Chapter 3

The Lamberts' luxury yacht was docked along the river that evening.

The party had been loud and lively, but the moment I walked into the ballroom in a custom-made black suit and three-inch pointed heels, the entire room fell silent.

Then the whispers started.

"Is that the biological daughter the Somervilles brought back from the countryside? Why is she dressed like a bodyguard?"

"Her shoulders are so broad. If she walked up to me, I'd be scared she'd knock me across the room with one punch."

"How funny. Even a suit can't hide how much of a tomboy she is. No wonder the Somervilles are so eager to send her to Mr. Andrew as his punching bag. Maybe she's just tough enough to take a beating."

I didn't care about the wealthy young women staring at me with disgust or making fun of me.

Gordon and Amelia, however, were completely embarrassed. They deliberately kept their distance from me.

A loud, mocking laugh suddenly broke the silence. "Oh, so you're the Somervilles' fake heiress?"

A young man in a loud Hawaiian shirt staggered over. The strong smell of alcohol followed him. "You look pretty good. Come on, have a drink with me on the deck!"

He grabbed Natalie's wrist and looked her up and down with a disgusting smile.

Natalie was terrified. She desperately tried to pull her hand free. "What are you doing? Let me go! Dad! Mom! Help me!"

She looked at Gordon and Amelia in desperation.

But Gordon didn't step forward to stop him. Instead, he grabbed Jack, who was about to rush over.

Then he spoke respectfully to the man. "Natalie, consider yourself lucky Mr. Benjamin chose you. You need to behave yourself. Go have a few drinks with Mr. Benjamin."

I frowned.

So, this rude man was Benjamin Lambert, a distant cousin of Andrew's from a branch of the Lambert family. He often used the Lamberts' power to do whatever he wanted in Southville.

Natalie cried out in despair as she desperately searched the crowd for someone who could save her. In the end, her eyes landed on me.

I was just about to step forward when Benjamin released her. Then he swaggered toward me.

His eyes traveled up and down my body. "I know who you are. You're the girl the Somervilles brought back to marry Andrew in your sister's place, right?"

He grinned. "You're pretty strong-looking. Andrew's gonna have himself a long night."

As he spoke, he drunkenly reached out and tried to pat my cheek. "I heard you're tough. Since you're going to be our family's punching bag sooner or later, why don't I test you out first?"

The people around us burst into laughter. Not a single person stepped forward to stop him.

Gordon lowered his voice and hissed a vicious warning into my ear. "Rachel, stand still. Don't you dare offend anyone from the Lamberts. Even if he slaps you tonight, you have to take it. Before you do anything, think about your adoptive father's boxing gym!"

Benjamin's alcohol-soaked hand was already inches from my face.

I lowered my eyes and glanced at my sharp, three-inch heels.

Then I suddenly remembered something Jasper had told me at his boxing gym years ago. "Rachel, as martial artists, we have to live by a code. Don't start trouble and never bully the weak."

Right. A code.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let out the heaviness inside me.

I would endure him for just three more seconds.