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13: Do you believe them?
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2025-08-24 23:47:06
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The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 32: The Amberfords
Danice was too shocked to control her emotions. Her eyes widened. What is he… doing here?Julian tilted his head, a lock of untrimmed hair falling over one eye. “...You recognized me?”Danice blinked, her mind racing. At this point in time, they hadn’t met. No— even in the past, they never met at the welcoming banquet. Panic tightening her chest, she quickly slipped on her practiced mask. She had promised herself she would avoid him in this life. Today’s encounter hadn’t happened before, and it shouldn’t happen now.She tossed the handkerchief back to him. “I’m not crying.”Taking a discreet breath, she added, “I was only startled. I thought you were a ghost.”Julian glanced at the handkerchief thrown at him, his face as unreadable as ever. “You look like you’re crying.”“I’m not,” Danice snapped. “I didn’t shed a single tear.”“But in the hall, you teared up.”Danice’s thoughts stuttered. …Right. She’d staged that display, pretending to cry as she left.Wait—was he watching me this w
The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 31: First Meet under the Moonlight
Neil, who was passing by, suddenly paused. He had clearly heard the conversation at the table. His eyes sharpened as he strode toward Danice.“Are you blaming Sister Yvette?” he demanded, appearing at her side. “Who are you to accuse her?”Danice’s confusion vanished. Ah… using another fool as a pawn? What a predictable trick.She turned to Neil, meeting his glare without flinching. “I don’t even know the person you mentioned. How could I blame or suspect anyone I’ve only just met?” Then she glanced at Sophia and added with a faint smile, “You certainly have a creative mind to dream up such scenarios. Ever thought of becoming a writer?”Sophia’s eyes narrowed before she quickly put a wounded expression, as though on the verge of tears. “Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you. Everyone keeps mentioning the First Branch’s absence tonight, and I thought you might feel bad about it. I was only concerned for you.” To anyone watching, it looked as if Danice had bullied her.“Don’t waste your concer
The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 30: Another Trick
The hall buzzed with lively chatter and the clinking of glasses. As the subject of tonight’s event, Danice was busy moving from table to table, offering polite acknowledgments without lingering too long.“I would never have guessed you’d been lost all this time, Third Young Miss. You carry yourself so well that everyone was expecting to watch a show,” a young woman blurted, speaking aloud what many were secretly thinking.The sophisticated middle-aged woman beside her quickly nudged her. “Colleen, hush your mouth.” She then smiled warmly at Danice. “My daughter doesn’t mean any harm. I hope you don’t take offense.”“She’s only stating the truth. I’m not offended.” Danice returned the smile before glancing at Colleen. “I only hope I haven’t ruined everyone’s expectations.”After exchanging a few more polite words with the mother and daughter, Danice excused herself and moved on. Once she was out of earshot, Colleen muttered, “She doesn’t seem much like the other Roans. I like her.”Her
The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 29: Mentor
Danice slowly made her way downstairs, filtering out the gazes on her. As she descended, she silently repeated in her mind:I am a young girl stepping into womanhood. I am calm, elegant, and not easily swayed. My role today… is to awe.Danice opened her eyes, and she had become that person. Her movements suddenly grew graceful. She had watched and observed many women in high society—each one more sophisticated and formidable than the last.Once, at a banquet hosted by Julian, she had seen a middle-aged woman who spoke little but carried a gentle smile. Her very presence commanded respect, and her graceful, understated movements made her the most admired woman in the entire hall. Danice recalled that woman’s poise and imitated it carefully from memory.Danice arrived at the stage. She smiled—not too fawningly, not too little. “I thank everyone for coming to this event. It’s my pleasure to meet all of you.”She turned to Head Master Roan, who was smiling at her proudly. “I wouldn’t be
The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 28: The Welcoming Banquet- The Present
Crystal chandeliers spilled golden light across the vast hall, casting a warm glow over velvet drapes and long tables lined with porcelain dishes. The air carried the mingling scents of wine, roasted meats, and lively chatter. In the background, a soft, harmonious orchestra played.Each table was surrounded by guests, each one more dashing than the other."I heard the Third Young Miss was found some weeks ago. This welcoming banquet was supposed to happen earlier. I wonder why it was delayed?" a guest voiced his thoughts."I was wondering about that too. Vanessa has been talking about how unscrupulous her new niece is, and I’m excited to see her. How ill-mannered must this kid be for Vanessa to already hate her?""Vanessa always despises people with unruly backgrounds. She probably can’t stand that child who suddenly entered her family and gets to enjoy this luxurious life without earning it.""Well, it’s not only Vanessa who hates that child’s guts. I bet the First Branch does too."
The Ugly Duckling: Rise of the Forsaken Wife 27: The Welcoming Banquet- The Past
“What a lovely dress…”Danice twirled in front of the mirror. The soft pink gown, with its voluminous skirt, delicate off-shoulder sleeves, and embroidered lace that shimmered faintly under the light, was breathtaking. It followed her every movement, making her feel like a princess from an ancient kingdom. A dress she never imagined she would ever touch in her lifetime was now something she could actually wear.Was she really… going to live like a princess from now on?Everything felt surreal.The beauty of the dress, the elegant bedroom, and the thoughtful gifts from her grandfather made Danice momentarily forget the day she had been mocked and insulted in the hall on her first arrival. To them, she was just someone who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and they hadn’t accepted her well.But in her heart, Danice had already forgiven them. This was her real family, bound by blood. She had to be more understanding, more patient. Sooner or later, they would accept her.A maid entered an
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