Chapter 2

When I returned to the Steele family's villa, everything felt unfamiliar.

I opened the door to my room and found it filled with easels and designer bags. All of my study materials were gone.

"This is Rhea's art studio now."

I didn't know when Mom had appeared behind me. Her eyes were full of guilt and pity.

She walked over and gently held my left hand as tears welled up in her eyes. "Piper, I know you've suffered. Thinking about everything you went through out there kept me awake every night.

"But Rhea was diagnosed with severe depression. If she didn't get that special admission opportunity, she might actually do something to herself.

"For my sake, please help her. Okay?"

Dad walked over and handed me a bank card. "There's one million dollars on this card. We're family. As your parents, we'll make it up to you from now on. Go ahead and buy whatever you want."

One million dollars was all it took for them to think they could erase the 100 days of torment I suffered.

…

At dinner, the table was covered with seafood I couldn't eat. It was Rhea's favorite.

"Rhea, this king crab is especially fresh today. Have more of it. It's good for you," Mom said as she happily put food on Rhea's plate.

Ezra sat beside me, casually putting food on Rhea's plate.

I held my spoon with difficulty with my left hand. My right hand hung uselessly at my side, still throbbing with pain.

Suddenly, a fluffy dog ran over and rubbed against Rhea's leg.

My whole body went stiff.

In that fake royal household, the vicious dog I was forced to feed every day by the head housekeeper was actually Rhea's pet, Lucky.

It had bitten my calf when I fought over scraps of food.

"Piper, why aren't you eating?" Ezra finally noticed me. He frowned at the barely touched food in front of me.

"My hand hurts," I said calmly.

Then I picked up the bowl of scalding soup in front of me and dumped it at the dog's feet without warning.

The dog yelped in pain, tucked its tail between its legs, and ran away.

With a loud bang, Yves slammed his spoon onto the table.

"Piper, have you lost it? Why are you taking it out on a dog?" he shouted. "Everyone on the set signed an agreement. At most, they made you do some work just to scare you.

"Are you seriously trying to cause trouble at dinner now?"

I looked up at him. "It bit me. I could've skinned it alive, but I held back for the sake of the family's reputation."

"Stop pretending to be the victim!" Rhea suddenly teared up and put down her fork.

She continued, "You're just mad at me for taking your special admission opportunity. If you really can't let this go, I'll go to the admissions office tomorrow and give it back!"

Then, she ran upstairs in tears. Ezra and Yves immediately followed her.

Mom panicked. When she turned to look at me, there was a hint of blame in her eyes.

"Piper, even if you're angry, you can't act out during dinner. Look how scared you made Rhea!" she scolded.

I sat alone at the empty table and swallowed my last bit of food with a blank expression.

…

That night, while packing my things, my phone suddenly lit up.

It was a call from Clara Smith at the Jeston University admissions office.

"Piper, your admission confirmation form still needs one more signature. Please submit it to the school by next Friday at the latest. Don't forget!"

There was a hint of excitement in Clara's voice.

Suddenly, the door opened.