Chapter 3

Elaine was unbelievably lucky. Even though she wasn't my parents' biological daughter, they still adored her like she was.

Quentin gifted her a custom luxury gown and said, "Here's to my beloved sister, Elaine! I hope you always stay as beautiful as you are!"

Meanwhile, my parents gave her a condo and a limited-edition sports car.

Elaine happily kissed each of them on the cheek. "Thank you, Dad and Mom. And you, too, Quentin!"

I sat quietly in a corner, eating my dinner in silence. Their joyful interactions made them look like a real family.

Andreas had prepared a necklace, but Elaine wasn't satisfied with it.

Mom said, "Elaine has been wanting to work in Professor Landon's lab recently. Andy, doesn't your father know him well? Could you help her get in through proper channels?"

When Mom spoke, she deliberately emphasized the words "proper channels". The professor she mentioned was my mentor, George, whose lab was notoriously difficult to get into. During my sophomore year, he made an exception to recruit me.

Someone had spread rumors that I'd slept with my senior, Samuel Godfrey, to force myself into the program.

Later, when people asked Elaine about it, she said with a dazed expression, "I don't know. Isadora often doesn't come home, so I don't know what she's up to..."

From then on, everyone believed I was sleeping my way around for opportunities. Some people even defended Elaine, going to George to complain that since Elaine had published in academic journals as a freshman, why hadn't he chosen her instead?

George had only responded with one sentence. "I don't take manipulative students."

Elaine had stolen that paper from me and published it under her name. However, I hadn't explained a word, because even if I had, no one in the family would have believed me.

Before returning to the Wilde family, I had grown up in the countryside, and Mom often said that people from rural areas had dirty habits, and who knew what bad behaviors I'd picked up?

Andreas shook his head and said, "Even when I offered to donate 200 million in funding, Professor Landon said he's not hiring anyone for now."

Quentin questioned me angrily, "Isadora, did you badmouth Elaine to Professor Landon? How can you be so scheming?"

I shook my head and said calmly, "The team doesn't need anyone right now."

Since I was about to leave, the team was actually hiring, but with Elaine's academic abilities, Georg would never consider her.

"Not hiring? Then quit so Elaine can take your place!" Mom commanded.

"Isadora, you're not doing much at Professor Landon's lab anyway, so hurry up and give your spot to Elaine!" Quentin chimed in.

I suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Grabbing my bag, I quickly ran outside.

Mom shouted after me, "Stop right there!"

I stood still and told her, "I've transferred one million dollars to your account. Thank you for raising me all these years, but from now on, we have no ties."

Actually, they hadn't really raised me at all. Before age 17, I had lived with my grandparents in the countryside. After they brought me back, they barely looked at me because all their affection went to Elaine. I had even paid my own high school tuition through part-time jobs.

Nonetheless, they had given me life. Out of the two million I received for joining the rocket program, I used one million to treat my injured arm and sent the other to Mom.

Mom said with disgust, "What? Do you think you can cut ties with me for one million dollars? Even if you want to cut ties, I don't want your dirty money!"

My heart clenched for a moment. This wasn't dirty money—it was money I'd earned by trading away my freedom for the rest of my life.

I closed my eyes, no longer willing to explain anything. I asked, "What do you want? As long as I have it, I can give it to you."