Diana
I glanced toward her, then at Lana.
Back then, Lana had suddenly decided to become a lawyer. She wanted to prove she could do even better in laws school—and she did.
Or so we thought.
It wasn't until later that we found out she'd bought all her grades. But our parents covered it up for her.
Then, despite my warnings, they allowed her to represent the company in court. During the proceedings, she got into an argument with the presiding judge and offended him, costing the company the case and thereby getting in the judge's bad book.
Emilia and Jude Brooke—the same people who raised me my entire life—couldn't let their precious biological daughter face the consequences of her actions and and deemed it fit to pin the blame on me, their daughter of twenty-seven years.
So using deepfake technology, they altered the courtroom footage, splicing in my face and voice, making it look like I was the one who insulted the judge.
They leaked it, especially making sure Jonah Pellard saw it just so they could prove my instability.
He was already a terrible husband who did nothing as the internet bashed me. Even when the Brooke family accused and forced me to accept responsibility for what I didn't do, that backstabber walked straight into their trap and divorced me.
Within days, I was blacklisted by lawyers and judges alike.
Not long after, I heard Jonah was marrying Lana since the Brooke family still owed him and he needed a wife for his business to keep moving forward.
"That's impossible. Diana doesn't have a job and she's lived off you her entire life. Look at those nails, what could she possibly do with them?"
I returned to the present when I heard Lana's soft laughter and glanced at her, mentally applauding the subtle provocation.
As expected, our parents' expressions darkened.
"And that's exactly the problem," Jude snapped, pointing at me. "She's twenty-seven and has never held down a job. What's the point of law school if she won't even practice law?"
"Look at you," Emilia said gently to Lana, her voice softening. "You grew up on your own and learned how to survive. Isn't it only fair that we ask Diana to be a little more like you?"
Lana glanced at me, feigning hesitation. "Diana isn't built for that kind of life. No wonder she wants to marry Mr. Pellard."
"I didn't know you liked him too, Lana." I didn't realize when I scoffed.
Lana's eyes trembled.
During her first week back, Mother had spent days telling her about all the eligible bachelors in the city and why Jonah Pellard was the worst possible choice.
Because of the things she had heard about him, she agreed until she realized there was no man more generous with money than him.
"N-no, Mother," Lana said quickly. "Diana likes him. She's the one who's going to marry him."
"Oh, Lana," Kim cried suddenly, jumping to her feet and biting her lower lip in fake worry. "Diana humiliated us in public. I'm supposed to become her sister-in-law, yet look at how she treated me. I can't imagine how badly she'd treat you when you're so kind."
Kim glanced at me worriedly, then the next second, strutted toward me, dangling a finger in my eyes.
"This is irritating. If you won't make peace with your sister and apologize for humiliating her today, then you might as well find another place to live!"
"If Mother wants me out of the house," I said calmly, smiling, "then I'll leave."
The room fell silent.
They were clearly stunned.
After all, what did I know about making a living?
That's right. Nothing.
But learning was better than staying here and living another life that would only end in my death.
"What?" Jude scoffed, rising to his feet. "Did you expect us to beg you to stay?"
"If sister is leaving," Lana said softly, "then she should leave her credit cards behind. And she shouldn't take anything from the house either, since it all belongs to the Brooke family anyway."
I clenched my jaw.
Of course she'd remember that.
As expected, Jude nodded. "She's right. If Diana wants independence instead of apologizing to you and Kim, then she should leave with nothing."
I turned to go, only to feel something snatched from my hand.
I stopped and looked back.
Lana smiled sweetly.
"You almost took the car key with you. So I took it. Or do you want to borrow it for a fee?"
Emilia clicked her tongue. "She wants to be independent. Let her find her own way. You can use the car."
~~~
I left the mansion with nothing, my steps heavy.
Only then did doubt creep in.
The Brooke family never appreciated me, and they may have led to my death, but this wasn't how I wanted my new life to begin.
I stopped near a headlight, squinting as bright headlights suddenly shone toward me.
Seeing the black Mercedes drive toward me, out of instinct, I gripped my hand tightly in a bid to protect my phone.
Oh, that's right. I had to drop it since the Brooke family bought it for me.
So I had nothing whoever this is could possibly take from me.
I stepped onto the pedestrian path, waiting for the car to pass.
Instead, the back window rolled down and the face of a man I didn't recognize popped out.
"Why are you buying a car worth one hundred and twenty million?"