My Fate Changed With the Wind

…

After Serena's extravagant engagement party, my brother suddenly remembered I was still in the remote mountain village, inside a strict training regime.

Guilt gnawed at him. After a day and night of driving, he arrived at the village.

The village chief flattered him.

"Mr. Jones, we followed your instructions and implemented a rigorous labor-based education program. For the past five years, your sister has strictly adhered to it every day.

"She's completely tamed her spoiled noblewoman temper and now truly understands the hardships of Miss Serena. She's become the model of a well-behaved heiress!"

My brother looked relieved.

"Well done. It's good she's obedient. Sending her to the countryside was not in vain."

The village chief's son brought me forward.

The cold wind cut me to the bone. I was wearing only a thin long-sleeve shirt and pants. The loose fabric whipped in the wind, revealing my frail, skeletal frame.

Seth frowned, reaching out to take my hand.

I shivered slightly and bowed deeply to him with utmost respect. "Hello, Seth."

His hand fell empty. He just stared at me.

On the way here, he had imagined this moment in countless ways.

He thought I might run to him, crying, throwing myself into his arms, telling him how hard these five years had been and begging him to take me away.

Perhaps I would glare at him in anger, furious that he abandoned me in a remote mountain village for five years.

However, he had never imagined this: me standing before him, bowing respectfully, and saying only, "Hello, Seth."

For the eighteen years before the punishment, I had been nothing but spoiled and arrogant.

He watched me silently. After a long moment, he took a small box from the driver and opened it before me.

"Sylvie, this is your twenty-third birthday gift from me."

Inside was a pair of diamond earrings.

I clenched the box as a pang of sadness hit my chest.

He had forgotten that I had never liked diamonds.

Serena was the one who liked them.

Bitterness rose, but I carefully accepted the box.

It was enough that he remembered my birthday, even if he had chosen the wrong gift.

Then, Seth led me to the car.

Before I could open the door, the back window rolled down, revealing Serena's dazzling face.

"Seth, have you met up with Sylvie?"

Her makeup was flawless, and her expression was confident and gracious. She wore a fur coat, exuding wealth and commanding presence.

I, on the other hand, looked pale and wretched, dressed only in clothes others had thrown away.

Serena tilted slightly to the side, revealing the luxurious, dazzling diamond necklace on her chest, then a gentle smile bloomed across her face.

"Just a few days ago, Seth bought this diamond set at the auction as my birthday gift.

"Serena, you know I don't like small diamonds, so he gave the earrings to you instead.

"After all, we share the same birthday."

The earrings she did not want were now in my hands.

Before I could say anything, she snatched them from me, admiring them herself.

"I suddenly feel like my ears are empty. This necklace doesn't look right without earrings. Sylvie, why don't you give them back to me?"

I froze for a moment and looked at my brother.

Seth stared at me coldly. His eyes were warning me to behave myself and listen to my sister.

All traces of the warmth he had shown me earlier were gone.