Tiffany started sneezing the moment she stepped into the house.
Her mother, Thalia Kelley, was both angry and heartbroken at the sight of her disheveled. daughter. “Tiffany, did that Harper boy bully you again? Look at you, drenched from head to toe! How could he not care for you or at least bring you home?”
Tiffany would have defended Kenneth in the past, making excuses for him and trying to persuade her family to accept him. She even argued with them numerous times over it.
But Tiffany wouldn’t do that anymore. Not only was Kenneth not a good person, but she also felt deep guilt toward her family. Even enduring her mother’s endless chatter felt like a blessing now, a far cry from the cold gravestone she had faced before.
Feeling a sting in her nose, Tiffany hugged Thalia’s arm and nestled into her warmth. After at moment, she said, “Mom, I want to break off the engagement with Kenneth.”
“What?” Thalia was stunned. She had suggested this previously, only to be met with Tiffany’s fierce resistance. Her daughter’s infatuation with Kenneth had made her deaf to reason, But now, she was the one bringing it up.
“Are you sure?” Thalia began, her voice concerned, thinking that Kenneth must have hurt her daughter deeply. “You won’t regret it later?”
“Never,” Tiffany replied, smiling confidently, her radiant beauty now shining with newfound determination.
“There are plenty of good men out there. Why should I waste my time on him?” Tiffany said, her voice laced with a deep, unshakable pride that seemed to be etched into her very being.
Thalia felt a wave of relief hearing Tiffany’s response. She also noticed something different about her daughter-an air of maturity that hadn’t been there before.
“Quick, have some milk and take a bath. We can’t have you catching a cold,” Thalia urged, her voice concerned. “And after your shower, I’ll tend to your injuries. Even a sprain needs proper attention.”
“Okay!” Tiffany replied sweetly, allowing one of her helpers at home to help her upstairs.
Tiffany walked straight in as she passed her younger brother Eric Kelley’s room. Upon entering, she found the eight-year-old curled up on the bed, engrossed in a video quickly hid his console and grumbled, “Why didn’t you knock? That’s so rude!”
game. He
Tiffany said nothing, simply gazing at her brother with deep affection. Before she became eighteen again, she had discovered that a poisoning incident had left her brother mute and mentally impaired for life. Now, seeing him vibrant and full of energy, scolding her with his sharp tongue yet still showing his care, Tiffany couldn’t feel anything but gratitude and warmth toward him.
Feeling uneasy under Tiffany’s affectionate gaze, Eric mumbled, “Why are you acting so weird today? Did someone bully you again?”
To Eric, Tiffany had been unusually warm and affectionate since she got home, showering everyone with hugs and kisses except their father, who hadn’t returned from work yet.
‘She’s definitely acting strange, Eric thought.
“It’s nothing! I just wanted to say I love you,” Tiffany replied, blinking playfully. She laughed heartily when her brother tossed a pillow at her, then happily skipped out of the room.
As the door clicked shut, the awkwardness on Eric’s face disappeared. He grabbed the laptop he had shoved aside and began typing furiously, muttering, “Damn you, Kenneth Harper! How dare you bully my sister? You’ll regret it!”
Within minutes, Eric hacked into Kenneth’s laptop, rendering it unusable.
After a soothing hot bath, Tiffany lay on her bed, fully relaxed. A helper entered the room, ready to tend to her injuries, but Tiffany smiled and gently took the ointment from her. “I’ll take care of it myself,” she said.
The helper nodded and quietly left.
Tiffany applied the ointment and then moved to sit in front of her vanity mirror. Her reflection showed her eighteen-year-old self: fair skin, delicate features, red lips, and white teeth. She had inherited the best traits of her parents, making her a striking beauty who stood out in any crowd since childhood.
It saddened Tiffany to remember how, in her past life, she had wasted that beauty, lowering herself for a man who didn’t deserve it.
Her smile deepened as she gazed at her reflection. Suddenly, a commotion erupted downstairs.
“Finally, they’re here, Tiffany thought, a cold laugh escaping her as she made her way downstairs you perfectly.
In the villa’s living room, Sandra was draped around Thalia, her voice dripping with sweetness as she said, “Aunt Thalia, look at this scarf I bought for you.
It suits. Do you like it?”
To an outsider, it might have looked like a heartwarming family scene. But the scene reeked of cold disdain to Tiffany, who stood at the top of the staircase with her arms crossed as she watched Sandra buttering up to Thalia.
The Olson family had moved to Lovell City from the countryside a year ago only because of her father’s soft heart. He felt obligated to help and support them because they were family.
After endless flattery from the Olsons, he finally brought them to the city. The Kelleys provided them with everything they could need, and her father even arranged for her uncle to take on the deputy manager role at the Kelley Group.
But the comfort of their new life only fed their greed. This shameless family began treating everything that belonged to the Kelleys as their own, eventually even harboring murderous intentions to seize it all.
To Tiffany, the most absurd part was that Stan Olson and his family were nothing more than distant relatives. It all came down, she thought, to the sheer greed that drove people to such lengths.
Yet, Tiffany had to acknowledge the Olsons’ skill in manipulation. They had exploited her parents’ kindness so thoroughly, keeping them under their control with feigned sweetness, much like Sandra was doing now.
Tiffany descended the stairs, her footsteps drawing the attention of Thalia and Sandra.
As Tiffany made her way down in a custom-made gown, her flawless skin and slender figure were captivating. Her stunning face, untouched by makeup, radiated effortless grace. The spoiled demeanor she once carried had transformed into a languid elegance and nobility.
As their eyes followed her, Tiffany’s smile appeared. It was sweet yet enigmatic, as alluring as a rose with its hidden thorns and as serene as a spring blossom. This blend of charm created a mesmerizing presence.
If the old Tiffany had been merely a pretty face, now she was breathtakingly beautiful, exuding a transcendent grace and magnetic charms that made hearts race.
Sandra was momentarily stunned, unable to shake the sense of a looming threat. When she mer Tiffany’s clear almond-shaped eyes, a chilling coldness crept over her, sending shivers down her spine.