Chapter 4

My name was nowhere to be seen on the main screen at Moreau Group's charity gala. The media's attention wasn't focused on me, the genius student, either.

Juliet, dressed in a haute couture gown, was surrounded by James, Julian, and Jack. Meanwhile, I sat in the corner, listening to gossip among the Silvermont College students.

"Is she the ugly daughter of the Moreau family?"

"The Moreaus are too embarrassed to even put her picture up at their own celebration banquet."

I lowered my head and flipped through the guest list. Rather than wasting their breath badmouthing me, they should have checked who was actually in attendance tonight.

Professors from Silvermont College, the head of Moreau Group's research institute, and several tech investors were all present. I approached them with my competition proposal.

Half an hour later, the research institute agreed to grant me access to its laboratory equipment, and one of the investors promised seed funding for my project. By the time James noticed, I'd just signed the letter of intent. "Who gave you permission to approach our company's business partners?"

I waved the contract at him. "Didn't you invite them to the gala to discuss potential partnerships? Why are you allowed to use our family's connections, but I'm not?"

"You're being so shameless and greedy! Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

"It doesn't matter whether they laugh at me or not; all that matters is the money hits my account."

James was afraid I'd refuse to cooperate and apologize, so he transferred me a sum of money as a reward for being the province's top scorer.

The moment I received the money, my tone softened considerably. "Thanks, James. Next time you want to criticize me, remember to transfer the money first."

James was so furious that he spun on his heel and stormed off.

Halfway through the gala, Julian's photography exhibition commenced.

When the photograph of the girl beneath the pear blossom tree appeared on the screen, a collective gasp swept through the hall.

James announced in front of everyone that Moreau Group was willing to offer her an astronomical contract to become its global brand ambassador.

Julian held the microphone with a tender gaze. "My biggest regret is that I only managed to take a single photo of her back then. If I ever get to see her again, I'm willing to spend the rest of my life documenting her."

Jack also sighed. "She's the only girl who ever gained the approval of all three of us brothers."

I sat in the audience and calculated how much I could make from the endorsement deal and the reward for finding the girl.

I would definitely make a pretty penny if I took off my mask right now. However, one look at the media surrounding me was enough to make me abandon the idea. Money was important, but so was getting through college without a hitch.

Juliet suddenly pulled me over to stand beside the photograph. "Don't feel inferior, Josephine. We may not be able to compare to her, but looks aren't everything in life."

Several classmates burst into laughter. "One is so beautiful that the whole country is searching for her, while the other is so ugly that even her own brother can't bear to look at her."

Julian didn't stop them. Instead, he instructed the staff, "Take her away. Don't let irrelevant people block the photograph."

At the end of the gala, Jack walked onto the stage and took the microphone. "There's one more thing we haven't taken care of today."

The spotlight fell on me.

James sat in the seat of honor and ordered coldly, "Get up here."

Considering the money he'd transferred to me, I decided to play along.

Jack handed me the microphone. "Apologize for reporting me yesterday."

"I'm sorry."

His expression darkened. "Is that all?"

"You didn't specify a word count."

A few snickers broke out in the audience.

Jack flew into a rage. "The only reason you refuse to show your face is because you're too hideous to be seen. If you've got the guts, take off your mask!"

My classmates immediately joined in. "Take it off!"

"Let us see just how ugly the genius student really is!"

Juliet hurriedly stepped in front of me. "Everyone, stop pressuring Josephine. If she had the courage to take it off, she would've done so already."

The more she tried to stop them, the louder the jeering became. I turned around and walked off the stage.

Juliet, however, secretly stepped on the hem of my dress and let herself fall toward the champagne tower at the edge of the stage. "Josephine!"

I instinctively reached out to catch her. Yet, she grabbed my wrist and used my momentum to hurl me violently toward the long table behind us.

The very next second, a deafening crash rang out. The towering stack of champagne flutes came tumbling down.

I was drenched from head to toe in champagne and crushed ice. I fell into the mess.

My hat was knocked off to who knows where. The ear loop of my mask was also snapped by the decorative flower branches.

Juliet collapsed on the floor a short distance away, covering her mouth pretentiously. "I'm sorry, Josephine. I didn't do it on purpose!" Even though she apologized, excitement gleamed in her eyes.

Jack had already trained his camera on me. My classmates hurriedly raised their phones.

"Her mask fell off!"

"Hurry up and take a picture before she hides her face again!"

"We can finally see what the Moreaus' ugly daughter looks like!"

James, Julian, and Jack were all standing beside Juliet. Not one of them came over to help me up.

Red wine trickled down from my temple, stinging my eyes so badly that I could barely keep them open. Hence, I simply ripped off my soaked mask.

The stage lights hit my face. The guests who had been chattering moments earlier fell silent, as if someone had choked them.

Someone accidentally dropped a wineglass, shattering it on the floor. Several reporters stood frozen with their cameras raised, forgetting to press the shutter for a long while.