Chapter 17 She Just Loves Stealing Other People's Family
Emily's little clique had barely formed before being forced to disband again.
As the afternoon drew to a close, the results for the art class assignment were announced.
The calligraphy piece submitted by Sophia, created by Lucas, was the only one in the entire grade, making it exceptionally prominent.
She was fortunate enough to win first place.
The top three works would be featured in an auction, with parents and board members participating. The final sale proceeds would be donated to charity in the contestants' names, essentially rewarding them with a good reputation.
Sophia pondered this, using Lucas's artwork to build her own reputation felt a bit shameless, didn't it? Maybe she should tell him there was prize money?
How much would be appropriate?
"Amelia, what's the usual prize money for school competitions?"
Amelia didn't understand why Sophia was suddenly asking such a question. Did she want prize money? But she wasn't short on cash!
She was confused but willing to answer, "I heard Oakwood High School had a debate competition last semester with prizes ranging from $300 to $500."
"That's pathetically stingy!" Sophia frowned with disdain.
Amelia knocked her on the head. "Ms. Johnson, students at Oakwood High School spend about $5 on breakfast. Five hundred dollars would cover their breakfast for three months!"
Sophia fell silent, unfamiliar with the struggles of ordinary people.
If regular schools offered $300 to $500, then Silver Fir Academy giving $3,000 to $5,000 would be reasonable, right?
Sophia made up her mind and looked at Amelia. "Help me get an art competition certificate—something that looks appropriately prestigious."
Amelia grew even more confused. "What do you need that for?"
Sophia slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up, turning back with a radiant smile. "To trick a kid."
Watching her walk away, Amelia scratched her head.
She didn't understand, but she'd do it anyway.
During dismissal, the school gates were at their liveliest. Several street food vendors had set up shop, and despite Silver Fir Academy being full of wealthy kids, teenagers still couldn't resist the allure of street food.
Among the coming and going figures, Sophia immediately spotted James with his distinctive build and striking appearance.
He looked like an elegant scholar—refined and handsome, yet gentle and warm. When his eyes were downcast, a touch of melancholy seemed to flow through his features.
Sophia thought that if James ever went into acting, he'd surely capture countless girls' hearts.
Just look at Amelia—one glimpse of James and she'd already forgotten what her fiancé looked like.
"James..."
"James!"
Two voices overlapped. Sophia followed the sound and saw Emily beaming brightly as she ran toward James.
Seeing Emily's radiant smile, James's emotions immediately began to struggle. He remembered how, in the past, when he'd pick her up after school, she would run toward him with the same excitement.
He used to dote on Emily so much. When the Johnson family had just gone bankrupt and everything was still unchanged, they'd take the bus home together, sometimes spontaneously deciding to walk instead.
Every time, halfway through the walk, Emily would complain about being tired and playfully ask for a piggyback ride. He never refused, happily carrying Emily home. She'd rest against his back, swinging her legs, excitedly saying, "Having James by my side is wonderful! My brother is the best in the world! I'm the happiest girl in the world!"
Happiness came easily, but it shattered in an instant.
Her smile had disappeared at some point, replaced by twisted malice.
"I don't want to squeeze onto the bus anymore! I'm sick of that sour stench! Carry me home!"
"How are you so useless? We've barely walked anywhere and you're already done?"
"Why don't you buy a bicycle? If you don't have money, get a job!"
In the end, she'd thrown away her once-beloved raccoon plushie, just as she'd thrown away her words about James being the world's best brother.
James swallowed hard, suppressing the churning emotions in his chest, unsure how to treat Emily now.
Emily didn't notice his distress, still smiling sweetly. "James, I really miss going to and from school together! Too bad I transferred to Silver Fir Academy—the classmates don't seem to like me much. They only play with Sophia."
As she spoke, her smile gradually faded, and her eyes began to redden, as if Sophia had led the others in excluding her, making her feel wronged.
James caught the implication in her words. Thinking of his recent interactions with Sophia, he almost blurted out a defense, "Sophia isn't like that."
Sophia wouldn't be so petty. Though she'd been raised in luxury for seventeen years, she was easygoing and generous. She never looked down on the Johnson family's small home, never complained about the hard bed boards, complimented their mother's cooking, bought caramel apples for Lucas, and considered their needs while offering help.
Sophia was truly wonderful.
She was so wonderful that it made him feel guilty—he couldn't help her with anything, yet she kept giving.
Emily's expression froze. She'd assumed that no matter how decisively Sophia had left the Smith family, it was just bravado. Once she saw the Johnson family's shabby house, all her rich-girl attitude would come out.
But James actually had a good impression of Sophia! In just two or three days, he seemed to have completely forgotten Emily, whom he'd lived with for seventeen years, and accepted Sophia instead!
"Ms. Smith, I had no idea you had such a strange hobby of claiming random relatives."
Having clearly heard James's defense, Sophia curved her lips and walked over.
Her bright eyes relaxed slightly, revealing a hint of danger and sharpness. "Or do you just love stealing other people's family members?"
"Sophia."
Seeing Sophia, James's gloom cleared away entirely. A warm smile graced his lips, and he didn't spare Emily another glance.
He straddled his bicycle. "Let's go home."
Sophia's eyes trembled slightly, her lips slowly curving into a gentle arc as she settled onto the bike's back seat. "Let's go home."
Watching their departing figures, jealous fire blazed in Emily's eyes. They looked so happy chatting and laughing together, but that happiness should have been hers!
Emily gritted her teeth, clenching her fists so tightly that her freshly done nails dug into her flesh without her noticing the pain.
Her breathing grew increasingly short until their figures disappeared from view. Only then did she turn away hatefully and get into the luxury car she'd once dreamed of having.
What family? What Johnson family? Just a bunch of poor people! She was the heiress to the Smith family!
She was the one standing at the top of the pyramid!
She was the winner!