Chapter 2 No Conscience. This Is Your Sister

Clara was totally caught off guard, then she darted forward and grabbed Catherine's arm, putting on this fake lovey-dovey act. "Catherine, I know you're into Lucas, but come on, Lucas and I are a thing. Don't mess us up! What did you say to him yesterday? He's been ghosting me all day."

Catherine shot her a cold look, shook her off like she was nothing, and said, "If you hadn't brought it up, I'd have forgotten. Yesterday, some ugly dude asked for my number. He was so hideous, I didn't give it to him. Turns out he's your boyfriend."

Clara snapped, "Catherine! What the hell are you talking about?"

Catherine looked at her with zero sympathy and thought, 'I can't figure out what Clara sees in that greasy, ugly dude. Lucas's phone is like a roster for a women's soccer team with all his side chicks. They all look like Clara. What a scumbag. Only Clara would treat him like gold. She deserves whatever she gets.'

Clara saw the look in Catherine's eyes, and it hit her self-esteem hard as she thought, 'Why?! I'm the real daughter of the Smith family now! Why does Catherine still look at me like that?'

Jealousy flashed in Clara's eyes. She saw Celeste coming over, took a step, and dramatically fell to the ground, yelling, "Catherine, why did you push me!"

Catherine was speechless.

Celeste saw Clara on the ground and rushed over, all worried.

Catherine looked at Clara, who was bawling in Celeste's arms, and said, "Cut the act. You two are as fake as ever."

Celeste was shocked and said, "What do you mean by that? Are you blaming me for favoring Clara before?"

Catherine clapped her hands and said coldly, "I'm not blaming you. I just think you're pathetic. It's no wonder you don't get what I'm saying. After all, I'm not your real daughter. Intelligence must be something you lacking."

Celeste snapped, "Stop right there! What are you pretending to be every day!"

A smug look flashed in Clara's eyes, and she quickly comforted the angry Celeste. "Celeste, don't be mad. Catherine doesn't know how tough life will be for her when she goes back home. I feel bad for her. I heard it's rough for girls in the mountains."

With that, the nanny who had raised Clara for years chimed in.

"Ms. Smith is right. With Catherine's attitude, she'll end up marrying some old guy who can't afford a wife and get beaten up by him!"

"Ms. Smith is so kind to still care about Catherine."

"Ms. Smith has always worked harder than Catherine since she was a kid."

These words were music to Clara's ears as she smirked, but she noticed Catherine was still smiling indifferently.

'How can Catherine still be smiling? She must be faking it!' Clara thought.

Celeste, still fuming, snatched the computer from Catherine's hands and said, "Do you think you grew up on your own? Even if I make you leave with nothing, you must listen to me!"

Clara was stunned, looking at Celeste with great anticipation and thinking, 'Whoa! This is getting wild!'

Oliver rushed over, grabbed the computer, and handed it back to Catherine as he thought, 'After all, Catherine is still my daughter. If this blows up, how am I supposed to keep living here?'

Oliver was all about his reputation and couldn't afford to lose face like this! "Catherine, before you go, is there anything you want? The Smith family's got plenty. We can give you whatever."

The nanny kept stirring the pot.

"Every time I see Catherine, I get the creeps."

"She's from some poor place. Who knows what weird stuff she might know?"

"I say we don't let her take anything. A girl who installs surveillance cameras at home is seriously scary!"

Catherine ignored them, bent down, and started packing her stuff.

She looked up, her clear eyes locking onto Celeste and Clara, and smiled lightly, "It took me years to realize how much you two look alike. You're only freaking out now because you're about to get engaged to Lucas and can't keep it together? Thanks a lot. Otherwise, I'd have to figure out how to break off the engagement myself."

'From childhood to now, no matter what I did, Celeste always favored Clara. She even told me studying wasn't necessary because the Smith family didn't need grades. Later, I found out it was because Clara was jealous of my good grades and cried to Celeste about it. If I scored too high, Celeste would scold me for not considering Clara's feelings. In Celeste's eyes, even the daughter of a so-called nanny is more important than me, her real daughter. What does that say? Celeste, who's done something wrong, should know.' Catherine thought as she smirked and looked at Oliver.

"I don't want anything, but I've got a 'big gift' for you. Hope Mr. and Mrs. Smith like it. It'll be delivered after I leave." Her words were icy, clearly cutting ties with the Smith family, with no intention of ever reconnecting.

Oliver's face was turning red.

Celeste, hearing this, felt like Catherine was still threatening her even as she was about to leave. She was furious and, ignoring Clara's fake attempts to stop her, rushed forward to slap Catherine. "How dare you say you want to break off the engagement with the Johnson family? I'm telling you, once you leave, don't think about coming back. We won't recognize you anymore!"

Celeste tried to grab the suitcase from Catherine's hand, but before she could slap her, Catherine dodged.

The people behind Celeste didn't have time to stop her, and she hit the wall head-on, instantly getting a huge bump on her head!

Celeste let out a loud scream, "How dare you push me!"

Clara was startled, quickly rushing to support Celeste.

Catherine stood still, cold as ice: "I haven't even touched you yet."

In her eyes, Celeste and Clara were nothing but clowns.

Her look made Celeste feel a bit guilty, lowering her raised hand.

Oliver, trying to calm things down, said, "What's the point of all this drama? Let's all go see Catherine off. It might be the last time we see her."