeth gently sat down her wine glass and turned to leave. As she walked away, she heard someone whisper:
Lock, her eyes are all red…”
“She’s probably going to cry in the bathroom…”
“So sad, her own parents and husband both favor the adopted daughter…”
She didn’t stop walking, heading straight for the restroom,
In the mirror, her makeup was perfect. Not a single tear had fallen.
Because she’d already forgotten everything. She’d forgotten how she used to desperately beg for her parents’ attention, for Sebastian’s love. She no longer remembered how she’d repeatedly swallowed her pride, just to get them to glance her way.
These people she used to look up to so desperately were now no different from strangers.
Now, she just needed to wait quietly for her immigration papers to be processed, and then learn to love herself properly.
