Chapter 1: Expelled from Home
Serenitia City, The Smith Mansion, second floor.
Clara Smith wore a plain white princess dress and took out her compact mirror to check her pretty face.
She clutched her handkerchief, gritting her teeth as she looked at Catherine, whom she'd hated since childhood, and said:
"I'm the real daughter of the Smith family. You're just a fake!"
Last month, the Smith family had a full medical checkup and discovered that Catherine didn't match either Oliver Smith or Celeste Brown!
Clara held up her maternity test report with Celeste, her eyes full of smugness.
She'd grown up with Catherine - why should she be just the nanny's daughter while Catherine got to be the high-and-mighty Smith family daughter?
Now things were back where they belonged. Everything was finally hers!
Behind Clara, Oliver and Celeste were looking at Catherine.
When Celeste saw Catherine looking at her, she reached up to wipe away tears that weren't there.
"Catherine, no one expected Clara to be our real daughter. We can't bear to part with you either, but we should send you back. I can't stand to see you separated from your real parents - that would be too cruel."
Oliver actually thought it was fine to raise two daughters.
But Celeste said Clara had been bullied by Catherine growing up, and it wouldn't be fair to Clara if they still lived together.
As for Catherine, as soon as Oliver put out the word, he got a call from Tranquil County looking for their lost child.
That accent on the phone was really thick!
Oliver could barely understand what they were saying.
Tranquil County - that was the middle of nowhere. Most people there made their living farming!
"Catherine, don't worry. It's fine if your parents are farmers. When I was on the phone, I heard chickens in the background, so at least when you're hungry, you can eat roasted chicken."
Clara couldn't help but burst out laughing.
What a poor place!
They even raise chickens!
"Dad, you don't know those poor places - chickens are worth more than people. How could they just eat them whenever they want?"
Clara's face was full of superiority.
Catherine had seen through them long ago.
They called it a family medical checkup, but wasn't it really because Catherine had come of age and the engagement with the Johnson family needed to move forward?
The Johnson family wanted to get engaged soon, and someone got anxious, wanting Catherine to leave the Smith family quickly to make way for their real daughter who'd been raised under the nanny's name.
Catherine looked at them with contempt and disdain, speaking without any attachment.
"I was leaving anyway. You don't need to put on this act. Before I go, give me back my computer."
Her expression was calm, her eyes bright, and every movement carried a noble elegance that Clara could never imitate.
How annoying! What's she showing off for!
"Catherine, your computer is five years old. I wouldn't even want it. Did you lose it by accident?"
The nanny, cook, and driver behind them all chimed in with complaints.
"That's right. Only someone as petty as Catherine would think a five-year-old computer is something valuable."
"Say less. Catherine's about to go back to the countryside - the people there probably don't even know what a computer is."
Clara's face was full of smugness.
Catherine looked at her calmly, pulled out her phone, tapped her finger lightly, and immediately brought up a clear surveillance video.
It clearly showed Clara sneaking into Catherine's room last night when no one was paying attention and taking her computer.
In the footage, Clara was holding the computer with a twisted expression on her face.
"Why does Grandma only treat you well! I'm the real Smith family daughter!"
Clara had nothing to say.
Was Catherine crazy? She actually installed surveillance in her own room!
And she caught Clara cursing out her grandmother Elodie Smith.
Celeste quickly pulled Clara behind her, as if Catherine was going to eat her alive.
"Catherine, you're so inconsiderate. This is your home too. How can you install surveillance at home? We have a lot of business secrets - what if they accidentally get leaked!"
When Celeste put it that way, Oliver's expression became serious.
"Catherine, let me see your phone. I want to check if you installed surveillance anywhere else."
Catherine was speechless.
She really had no interest in the Smith family's little business.
Right in front of Oliver, Catherine formatted all the files on her phone and restored it to factory settings.
Oliver felt a bit awkward and said with a laugh, "I'm not doubting you."
Catherine said coldly, "Watch what you say. You're not my father anymore. Give me back my computer and I'll leave right now."
Oliver gave an embarrassed smile and turned to have Clara find Catherine's computer.
Clara muttered, "You won't even let go of this old thing. Tranquil County probably doesn't even have internet."
This broken computer won't even turn on now, but Catherine, who's about to go live a hard life, treats it like a treasure.
Catherine glanced at her coolly.
This computer was a gift from Elodie. She'd modified it herself later. While it was indeed precious, it wasn't something she couldn't give up.
She could rebuild the computer, and she could do without these so-called family members too!
It's just that this thing had a different meaning to her.
In the entire Smith family, from top to bottom, everyone favored Clara. Only Elodie had loved her since childhood, giving her warmth that she treasured for life.
But Elodie had passed away recently, making the Smith family even less important to her.
Catherine turned and walked toward the front door without any sign of reluctance.
Celeste, who had been preparing to say something warm and touching, felt quite embarrassed.
"What kind of attitude is that? Your elders are talking to you nicely, and you're making faces. You both grew up together, but your personalities and character are worlds apart!"
From Oliver, Celeste also learned that Catherine's real parents weren't doing very well.
She heard the family was very poor, in one of the most backward poverty-stricken mountain areas in the country, where the village didn't even have a proper road.
Catherine's parents were farmers, she had older brothers and sisters at home, and Catherine's grandparents were in poor health too.
Going to such a poor and backward family, Catherine definitely wouldn't have a good life.
She'd probably have to support the family at a young age, working like a slave!
Clara's years of inferiority from being under Catherine's thumb turned into thick confidence. She got up and followed Catherine: "Catherine, I'll see you out."
Oliver looked at Celeste with some disapproval.
"Say less. Catherine took care of you and Mom when you were sick before."
Celeste glared at him.
"Took care of us? We gave her good food and drink - she should look at her own status. I'm just afraid she'll covet Clara's marriage. The engagement with the Johnson family can only belong to our real daughter!"
Lucas had an engagement with the Smith family, so naturally it should go to the Smith family's real daughter, not Catherine, this fake daughter who'd stolen the nest!
Besides, Clara had been close to Lucas since childhood, so their relationship was naturally very good.
Compared to Catherine, Clara, the real daughter, was truly thoughtful and considerate. Clara's identity was finally restored through this opportunity, which put Celeste in a much better mood.
Thinking of her own marriage, Clara also fawned over them, clutching her handkerchief with a happy smile.
Clara had loved competing since childhood, especially enjoying taking Catherine's things.
From small things like jewelry, food, and clothes, to big things like Oliver and Celeste's affection.
Because she didn't care, Catherine never took it to heart, just thinking that Clara had stolen the nest since childhood and the Smith family couldn't see people clearly.
As for Lucas Johnson, if Clara hadn't mentioned it, Catherine would have almost forgotten such a person existed.
"Clara, you really want every man, don't you."