Kelsey's POV
“Tch, seriously, Kelsey? Can you stop with the same tired threat already?” Belinda scoffed. “Telling Francis you don’t want to marry him, how outdated is that?”
Just then, Mom came out of the kitchen holding a bowl of congee. She glanced at me with thinly veiled disgust and said, “Don’t want to marry? Fine. That works out great for Francis and Belinda. Honestly, you’ve always been the extra in this house. At least now we don’t have to keep pretending.”
Everyone in this house looked at me like I was some disease.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.
I turned around and headed back to my room, shut the door behind me, and quietly pulled out the suitcase I’d already packed.
Most of the clothes and jewelry I owned were from Francis, which he gifted me at every event, party, and dinner he took me to. He also always brought me something when he returned from business trips, saying seeing me happy made it all worth it, no matter the price.
Just as I was lost in the memory, the door opened and in walked Belinda, carrying a bowl of oatmeal and a smug smile on her face.
“Hey, Kelsey. Since Francis is busy with a meeting in the study, I was thoughtful enough to bring you breakfast. Don’t waste my kindness, okay?”
I glanced up at her, and she looked so fake that it made my stomach turn.
“I’m not hungry. Please leave,” I flatly refused.
“Why should I? You’re the one who should be leaving. I know you're just pretending to pack, but you’re just waiting for Francis to come running after you. Women like you are so easy to read.”
She laughed mockingly, then gasped and covered her mouth in an exaggerated show of innocence.
“Oh wait… I forgot. You’re not exactly a real woman, are you?”
Smirking, she pulled out a small box and flipped it open to show off a golden flower hairpin.
“You see this? Francis bought it for me at an auction. Said if I liked it, he didn’t care how much it cost.”
My heart immediately sank upon seeing it.
I knew that pin.
He had promised it to me years ago when we visited a private collector. Seeing me staring at it for so long, he pulled me into his arms and whispered that if it ever went to auction, he’d make sure it would be mine.
And yet, here it was, in her hands.
Triumphant, Belinda shut the box like it was a priceless treasure. Then she looked around my closet and wrinkled her nose.
“Tacky. After all these years as an adopted daughter, your taste is still trash.”
She then punctuated her insult with a harsh kick to my suitcase, only to lose her balance and slip, crashing to the ground.
The box also went flying, and the hairpin tumbled out. It hit the floor hard, bending out of shape. One of the embedded gemstones popped off and rolled away.
Seeing that, Belinda screamed. She cradled the broken pin in horror, then whipped around and pointed at me, furious.
Right on cue, Mom and Francis burst into the room.
“My hairpin!” she shrieked. “Kelsey, this is all your fault! Why didn’t you move your stupid suitcase? Or did you do it on purpose because you were jealous? You couldn’t stand that Francis gave it to me! You’re so vile!”
I immediately turned to Francis to explain, but he didn't give me a chance.
“Yes, I gave it to her,” he said coldly. “She’s giving me a child, so she deserves something beautiful. I know you liked that pin too, but that doesn’t give you the right to destroy it out of jealousy!”
His words hit harder than any slap.
“I should’ve known,” Mom sneered. “We raised a snake. Trash will always be trash. Should’ve left you in the gutter where you belonged.”
Helpless, I endured their insults and humiliation, but I was so angry that my whole body trembled.
When I finally opened my mouth, I could feel how stiff my face had become.
“She kicked my suitcase and tumbled on her own. I didn’t touch her. Yes, I used to love that pin, but now that it’s hers? I don’t even want to look at it, just like I don’t want to look at you, Francis. Because today, I realized something. You were never good enough for me.”
