Chapter 2

Every time Oprah stepped into the Harrison house, she would experience that sense of displacement, as if even the servants in the manor were silently mocking her and her mother's modest background and vanity.

Oprah trailed behind Roxanne as they entered the living room, where Burgess could be easily spotted lounging on the sofa. His demeanor exuded an air of aloofness and pride, his slender hands rhythmically tapping away on the laptop.

In contrast to his sharp and flamboyant nature three years prior, Burgess appeared considerably more poised and collected now.

Oprah had to acknowledge that Burgess exuded charm in everything he did, which explained why he attracted many women just three months after returning to the country.

Roxanne warmly greeted Burgess, saying, "Burgess, are you still busy? Take care of yourself, and don't keep staring at the laptop. It's not good for your eyes."

In contrast to Roxanne's warmth and concern, Burgess responded indifferently, barely sparing a glance at the two of them.

How he looked at them reminded Oprah of how he used to gaze at stray animals or even beggars five years ago. It made her feel uneasy. She was almost tempted to turn around and leave.

After a while, Burgess set aside his laptop, stood up, and scrutinized Oprah for a full minute before speaking, "Long time no see."

Oprah disliked his aggressive gaze and casually replied, "Yeah," then headed upstairs.

Although Oprah had a room in the Harrison house, she rarely stayed there. Sometimes, to avoid Burgess, she would confine herself inside.

While hiding in her room and scrolling through her phone, she suddenly received a message from an anonymous sender, "You are magnificent, captivating me from head to toe. I can hardly contain myself."

Oprah furrowed her eyebrows and retorted, "Contain what?"

"Containing the urge to kiss you, touch you, make love with you, rendering your legs weak and incapable of leaving the bed, causing you to lie in my embrace obediently."

"You're sick!"

Oprah cursed and deleted the message.

Finally, when dinnertime arrived, they gathered around the dining table. Old Mr. Harrison sat at the head, Roxanne to his left and Burgess to his right.

Oprah sat opposite Burgess, quietly eating while listening to Roxanne's affectionate words. She asked considerate questions of Burgess, such as how life was abroad, the challenges of starting a business, and whether he had met a girlfriend, among other things.

Burgess sometimes responded coldly, but Roxanne didn't feel embarrassed at all. She treated him like her own son.

Oprah suddenly felt a sense of irony.

Her biological daughter was beside her, but Roxanne never cared about her. All she cared about was making her daughter please her husband and stepson to maintain the appearance of a harmonious marriage.

Suddenly, Roxanne lightly tapped Oprah and said reproachfully, "Oprah, stop eating and listen to your brother. He's asking you."

"What's there to ask?" Oprah thought to herself.

Without bothering to look at Burgess, she casually replied, "Oh," and lowered her head to continue eating, showing no interest in what Burgess had asked.

Burgess squinted his eyes slightly, staring at her intensely as if trying to see through her.

The atmosphere at the dining table became tense for a moment.

Oprah finished her food and put down her knife and fork, smiling faintly. "I'm done. You guys can take your time."

She was about to get up and leave when Roxanne suddenly grabbed her hand firmly. The smile on Roxanne's face faded away as she said, "Oprah, don't be capricious."

Oprah was puzzled. "Mom, how am I being capricious?"

Before Roxanne could speak, Oprah continued with a smile, "I'm not like you, always trying to please them. Just because I don't, you think I'm being capricious. Do you want me to kneel and beg their forgiveness like I did before?"

"Shut up!" Roxanne's face turned pale, and she slapped Oprah in the face.

Oprah's fair face immediately turned red.

With her head tilted, she stood there and could feel the mocking gazes of the servants in the dining room.

Once again, she became a joke in the Harrison family, just like that night five years ago.

It was the first time she and Roxanne came to the Harrison family. Despite being cautious the whole time, she accidentally broke Burgess's mother's favorite vase.

Burgess's mother had long passed away, so everything that belonged to her was precious to Burgess.

Burgess flew into a rage and said many hurtful words to Oprah, forcing her to kneel in front of his mother's portrait and apologize.

Roxanne didn't speak up for her. On the contrary, she scolded Oprah for being clumsy and helped Burgess make her say "sorry" countless times.

Burgess looked down at her and said, "You're despicable!"

Since then, Oprah had held a grudge against him, and whenever they met, they would clash.

Later, Burgess went to England, and Oprah was relieved, hoping he would never return.

But unfortunately, he did come back.