Sylvana's POV
On the first day I was brought back into the wealthy Kessler family, they threw a welcome dinner for me.
At the table, my younger sister picked up a shrimp with its shell and dropped it into my bowl. Then she turned to me with a sweet smile and said, “Shrimp shells are nutritious. They’re good for calcium.”
"The Kesslers count as a rich household. So, how broke do you have to be to eat shrimp shells for calcium?"
The family, who had been enjoying this rare moment of reunion, suddenly froze.
Turned out I mumbled it out loud.
——
Even so, I continued inwardly, 'Human stomach acid can’t even digest shrimp shells. If you want to save money, just drink more milk. Besides, shrimp shells are basically kitchen waste.'
My sister, Elowen Kessler, immediately darkened her expression.
Seeing her reaction, I'd decided to drop the topic.
'Forget it. She kind of has that adenoid face. She's probably not very bright. Better not invite trouble,' I thought dismissively.
As Elowen unconsciously put down her chopsticks, I still went on with my thought, pitifully promising, 'My research project at the institute is almost done. Once it enters the clinical stage, if it passes, I should get her something to eat first and then fix her genetic defects early.'
Elowen’s eyes instantly turned red. Her lips trembled as she spoke, sounding utterly wronged. “It’s all my fault for stealing my sister’s life. Sylvana must have suffered so much living in the mountains. Why don’t you send me there instead, so she won’t hate me?”
My mother pulled her into a tight embrace, her face full of heartbreak, while my father frowned deeply.
Only my brother, Jasper Kessler, slammed his chopsticks onto the table and glared at me with undisguised disgust.
“What’s your problem? Someone kindly gives you a shrimp, and you treat it like an insult? I told them from the beginning that you shouldn’t come back. So many years have passed, why did you insist on returning and disturbing our family? Are you after our family's fortune? Don’t even think about it. Every penny in this house belongs to Elowen. You won’t get a cent!” he spat.
My mother hugged Elowen again, then turned on me reproachfully. “You just got home, and you’re already fighting with your sister? Hurry up and apologize to her!”
I calmly set down my chopsticks and looked around at these so-called blood relatives. "I really don’t want to eat trash. Isn’t it obvious that this fake innocent act is just a performance? She cried for a long time, and not a single tear came out. Do I have to eat shrimp shells to keep her happy?"
Why did everyone in this family seem… not very smart? Did long-term exposure to low intelligence lower yours, too? Once my medication passed clinical trials, maybe I should let them try it.
The entire family fell silent in an instant. They exchanged quick, uneasy glances. The atmosphere at the table became strange and stiff.
I should’ve never listened to my mentor. Why did I even come back? This felt like a cheap, boring stage drama.
Jasper shot me a vicious look. “Let me make this clear. You’re not going to drive a wedge between us. Don’t think that just because we have the same blood running through our veins, you’re entitled to anything. These shrimp shells used to be mine. If you don’t appreciate them, then don’t even think about fitting into this family!”
As he spoke, Jasper swept all the shrimp shells into his own bowl and started crunching on them loudly.
My father seemed completely unfazed by this scene. He set down his chopsticks and looked at me calmly. “Sylvana, right? You’ve lived in the mountains all your life. Coming back to the city must be hard to adjust to. For now, we’ll arrange for you to work in the company’s cleaning department. It’ll help you get familiar with how the business operates.”
Then he turned to Elowen, whose eyes were still red, and gently rubbed her head with indulgence. “Elowen, you’re the child your mother and I raised ourselves. Even if you’re not related by blood, you’re family to us. As for your sister, she'd never eaten shrimp before. She didn’t know that shrimp shells help with calcium. So, don’t take it to heart.”
After that, his tone softened further. “Didn’t you just graduate and want an internship? Go to the CEO’s office first and work as a deputy assistant director. Once you’re familiar with things, I’ll let you take charge of one of the subsidiaries.”
