Alina barely spared the lobster a glance before moving with practiced ease. She held it steady with one hand and used her fork to lift the tail meat cleanly. Then, with a small spoon, she carefully gathered the tender flesh from the head and claws.

Each movement flowed naturally, precise and controlled, as if it were second nature. The elegance of her actions made her stand out, even among the Gilberts.

Kenzie's eyes widened, and a surge of jealousy twisted inside her.

With a sharp edge to her voice, she said, "Well, Alina, seems like you've been secretly copying Jessica just to get your table manners right."

Before her words could linger, Alina tapped the back of Kenzie's hand lightly.

Alina's gaze turned cold. "Mind your tone. Looks like I'll have to teach you some manners, so you don't embarrass yourself in public."

Rage nearly overwhelmed Kenzie. Alina really thought she could act like the lady of the house now?

She shot Pamela a desperate look, hoping for support, but Pamela only smiled. "I didn't expect Alina to carry herself so well. Kenzie, she's right. You should learn from her."

Left without a comeback, Kenzie felt her anger rise to the point of dizziness.

The long, tense meal finally ended. The moment she found Alina alone, Kenzie rushed over and blocked her path.

"Alina, you..." The insult she wanted to say died on her lips when she saw Alina's raised hand. Swallowing it back, she changed her words. "How can you be so shameless? You threw away your long-term boyfriend just to marry into a wealthy family. You're ruthless."

Alina found it almost amusing. "Kenzie, what makes you so sure I was the one who chose to switch places?"

With complete confidence, Kenzie spoke. "Jessica is kind. She would never do something like that. I talked to her last night, and she told me everything. You were the one desperate to cling to our family. You even forced your way into marrying Uncle Kellan, knowing he's disfigured and can't have children. You're incredibly manipulative."

A cold sneer appeared on Alina's lips. Jessica again. It seemed she had been spreading rumors behind her back.

"Then answer me this," Alina responded, her voice turning icy. "With your uncle's condition, do you really think Jessica would've agreed to marry him willingly?"

Kenzie fell silent. Deep down, she knew that if she were in Jessica's place, she wouldn't have agreed either.

Even though the logic didn't sit right, she refused to admit it. "Jessica is kind. She would never look down on Uncle Kellan."

Alina lost interest in continuing the argument. Dealing with someone so clueless wasn't worth her time.

It baffled her that someone as sharp as Kellan could have such a foolish niece.

Without another word, Alina returned to her room upstairs.

Kellan wasn't there, which gave her a moment of peace. She opened her laptop to work, but a thought from earlier surfaced, and she decided to make a call.

On the other end, a respectful voice answered. "How may I assist you?"

Alina spoke directly. "Is there someone named Jessica Hayes working in our lab?"

"Jessica Hayes? I don't recognize that name. Give me a moment, I'll look into it." After a short pause, the subordinate came back on the line. "I found her. She joined about six months ago and is currently working as a project assistant."

It was a low-level role, the kind most people wouldn't even notice.

Given her position as lab director, Alina had no reason to pay attention to someone like that.

With a quiet acknowledgment, Alina ended the call.

At that moment, a new message from Jessica appeared on her phone.

It read, "OMG, Alan is being so good to me! He even bought me an incredibly expensive wedding gift!"

A photo followed—Vick's custom-designed necklace, worth over five million dollars.

Alina stared at the screen without any visible reaction.

She couldn't help recalling that, during their entire relationship, the priciest thing Alan had ever given her was a dress worth five hundred dollars.

Moments later, another image came through, this time showing Jessica and Alan in an intimate pose.

Along with it came another message. "Alan treats me like a princess. I don't even know how to handle it. By the way, have you met that scarred man? Hope he didn't scare you too much."

Alina didn't bother replying. Instead, she captured screenshots of the entire conversation and saved them. Then she set her phone aside and returned to her work.

She had been occupied with her work until evening fell. After taking a shower that night, she wrapped a towel around herself and began drying her hair.

The sound of the hairdryer masked the faint sound of the door opening.

When Kellan stepped inside, his gaze immediately landed on her back as she stood there, drying her hair. Her long legs were fully visible, their lines smooth and graceful.

The graceful line of her neck was especially eye-catching.

Kellan instantly felt a strong reaction stir within him.

Without hesitation, he walked toward her.

"Ah!" Alina screamed when arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.

She turned quickly, only to meet Kellan's face. Before she could react, his lips pressed firmly against hers.

Alina's eyes snapped wide with disbelief.

Her immediate reaction was to shove Kellan away, but the towel wrapped around her body was barely secure, so she had no choice but to grip it tightly with one hand instead.

Kellan's kiss gave Alina no room to think, and the strength in it left her body unsteady.

Only after what felt like far too long did Kellan finally pull back, leaving a thin thread between them as the distance slowly widened.

Heat rushed to her face, and her cheeks flushed a soft pink. Even so, the look in her eyes turned sharp with anger. "Kellan!"

"There's someone outside," Kellan muttered as he leaned closer to her ear. His breath brushed lightly against her skin, and the warmth made her shiver without meaning to.

A quiet bite pressed into Alina's lower lip. She couldn't help but wonder why everyone in this household seemed so eager to listen in on others.

There was something about her expression that caught his attention, as it held both embarrassment and irritation at the same time. He found it unexpectedly endearing.

Kellan asked, "Did anyone trouble you after I left earlier?"

A quiet shake of her head was all Alina offered in response.

As another thought crossed her mind, she spoke up again. "Tomorrow, I need to visit my mother. I will go on my own."

Rather than argue, Kellan let out a faint grunt, and his tone made it clear that joining her had never crossed his mind.

With a sharp look thrown his way, Alina turned aside and began changing her clothes.

Kellan lifted a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. To him, she felt unlike anyone he had ever dealt with before.

When night came, the arrangement remained the same, and Alina took the bed once again.

Morning arrived quietly, but the ringing of her phone pulled her out of sleep.

"Auralina, the collector's item you created has finally been sold! It went for $30 million!" Excitement spilled through the caller's voice.

At that news, Alina lifted a brow in surprise. The design carried a price that few could afford, and it had sat untouched for an entire year after she completed it. Because of that, she never imagined it would find a buyer now.

Curiosity slipped into her voice as she asked, "Do you know who bought it?"

"The buyer chose to stay unnamed. Also, when can we look forward to your next design?" The question carried clear excitement.

Still half-asleep, Alina let out a gentle yawn before answering, "I'll work on something when I find the time."

Once the call ended, she pushed herself out of bed and noticed several neatly arranged gift boxes resting on the sofa.

It didn't take long for her to figure out that Kellan must have prepared them for her visit to her mother.

She lifted the lid of one box and discovered a dress from a label she immediately recognized.

What lay inside turned out to be a custom-made gown from Lumisou, and it was a rare haute couture piece that wasn't easy to obtain.

Another box revealed a finely crafted jewelry set from Vick, and the moment Alina's eyes landed on it, shock took hold of her. Only then did it dawn on her that Kellan was the one who had purchased the design.

Something unfamiliar stirred quietly in her chest.

Never before had anyone gone out of their way to prepare such lavish clothing and accessories for her.

After slipping into the gown and fastening the jewelry in place, Alina made her way toward the villa entrance, where the driver had already arrived and stood waiting beside the car.

The driver stepped forward and opened the door, his tone polite. "I'll take you there, ma'am."

A small nod came from Alina before she entered the car.

Across town, the Hayes family's residence had already come alive with movement and noise.

Festive decorations still covered every corner of the house, and the atmosphere had not yet settled after the celebration. Lynda and Edmond stood near the entrance, clearly waiting for their daughter and son-in-law.

Not far from them, Kristy remained at their side while she kept her gaze fixed ahead, and anticipation showed plainly on her face.

The moment a sleek Porsche came into view and stopped nearby, smiles spread across all three of them, and they quickly stepped forward to welcome the arrival.

From inside the vehicle, Alan and Jessica stepped out together.

As Edmond watched his son-in-law, a sense of satisfaction settled in his chest. His eyes lingered on the polished car, and curiosity got the better of him. "I heard this Porsche model was discontinued about five years ago. Many people have tried to get one and failed."

A relaxed smile settled on Alan's face as he answered, "I placed my order at the right time, so I was able to secure one."

Even though his tone sounded easygoing, the fact that he had obtained such a car spoke volumes about his influence and standing.

The Hopkins family held more sway in the city than the Hayes family.

Because of that, Edmond's approval of Alan grew even stronger.

The young man had everything. He carried himself well, he had the looks, and he showed clear capability. Above all, he was a perfectly healthy and reliable man.

Not long after, the arrival of another vehicle drew their attention, and a Rolls-Royce came to a stop nearby. The moment it appeared, it made the Porsche beside it seem far less impressive.

Anyone familiar with luxury cars would recognize it at a glance as a rare, limited-edition model. Its value reached fifty million dollars, and for many people, owning such a car remained nothing more than a distant dream.

Curiosity filled the air, and the crowd found their attention drawn to the unfamiliar car.

Within the next moment, the driver stepped out and moved to the back door before opening it with care. From inside, Alina emerged.

Clothed in an exquisite piece of haute couture, she carried herself with quiet confidence. The elegance of the gown highlighted her beauty, and the refined look gave her a presence that felt almost regal. Without effort, she became the center of attention and left Jessica and Alan in the background.

At a single glance, Jessica recognized the jewelry adorning Alina. It came from Vick, and the design stood out as a rare custom piece that surpassed the one she had received from Alan.

Jealousy quickly took hold of her expression, and her composure began to falter. How could someone like Alina, who came from such a modest background, appear in something far more extravagant than what she owned?

It took Kristy a moment to come back to her senses. Her expression darkened, irritation flashing across her face. "Alina, you came here to visit, so why are you dressed like this? Are you that eager to get attention?"

As she saw how refined and striking Alina looked compared to Jessica, anger surged within her.

Alina met her gaze without emotion. "Mom, you and Jessica forced me into marrying Kellan. I'm part of the Gilbert family now. Does this outfit seem excessive to you? This is just how I live now."

Jessica might not have wanted that marriage, but the sight before her stirred something ugly inside.

The thought of Alina living in luxury every day only deepened her resentment.

For the first time, regret crept into her mind.

Why should Alina be the one to enjoy all of it?

Kristy's voice rose sharply. "Someone like you, born at the bottom, has no right to any of this! We sent you there to serve, not to become someone important! Don't fool yourself. Once Kellan grows tired of you, he'll toss you aside without mercy!"

Those words carried no trace of a mother's care.

Alina had long stopped expecting warmth from her.

"Let's go to my room," Alina said, stepping inside the Hayes family's residence.

Over the years, Kristy had shoved all of Alina's belongings into a cramped storage room tucked away in a corner, all so she could stay close to the Hayes family and serve them better.

Alina glanced around the cluttered space. Even the spot where her bed once stood was now buried under piles of junk.

Kristy's attention shifted to the clothes and jewelry Alina wore. Without warning, she reached out, trying to rip them off.

"So expensive? So valuable? You think you're worthy of wearing these?" Her face twisted with bitterness. "Take them off right now! No matter how high you climb, you're still nothing but trash underneath!"

The memory of Jessica's earlier expression stirred something in Kristy, making her feel even more indignant on Jessica's behalf.

Before her hand could touch Alina, it was struck away with force.

Unprepared for it, Kristy stumbled and fell, staring up in shock.

Alina moved closer step by step, her expression turning completely cold. Fear finally crept into Kristy's eyes. "W-what are you trying to do?"

Alina's voice came out icy. "Tell me. Did you know from the start that Jessica planned to send me in her place to marry Kellan?"

Kristy answered without hesitation, her tone filled with disdain, "Of course, I knew. Everything you have comes from Jessica to begin with. Whatever the Gilbert family gives you belongs to her! For the rest of your life, you're nothing more than her servant!"

That shameless look shattered whatever warmth Alina had left for her.

She once thought Kristy was simply weak and misguided, someone who clung to Jessica in hopes of securing a better future.

In that moment, she had no choice but to face a painful truth.

"Am I really your daughter, or is Jessica the one you truly care about?" Alina's voice trembled with hurt as she stepped closer.

For a split second, unease flickered across Kristy's face before she masked it. She scoffed and shot back, "What nonsense are you talking about? You're just embarrassed that I'm a maid, aren't you?"

As always, Kristy was ready to slip into the same dramatic routine of crying and complaining.

Alina shut her eyes briefly. She had seen this act too many times.

Exhaustion washed over her.

Every time she questioned Kristy, it would end the same way, with Kristy twisting everything into self-pity and accusing her of shame. She had reached her limit.

"Since you've never seen me as your daughter, then from now on, we're finished." Alina took out a bank card, threw it onto the coffee table, and turned away to leave.

"Stop!" Kristy rushed forward and grabbed Alina's wrist.

For a fleeting moment, something stirred in Alina's chest, a mix of emotions she couldn't name.

Then Kristy's next words shattered it completely. "How much is in that card? You're Mrs. Gilbert now. Don't think a few thousand will be enough to send me away!"

The words cut through Alina like ice.

Even now, money was all Kristy cared about.

Alina's voice turned completely cold. "Everything you spent raising me is in that card."

Without another glance, she pulled her arm free and walked away.

Fury consumed Kristy. In truth, she had barely spent anything on Alina while raising her.

Even school fees had come from Alina's own part-time work.

There was no way that card held much at all.

Determined to confront Alina, Kristy hurried after her, only to run into Lynda and quickly retreat out of sight.

The moment she saw Lynda, Alina lowered her eyes.

She had never envied Jessica for her wealth. What she truly envied was having a mother like Lynda. Lynda was everything Kristy wasn't. She carried herself with grace and kindness.

Back when she had nothing decent to wear, it was Lynda who quietly bought her new clothes.

Those clothes were later destroyed by Kristy though.

Many times, she had quietly wondered how different and happier her life might have been if Lynda had truly been her mother.

"Alina." Lynda reached out and held her hand, and her next words struck Alina like a shock.