Chapter 1

On the first day I returned to the country, I noticed that there was a new face in the house—a pale, delicate girl around my age.

But the moment we met, she timidly lowered her head, looking as though I'd bullied her.

I frowned and called for my housekeeper, Maureen Morris.

"Is the job market really that tough this year that you're letting just any riffraff in through the door now? Fire her immediately. She looks so miserable—she'll jinx my luck."

Maureen awkwardly wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"Ms. Slater, she's not the new maid. She's a guest brought home by Mr. Atwood."

I gave the pale, delicate girl a once-over, my disdain growing even more pronounced.

"Has his taste really sunk this low that he'll stoop to anything now?"

When those words left my mouth, my stepfather, Bernard Atwood, happened to be coming down the stairs.

His expression immediately darkened, and he snapped at me in embarrassment and anger.

"Lucille Slater, what's gotten into you? How dare you speak of me like that? This is Gwen Herman, an orphan our family used to sponsor. She got into college in Clamdale, so she's staying here for a while.

"She's hardworking and driven. I've officially adopted her. From now on, you're her older sister. So, you'd better treat her well, do you hear me?"

I flashed a smile at him. "Does Mom know about this?"

A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. "There's no need to bother your mother with such a small matter. I'll tell her when she gets back from her business trip."

I couldn't be bothered to deal with them, so I gave a noncommittal hum. But just as I turned to go upstairs, Gwen grabbed my wrist.

She timidly met my gaze, her lashes fluttering.

"Lucille, I know you probably don't like me, but I hope we can get along in the days ahead. Please don't give Dad a hard time."

I didn't say anything, because the moment we touched, I suddenly heard her inner thoughts.

"How dare this stupid, villainess side character call me a maid? Just wait until I unlock my protagonist arc and become the family's sweetheart. Then, I'll slap that smug look right off your face. I'll ruin your family and make you homeless! Let's see if you can still be so arrogant then."

I looked at her face, which bore a 70% resemblance to Bernard's, and smiled.

Where did an illegitimate daughter like her get the audacity to act so arrogantly?

The next second, I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Everyone froze.

Bernard was the first to snap out of it. He rushed over and tried to hit me.

"You ungrateful brat! You really think you can do whatever you want?"

His raised hand hadn't even come down when I reached out and seized his wrist.

When I met his hate-filled gaze, I couldn't help but smirk indifferently.

"Just because I call you 'Dad', you actually think you're my father? How cute, my dear stepdad."

Everyone said I was the most vicious heiress in the city's elite circle because I was ruthless and would stop at nothing to get whatever I set my sights on.