"We recently signed her as our brand ambassador. It's normal for her to try on the ring," he said.

"Samantha." He then rebuked me, "Clara is still your sister. After all, you both are family. Don't be so petty."

Initially, Clara's father was my family's driver. One day, he got into an accident while driving our car under the influence and passed away. My mother, feeling sorry for Clara's mother, allowed her to work as a housekeeper in our home.

I never expected that less than three months after my mother’s death, my father would marry Clara’s mother. He knew how much this upset me. To make matters worse, Clara betrayed me. She stole my fiancé, Gerry Donaldson, at my lowest point. No, he called me petty?"

When he saw me lower my gaze in silence, Shane sighed and pulled me into his arms as he coaxed me, "Samantha, I know you feel like she took your father away and that you long for a real home. Yet, your career is still on the rise so I don’t want you to waste your talent by getting married now."

Back then, Clara had also said she didn’t want me to waste my talent. She even took the initiative to send me my design submission. However, on the last day, she tearfully claimed she had lost my draft.

I did not ask her to be responsible for her negligence. Instead, I put the blame on myself for not sending it personally.

That day, I went without food or water, desperately redrawing my design. I submitted it at the very last second. Yet, instead of getting the award that I had been waiting for, I was branded as a plagiarist who imitated a newcomer's idea. I had never imagined that it was all Shane's handiwork.

What's more, I never imagined that he would dare to have the cheek to ask me to join their company and help them make money!

"Shane, you once said we’d get married if I got pregnant. Did you mean it?"

My fingers clenched around the pregnancy test report in my pocket. I lifted my gaze and watched him carefully because I did not want to miss any reaction on his face.

He stiffened slightly and lowered his eyes to the floor with a hoarse voice he said, "I … I also want to have a child with you, but the doctor said that your body is not suitable for pregnancy. It's not that I don't want to be responsible, it's just for your own good!”

The paper in my hand crumpled as my grip tightened. A sharp ache spread through my chest, my eyes stinging. I lowered my head because I did not want him to see my tears.

"Alright," I said.

For my sake? What a joke.

For years, everyone said Shane adored me. That he cherished me so much like I was his treasure. Every single day, he held my hand and whispered his love for me even in his drunken stupors.

I had naïvely believed he was given to me as the way heaven compensated me. I was sent the perfect man when I was at my lowest. However, it was all a lie. He had only been pretending to love me for Clara's sake.

I felt a large void open in my heart as the cold wind was rushing into it.

"Samantha, your father’s birthday banquet is in two days. I’ll go with you, alright? Be good."

I didn’t say anything, yet an ominous feeling grew stronger deep in my heart.

On the day of the banquet, I arrived early to help with the arrangements. Yet, I couldn't reach Shane the entire day.

It wasn't until Clara walked into the venue with him on her arm. They were like a pair of couples. They were then surrounded by the crowd.

When Clara saw my father's face a bit gloomy, she unhurriedly went up to hold my father's hand and acted cute in front of him.

"Daddy, I’m the ambassador for Shane’s company now! Of course, I should be walking in with him."

Shane chimed in, "Uncle Gregory Jenkins, Gerry has been busy with a new project lately. Since Clara is pregnant, I’ve been looking after her instead."

Clare turned to me then, her eyes wide with faux surprise. "Oh! Sister, why are you wearing white? While white is pretty, don’t they say it’s best worn at funerals…? Ah! No, I mean, today is Daddy’s birthday so you should’ve worn something more festive."

I had been about to retort that this was the outfit that Shane had picked for me as a couple. However, when I turned around, I saw that he was wearing a blue suit and I froze.

Allam averted his eyes somewhat uncomfortably.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside. A bad feeling surged in my chest. Before I even got close, I could hear staff members arguing with the delivery workers.

"Let us in! These are the funeral wreaths ordered by Miss Samantha! Move aside!"

"No, I didn’t order them. This is my dad’s birthday banquet. You must have the wrong place," I denied.

"I recognize you, Miss Samantha!" the delivery man said. "It was you! You came to our shop yesterday, picked them out yourself and even insisted on getting the biggest ones! Look at you, you dressed in all white, are you really going to deny it?"

I furiously cut him off and ordered the staff to drive them away. However, when I turned back, I saw my father’s angry expression.

"Samantha, so you really still resent your mother’s death? I’m so disappointed in you ...."

With that, he turned and left without hesitation, just like he had for so many years. He always listened to Clara and never stopped to hear my side of the story.

I looked at Shane in panic. He gave me a reassuring nod and stepped forward to talk to my father.

"Big sister, do you like my gift?" Clara smirked

"Clara! You know Dad has a heart condition! He’s spoiled you for years—why would you do this to him?"

She didn’t answer. Instead, she raised an eyebrow smugly and admired the delicate ring on her slender finger. Then she asked, "Does this ring look nice? Shane specially made it for me. Samantha, you are really shameless, you actually pestered Shane again after you had been dumped, didn't you hear all the recordings on that day?”

Smack!

A sharp pain burned across my face. She shook her hand out and looked down at me condescendingly.

"Samantha, everything you have belongs to me!" Before I could do anything, she suddenly grabbed my hand and slapped herself with it. Then, she dramatically fell backward onto the table. Crash!

The wine on the table splattered all over the place. She winced and her eyes filled with tears that streamed down her face as she sobbed, "Samantha, I’m sorry! I just wanted you to be nicer to Dad!

My father and Shane rushed over at the sound. He pushed me aside and anxiously examined Clara.

"I didn’t do anything! She was the one …."

"Samantha, shut up! Clara has always been a kindhearted child and you, my own daughter, how could I not know how vicious you are?"

My father cradled Clara in his arms. His eyes that were directed at me were full of impatience.

"Samantha, how could you push Clara? Hurry up, apologize to her!" Shane who had just comforted me a moment ago now glared at me with anger.

I took a deep breath and turned around. All I wanted was to leave, but Shane grabbed my wrist and said, "Samantha, apologize to Clara. I have been indulging in your wish too much and making you this wicked woman.

It felt like a claw was gripping my heart, making it impossible for me to breathe.

"Why should I apologize? I did nothing wrong! Why can’t you trust me, just this once?" I asked.

"If you apologize to Clara, I’ll forget your disgraceful behavior tonight. Otherwise, don’t even dream about winning this year’s design competition!"

I stared at him in shock. He knew I had spent more than six months to prepare for this competition. I had sketched, revised even scrapped and started over to create the perfect submission.

All my friends said I was practically guaranteed to win this year.

"Shane, it’s okay! Don’t blame, Clara. Just take it as me being clumsy ... Ah!"

She struggled to get up but then she clutched her ankle in pain as she winced.

Shane immediately checked her injury and without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the hall in princess style. He was completely oblivious to the shocked gazes around them.

When I met my father’s gaze, I saw nothing but disappointment and anger in his eyes.

"Get out! Before my banquet starts, just get out! You’re an embarrassment!"

With that, he left as he wrapped onto my stepmother, who had just arrived.

Utterly defeated, I reached up to touch my swollen cheek and felt a slight dampness. It seemed her sharp nails had cut my skin.

I left the banquet and took a taxi to the hospital. On the way, I received a message from a friend. He was one of the judges for the competition.

"Samantha, what is going on? Shane had just called and withdrew your reward!" he asked.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes in exhaustion.

Right at the entrance of the hospital building, I bumped into a doctor from the obstetrician and gynecologist department. He asked, "Miss Jenkins, what brings you to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

I shook my head, trying to smile, but the motion pulled at the cut on my cheek.

You need to take care of yourself because you have a weak body. No stress, no late nights, okay?" he advised.

Just then, a commotion erupted nearby. I looked up and saw Shane anxiously dragging an emergency doctor over to check on Clara.

"I understand," I muttered.

“Where's the father? I still have some precautions to explain to him!” he inquired.

I instinctively touched my lower abdomen and glanced toward Shane, who was holding Clara so tenderly. A bitter smile curled my lips and I said hesitantly, "The child had no father. I'll give birth to it alone."

The doctor looked momentarily surprised but softened his tone. "Your health is fragile and the pregnancy is unstable. You must be careful."

"Doctor, I’ve already contacted the hospital at the Trifecta Country and arranged to deliver there. I’m leaving tomorrow."

Just as I was about to leave, I received a message from Clara. [Can you believe it, Samantha? I just sprained my ankle and Shane rushed me to the hospital. He even gave me a lucky jade pendant!]

I opened the attached photo. My breath caught. That pendant was so familiar to me because it was my mother’s keepsake.

How did she get it?

I rushed to Clara's hospital room, only to find Shane meticulously peeling fruit for her. It was something he had never done for me.

"Clara! Give me back the jade pendant!" I shouted angrily.

Clara froze hearing my shout but with feigned innocent she asked, "Samantha, I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Hearing the anger in my tone, Shane immediately stood in front of her to block her from me and looked at me condescendingly as he said, "Samantha, I thought you came to apologize. I didn’t expect you to act so ungrateful!"

I thought I could stay indifferent, but the coldness in his eyes pierced me like an icy dagger.

"Shane! How could you give my mother’s pendant away?" I shouted.

"It’s just a useless broken jade pendant! Why are you so worked up?" he asked.

Smack! I was so angry that I slapped him.

"That’s not just an ordinary pendant! It’s the only thing my mother left me!" I yelled.

Shane’s face darkened with regret, but before he could say anything, Clara who saw his expression suddenly shouted with rage, "Samantha! What right do you have to hit him? Isn't it just a trash? I'll return this to you!"

Before I could do anything, she had hurled the pendant hard to the floor and it shattered into several pieces.

A crushing weight pressed against my chest and I gasped for breath.

"Ah! Clara! Look at your face!"

A shard had bounced up and cut Clara's cheek. Seeing this, Shane panicked and ran to call the doctor.

My eyes zeroed to Clara who had shed all her pretense from her demeanor. Seeing the smugness in her eyes, I asked in a hoarse voice, "You've taken away my father and Shane, so tell me Clara, why are you doing this?"