Chapter 4
Pain wracked my body, but I crawled forward.
Kai glanced at me. "Let's go. If she wants to play victim, let her."
Lily nodded, clinging to him.
Rachel tried to help me, but I pushed her away.
"Give it back!" I cried, grabbing George's pants leg. "Please! It's what Mom left me. Don't you remember?"
George shook me off, annoyed.
My body hit a chair, pain flaring. I grunted, sweating.
He hesitated, but Lily called out, "George, let's go."
His concern vanished.
Once, he cared about me. But compared to Lily, that love meant nothing.
"Why did you let them do this to you?" Rachel sulked, helping me to a couch. "I've always seen you as my rival. Don't cry. It's pathetic. Go take back what's yours. Slap Lily and show her who's the real heiress."
I shook my head, wiping my tears. "Put some makeup on me."
I was leaving soon. There was no point in fighting them.
I just couldn't take more blows, or I might not make it to the mission. The best move was to let it go.
I only felt sorry for my mom.
"That's the spirit. Let's go," Rachel said.
The White Mansion buzzed that night. Big shots from finance and even celebrities showed up.
"Heard these are all Lily's favorites," Rachel said. "George personally invited them. This party's even fancier than your coming-of-age bash."
Her words stung, but I rubbed my aching waist instead of arguing.
She was right, but I wasn't there to mess with Lily.
I'd come to grab my things and finish the last task George had given me. He and Kai wanted me to play nice for Lily's sake.
I'd do it.
"Let's welcome the White family's second heiress, Lily White," announced the host.
Lily appeared under the spotlight, George and Kai flanking her like knights. The crown on her head gleamed.
"She's stunning. Kai and Lily are a better match," someone whispered. "Lily's so gentle, not like Skyler, who's basically a shrew."
"If I were Kai, I'd pick Lily too. With how much she's loved, who cares about bloodlines?"
Each comment cut me deeply, but I hadn't done anything wrong. I was just not a gentle person by nature.
"Skyler," Lily called out, approaching me as I mused. "Please don't listen to them. I'm sorry for taking your place. Can you forgive me? I swear I'll treat you better than George or Kai ever did. Can you accept me?"
She held out a glass of wine, looking nervous.
George watched, gripping his glass tightly. Kai stared, trying to burn holes through me with his eyes.
I knew what they desired. If I didn't agree, I wouldn't walk out of the house tomorrow.
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