Chapter 1: Countryside girl

“You should thank me for the dress. No one else would waste fabric on you,” Maya’s new mother spat as they descended the grand staircase.

The corset hugged her painfully, squeezing every breath from her chest. She had never worn anything like this in her life. The fabric shimmered, but it felt so hard to breathe. Music played around the ballroom and laughter filled the air.

The house was alive with people celebrating Mr. Sterling’s birthday, her supposed father.

Maya’s heels wobbled as she took another step down. She reached for the rail to steady herself, but her new mother hissed. “Don’t touch anything. It’s all worth more than your life.”

Maya swallowed hard. She didn’t want to be here. A few weeks ago, she had been living quietly in her small countryside house, far away from all this glittering cruelty. Then men in dark suits showed up, claiming her father lived here.

They made her take a DNA test which confirmed that Mr. Sterling was her biological father. And now, she was trapped in a world that clearly didn’t want her.

As she reached the last step, the room began to notice her. Heads turned and whispers rose.

“That’s her…the countryside girl they brought in,” a woman murmured.

“She doesn’t even look like she belongs here,” another whispered behind a champagne glass.

Maya’s eyes moved briefly toward one of the women whose heavy makeup made her look like the joker. A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips before she looked away.

Another woman whispered, loud enough for Maya to hear, “They really brought her here? To this event? How humiliating.”

Maya tried to ignore them, fixing her gaze on the grand decorations around.

Then came the click of heels against the floor. The crowd parted slightly as Nelly appeared. She looked dazzling and dangerous in that silk, red gown that accentuated her curves.

A group of equally mean-faced girls followed her, their laughter echoing through the hall.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Nelly said mockingly. “As you all know, she’s my dad’s illegitimate child.” Her words were loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Maya froze, she didn’t lift her head.

“I don’t know what my dad was thinking,” Nelly continued with a fake sigh, “but I guess when he was younger, he must have had an affair with one of those… lowlifes.” She gestured toward Maya without even looking at her. “And this” she waved her hand dismissively “is the product.”

One of the girls gasped dramatically. “Oh, Nelly, I’m so sorry, dear. You actually have to share your father with… her?” She leaned closer and whispered loudly, “A countryside girl.”

Maya’s jaw clenched.

Nelly scoffed, tossing her hair. “Share? Oh, please. I’m not sharing anything. Dad's just being charitable. Giving her a roof over her head. I’m pretty sure the one back home was leaking.”

The girls laughed. Maya didn’t. She just looked away, forcing herself to stay calm. Her chest burned, but she said nothing.

Then she inhaled softly, “Um, excuse me, I… I need to use the bathroom. Could someone please show me where it is?”

A few of the girls exchanged looks. “Oh, careful not to steal the soap, country girl,” one of them snickered.

Another added, “Need me to show you how a faucet works?”

From the looks of things, none of them had any intention of helping her.

So Maya turned away silently, as she walked down the long, glittering hall. The mansion was enormous, she could get lost in here.

Then she spotted a woman in uniform carrying a tray.

“Um, excuse me,” Maya said carefully, “are you… one of the staff here?”

The woman paused and nodded. “Yes, miss. I’m one of the chefs.

“Oh,” Maya exhaled in relief.

“Could you please show me where the bathroom is?”

“Of course, miss. This way,” the woman replied kindly.

Maya followed her through a side passage until they stopped at a white door with golden handles.

“Thank you,” Maya said softly.

“You’re welcome, miss,” the woman smiled before walking away.

Inside, the bathroom gleamed like something out of a magazine. It was spotless with marble counters, gold faucets, and a faint scent of roses. She used the toilet, flushed, and washed her hands, watching the water run clear through the sparkling sink.

After Maya was done in the bathroom, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and stepped out. She immediately thought maybe she should’ve just stayed inside a little longer, anything was better than going back out there.

She hesitated, then turned to go back in.

But before she could reach for the handle, someone brushed past her, the thick scent of perfume filling her nose.

“I thought you were already done. Ugh!” the girl muttered, glaring as she disappeared into the bathroom, banging the door shut in Maya’s face.

Maya blinked, her lips parting slightly. “Okay then,” she whispered under her breath.

She sighed, straightened her posture, and walked back toward the main hall. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses grew louder with every step.

The party was still in full swing; waiters carried trays of champagne and food.

From across the room, she spotted Nelly and her group of friends clustered near the bar section, laughing at something, probably at someone.

Maya just hoped they wouldn’t notice her.

As she walked through the halls, she was just trying to avoid Nelly and any of her friends. She planned to stand quietly at a corner until this long, never-ending party was finally over.

She moved carefully through the crowd. But then a girl brushed past her shoulder roughly.

Maya stumbled, and before she could catch herself, her elbow hit the edge of a tall table.

A loud crash shattered through the music.

The sound froze the room. Conversations stopped in between. Heads turned towards her.

Maya blinked down at the floor. Pieces of the vase lay scattered, glittering under the light. The golden dragons that had once circled its surface were now broken and gleaming in the shards.

Her breath hitched.

Nelly stomped toward her, gasping dramatically.

“What have you done?” she screamed, grabbing Maya’s arm.

Maya’s eyes darted between the pieces on the ground.

“It was an accident…someone pushed—”

“Shut up!” Nelly snapped, her voice harsh. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”

The crowd was watching now, murmuring.

“That’s an Imperial vase,” Nelly said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You just broke one of our mansion heirlooms!”