His words pierced my heart like a dagger. Furious and humiliated, I slammed the bowl onto the table.
At that moment, Yvette suddenly stood up and “accidentally” bumped into my wrist. The bowl tilted, spilling the scalding, oily soup all over me. A burning pain spread across my skin, and I gasped in agony.
Before I could recover, Yvette cried out dramatically. “Ah! It hurts! Lauren, even if you’re unhappy with me, you shouldn’t pour hot soup on me! Are you trying to ruin my face?”
Jameson stormed over and shoved me hard. “Lauren! How could you stoop so low!?”
Shards of the broken bowl pierced my palm, sending a sharp, searing pain shooting through my hand and into my chest. Tears welled up in my eyes and finally spilled over as I stared at Jameson, my heart breaking all over again.
But he didn’t spare me a glance, his entire focus on checking Yvette’s neck with concern.
“Are you okay, Yvette?” he asked gently.
Yvette shook her head pitifully, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at me. “I’m fine. But Lauren seems upset. Did I do something wrong? I shouldn’t have complained about the pain. I’m sorry, Lauren.”
Jameson finally turned his gaze to me, filled with irritation and disgust. “Lauren, if you can’t behave during the New Year, get out. Stop ruining everyone’s mood.”
Yvette chimed in with feigned kindness. “James, Lauren accidentally spilled soup on herself. Her clothes are dirty, and sending her out like this would embarrass the Hall family. Why not let her change before leaving?”
Her tone was filled with concern, but the subtle superiority in her words made it clear she saw herself as the true mistress of the Hall family.
Moments later, perceptive servants led me to a room.
The instant we entered, they began pulling at my clothes. I resisted, but my struggles only left my garments disheveled, exposing large swathes of skin.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
I turned instinctively toward the source of the change, only to be blinded by a flash.
Click!
It was Yvette with a camera, a triumphant smile on her lips.
“Well, well, long time no see, my little stand-in,” she taunted, her tone dripping with malice.
A chill ran down my spine, my body stiffening as if stabbed by needles. My face turned ghostly pale.
The scene before me transported me back to those dark days when I was mercilessly bullied.