The Wrong Heiress Free Preview

"Number Ten, your two years are up. Your family's here to take you home."

Finally...

In the dim room, one flickering bulb swung overhead.

Tracy Yarwood was curled up in a corner. She lifted her head at the sound. It was the first time in a long while that her dirty face showed any emotion.

Angelic Etiquette Academy. That was what they call this place, though there was nothing angelic inside.

It was like hell.

Here, her "teachers" scolded and hit her. Her "classmates" bullied and tortured her. Every single day felt as long as a century.

She never let her guard down for a second. One slip and someone could set her up.

Can't believe it's been just two years.

Tracy was dragged out of the room like a lifeless doll and led down a long hallway.

She didn't really feel it until the iron door slammed shut behind her and the sun burned her eyes.

After two years of trying to escape and nearly dying more times than she could count, Tracy was finally free.

"Tracy?" A voice suddenly pulled her back to reality. She saw a guy standing next to a luxury sports car. He was wearing a brown leather jacket, cargo pants, and Martin boots. With sunglasses in hand, he looked at her in disbelief.

It took her a second to recognize him. That familiar-but-distant face belonged to Liam Jackman—the guy who'd been by her side as her younger brother for 18 years.

Before she hit 18, Tracy had been Cloudville's golden girl. Everyone in the city knew her and admired her. Her parents loved her, her elder brother doted on her, and her younger brother had always had her back. She even had a fiancé she'd known since she was a kid.

But everything fell apart on her 18th birthday.

A girl named Erin showed up at her party with a DNA test, claiming to be the real daughter of the Jackmans. She said the nurses had mistakenly switched them at birth.

So, Tracy's party turned into their dramatic reunion. Her parents, who'd loved her for 18 years, cried over Erin and promised to make it up to her.

Tracy stood frozen in the corner, and nobody even noticed her. She'd been looking forward to this party for a long time, but now, she wasn't the star she was supposed to be.

Her father, Benjamin Jackman, told her, "Since your real parents have passed away, you can stay with us. Raising one more daughter is nothing to us."

Her mother, Daphne Jackman, also said, "From now on, you and Erin are both our daughters. Now you have a younger sister. Isn't that nice?"

Even her protective brothers chimed in, "Don't be afraid. Even if we're not related by blood, we're still family."

But one day, Erin set her up, making everyone think Tracy had knocked her down the stairs. Then, the whole family turned against Tracy and sent her to the Angelic Etiquette Academy, a place meant to discipline wealthy families' problem kids.

Benjamin said, "Not just anyone can be part of us. From now on, go by your real father's surname—Yarwood."

Daphne added, "Tracy, your sister suffered so much growing up. You've been loved for 18 years. Why can't you ease up on her?"

Her brothers also said, "We don't want such a bad sister!"

They got rid of their trouble. No one even cared what kind of place they were dumping her in.

...

"Are you really Tracy?" Liam asked, eyes filled with doubt.

The sister he remembered used to walk with her head held high. She always wore brand-name outfits, and her nails were always clean and polished.

But now, she wore a loose, old white dress from two years ago, with an old gray hoodie over it. Her hands were rough, nails uneven. Her face, once so bright, was blank and dull.

If he didn't recognize her face, he'd probably think she was a stranger.

Liam frowned, feeling something uncomfortable rise in his chest.

That wasn't the Tracy he used to know.

Tracy snapped back to her senses and looked up briefly. When she caught Liam's eyes, she dropped her gaze. She tensed up as she instinctively stepped back.

In the Angelic Etiquette Academy, meeting someone's eyes was seen as provocation. They would curse her with the evilest words and punch her fiercely.

The rules had trained her not to look anyone in the eye.

But Liam just laughed. "Looks like this etiquette school did its job. They finally make you obedient. We should've sent you sooner—maybe Erin wouldn't have had to suffer so much."

Tracy kept her head down and said nothing. She didn't snap back in anger like she used to, like she was admitting it all.

Annoyed, Liam slipped on his sunglasses. "Hurry up and get in. I've got a race to catch. Don't waste my time.

"Erin is too kind. If she hadn't asked me to come, I wouldn't even be here."

Tracy quietly opened the car door and sat down.

Before she could buckle her seatbelt, Liam slammed on the gas.

The engine roared, and the car launched forward like a rocket.

Liam looked excited. He glanced over from behind his sunglasses, waiting for her to scream or beg him to stop.

Or maybe she would pull the big-sister card like before, warning him not to drive like a maniac off the racetrack.

If she did, he could go back and tell their parents and elder brother that she hadn't learned a thing at the etiquette school. She was still arrogant, out of line, and didn't know her place.

Unless she begged him to stop and promised to stay out of his business, he wasn't going to let her go.

But Tracy didn't say a word.

She gripped the overhead handle with all her strength. Even though her face had gone pale from fear, she stayed silent.

She'd spent two years learning how to hide fear. Her face showed nothing.

The only way she could keep the bullies off her back was by acting like she wasn't scared.

But her silence made Liam's face darken.

Like it was some kind of challenge, he slammed on the accelerator, making the car go even faster.

No matter how much he went on, Tracy just clenched her teeth so hard that her temples bulged, refusing to say a word.

When his phone rang, Liam finally slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched across the empty mountain road.

Thud!

Tracy's head hit the dashboard. A wave of pain and dizziness hit her hard.

Liam didn't even blink. He unlocked his phone and picked up the call.

He had done it on purpose.

That was his twisted way of paying her back for pushing Erin down the stairs two years ago.

The call connected.

"Mr. Liam, the race got moved up. When are you getting here?"

He looked over at Tracy. "On my way."

After hanging up, he coldly said, "Get out!"

Before she could react, he opened the door and shoved her outside.

"Call a cab yourself."

Then, he drove off, leaving her on the roadside.

Tracy stayed sitting on the ground until the spinning in her head finally eased up. She slowly stood, her body stiff and aching.

She didn't feel sad or wronged.

She checked her pockets and found just one twenty-dollar bill, two fives, and two fifty-cent coins.

Liam had told her to grab a cab, but he didn't give her a single dollar for it. He probably forgot that back when she was dumped at the Angelic Etiquette Academy two years ago, the Jackmans had stripped her of everything. They had said, "No distractions will help you learn and reform better." Not even a hair tie was left behind.

The 31 dollars she had came from the previous owner of the hoodie she was wearing.

Tracy clenched the cash, her chest tightening. Her nose stung.

She hugged the hoodie tighter, pulled up the hood, stuffed the money back into her pocket, and kept walking down the mountain.

A cold wind brushed by, and her small, lonely figure slowly disappeared into the distance.

...

The weather was getting cooler, and night crept in quickly.

Liam, fresh off a race win and a night out with friends, finally showed up at home.

The moment he walked in, he spotted his family on the couch with grim faces.

His elder brother, Andrew Jackman, frowned at him. "Weren't you picking up Tracy? Why are you back so late? And why didn't you answer any of our calls?"

Liam was stunned, pulled out his phone, and saw the missed calls.

He shrugged like it was no big deal. "I raced, remember? I only went to get Tracy because Erin asked me to."

He strolled toward the couch and finally noticed how ticked off his parents looked—and Erin's red, teary eyes.

He suddenly thought of something and asked, "Wait, Erin, did Tracy mess with you again? I knew she'd be the same! Two years didn't change her at all!"

His face twisted in anger as he rolled up his sleeves. "Where is she? Go get her—I'll teach her a lesson today!"

After blowing off steam, Liam noticed his family just stared at him in disbelief.

Daphne asked in confusion, "Wasn't Tracy supposed to come home with you? We thought she stopped you from answering the phone."

Liam froze. "She's not back yet? I told her to take a cab!"

Andrew adjusted his glasses, clearly already connecting the dots. "You ditched her halfway and went to your race, didn't you?"

Liam had always felt uneasy around his stern brother. He shrank under Andrew's stare but still mumbled, stubbornly, "She knows the way. I had a bet riding on that race. If I lost, I'd be treating everyone."

Erin turned to Andrew with red eyes. "It's all because of me that Tracy didn't come back."

She bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears. "I should've just said I fell down the stairs myself. It wasn't her fault. It was mine ... "

She walked over and tugged Andrew's sleeve. "Andrew, let's go find her. I'll apologize to her. I'm sure we can bring her home."

When Liam saw Erin cry, all his worry and guilt just melted away. After all, she was the one he cared about most—and always stood up for. "Why should you apologize? Erin, you didn't do anything wrong."

Right then, all Liam could think about was how mad he was at Tracy. "She's the same as before—still pulling the same tricks to mess with Erin.

"Andrew, if you wanna go look for her, go ahead. I won't go. There's no way she's gone for good. She just wants us to worry. Someone like her, who was greedy for money and status, wouldn't leave our family."

Before anyone could respond, a maid came in from outside and said, "Ms. Tracy has returned."

Everyone's attention shifted to the doorway, where a skinny girl quietly followed behind the maid.

Seeing Tracy again after two years, Benjamin, Daphne, and Andrew were all stunned.

It took them a second to realize that she was truly Tracy. The girl standing there looked nothing like the bright, confident version they remembered. Her head was low, and her hands were clenched tight.

Liam suddenly raised his voice smugly. "See? I told you she couldn’t stay away. She definitely would come crawling back. We didn't even have to go after her!"

Benjamin snapped out of his daze and looked at Tracy in displeasure. "You're a girl. What are you doing walking around at night alone? Do you want people gossiping about us?"

His voice was sharp. Everyone expected Tracy to argue like she always used to.

They were even ready to lecture her as long as she did so.

But Tracy just bowed her head and said calmly, "Sorry, it won't happen again."

Those words silenced them. No one saw that coming.

After a beat, Daphne stepped closer, finally taking a better look at Tracy. "Tracy, you've lost so much weight. Was it that rough at the etiquette school?"

When Daphne's warm, soft hand touched hers, Tracy stiffened.

No one knew how many times in the past two years she had hoped that someone might care about her. But she was always disappointed.

For two whole years, the Jackmans had left her in the Angelic Etiquette Academy and never checked on her.

She thought she'd moved on and accepted the fact. But now, with Daphne showing just a little concern, all that buried hurt started to rise again.

How could life have been good?

She'd been stuck in a place that treated her like nothing, where students were treated worse than animals. Life had been awful there.

Just as her grievances started to rise, she felt another hand grab hers.

"Tracy, you've seriously slimmed down! If you dressed up like before, you'd be gorgeous again," she said. She looked excited and a little jealous.

"Not like me—I'm always trying to lose weight, trying everything, but nothing works. Mom keeps saying I'm not even chubby, but she still feeds me snacks and ruins all my diet plans.

"You slim down so easily. I wish I could do that too."

In just a few words, Erin made Tracy’s weight loss sound like it was all part of some beauty plan.

Daphne believed Erin right away. She didn't seem to notice how unhealthy Tracy looked and how dry her skin was. She just let go of her hand.

And just like that, the tiny spark of warmth inside Tracy froze.

Her hands, which had been hovering in the air, slowly pulled back.

Daphne gently held Erin's hand, her tone and expression full of affection. "You're not even close to fat! Why starve yourself? It kills me to see you do that."

Erin clung to Daphne's arm, acting cute. "Mom, am I the prettiest in your heart?"

"Of course. You're the most gorgeous girl in the world," Daphne said lovingly and happily, with no trace of the concern she had shown for Tracy earlier.

Benjamin's stern expression relaxed into something softer.

Liam put away his arrogant anger and looked pleased.

Even the serious Andrew had a faint smile.

They all surrounded Erin like a happy, warm family. No one seemed to remember that Tracy had just come back after two years away.

Tracy stayed near the entrance, blank-faced, watching the cheerful scene like an outsider.

She'd seen it so many times before. Every time, it sparked anger, jealousy, and bitterness inside her.

She had tried more than once to become part of that warm family, only to be met with looks of disgust and contempt.

"Tracy, why do you have to be so petty and compete with Erin?"

"Tracy, you're so annoying!"

"Tracy, can you just stay away from us?"

"Tracy ... "

Tracy knew she wasn't wanted, so no matter how deeply she once craved their love, she'd never bother them by trying to fit in again.

She kept her head low and stepped back, shrinking into herself. She tried to disappear from a place where she never fit.

Eventually, they finally remembered Tracy was still there. Their joyful and warm expressions faded.

Daphne finally reached out again and gently asked, "Tracy, why aren't you saying anything? Did someone bully you at school?"

Tracy stiffened. Her arm trembled as Daphne held it.

She used to love talking, always trying to start conversations, like it was the only way to remind them she was there.

But to them, she was just loud and annoying. They thought she was nothing like Erin, who was quiet, obedient, and well-mannered.

At Angelic Etiquette Academy, every word Tracy said got her punished. So, she learned to be quiet.

Wasn't that what they wanted from her?

Tracy pulled her arm back, stepped away, and said in a low voice without looking up, "Thanks for asking, Mrs. Jackman. No one hurt me. Things went fine at the school."

She knew she was lucky—some people never made it out of that place alive.

Daphne stood frozen, unsure if Tracy's pulling away or her calling her differently had made her eyes turn red. "Tracy, you ... "

Wasn't Tracy supposed to be the one closest to her?

Erin quickly caught on to the moment. She grabbed Daphne's hand and looked at Tracy with teary eyes.

"Tracy, Mom really cares about you. Don't act so cold. You just hurt her feelings.

"If anyone is to blame, it's me. I'm the one who came back and took their love from you. I shouldn't have told everyone you pushed me. It's all my fault ... "

Erin's sobs immediately drew Daphne's attention. She hugged Erin protectively. "No, Erin, this isn't your fault at all. Don't cry. You did nothing wrong."

Whatever small guilt Daphne had felt toward Tracy vanished, replaced with full-blown sympathy for Erin.

She thought Erin was just too considerate.

Seeing them cry, Liam turned gloomy. "Tracy, you just got back, and you're already giving Erin a hard time? That's too much! Apologize to her right now!"

Tracy couldn't figure out what she'd done that counted as "giving her a hard time."

She hadn't said a word to Erin since walking in. And until now, she still didn't understand how those past accusations of bullying had come about.

But none of it mattered.

She'd walked a long way today. All she wanted now was to rest.

So, she bowed her head to Erin and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Ms. Erin. I didn't mean to upset you. Please forgive me."

She didn't know what she did wrong, but she knew how to give a flawless apology—the kind that sounded genuine.

If Erin needed it, she could repeat a dozen more in different ways.

Liam was still furious. "I told you to say sorry, and you're still making excuses! I—"

He froze mid-rant when he realized she had apologized. His face stayed twisted with rage, looking somewhat ridiculous.

Everyone else was just as shocked to see Tracy bow and cower.

No one expected her to apologize so easily.

Back then, even when Benjamin whipped her, she still wouldn't admit she was wrong.

That was why they sent her to the Angelic Etiquette Academy—because she shoved Erin down the stairs and almost killed her, but she never once admitted that she was responsible.

In awkward silence, Erin suddenly moved and helped Tracy up. Her face was full of emotion. "Tracy, this is the first time you've ever apologized to me. Of course, I forgive you.

"You used to always get the wrong idea about me and hurt me many times. But I believe you truly regret it this time, not like before when you pretended to back off just to stab me in the back later."

She looked toward the others. "Dad, Mom, Andrew, Liam, you also believe in her, right?"

Her words seemed to snap them out of it, and they all turned to Tracy with disdain.

"Erin, how can you still trust someone like her?"

Liam stepped in front of Erin and shot Tracy a sharp look.

"Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. You want us to let our guard down so you can mess with Erin again.

"You came home late on purpose just to make it look like Erin was the reason you didn't show. Now you're acting all pitiful so you can turn us against each other. Do you seriously think we're that dumb?"

Tracy didn't even want to respond to his furious accusations.

Still, she knew if she didn't explain herself, they probably wouldn't leave her alone.

Tracy let out a breath and said, "The etiquette school is too far from here. I had to hop between buses and walk a lot to get here."

She didn't show up late on purpose—she just had no way to get here sooner.

But Liam scoffed. "Still faking it, huh? I told you to call a cab, but you picked buses and walked to look pitiful."

Tracy replied calmly, "I didn't have money."

Benjamin snapped, "That's ridiculous! You lived here for years. We've never stiffed you on money!"

Liam looked annoyed. "That's your excuse? Even your hair tie costs tens of thousands. Don't act broke."

Daphne and Andrew stayed quiet but didn't look happy either.

Seeing that they had completely forgotten, Tracy suddenly felt it was kind of funny.

She stared at them. "You guys said I'd be able to focus on learning discipline without all these distractions. So when you dropped me off at Angelic Etiquette Academy, you took everything from me."

Her eyes landed on Liam. "You're the one who yanked that expensive hair tie off my head."

Even now, the memory of her hair being pulled still stung.

Her words brought silence. They finally seemed to remember.

Seeing that, Tracy asked, "Can I go rest now?"

They didn't say anything, but Andrew cleared his throat. "I'll take you upstairs."

Tracy nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Andrew."

He paused, looking like he wanted to say something. But he just turned and led the way.

Once they were out of sight from the others, Andrew finally spoke, "Tracy, we only did it for your good.

"Mom had the maids clean up the whole house for your return. They didn't pick you up today because ... well, to keep Erin happy. You pushed her down the stairs back then, and they want her to forgive you. You should understand them."

Tracy didn't say anything. She just followed him. She'd heard his same speech too many times.

Ever since Erin came back, Andrew always said the same stuff, "As the elder sister, you should be understanding. Say sorry to Erin.

"Dad and Mom feel guilty toward her. Just understand them, okay?

"You made a mistake, so you should accept the punishment. Be obedient ... "

Unlike Liam, Andrew never raised his voice at her over her mistakes.

Instead, after she tried to explain her innocence, he'd calmly but firmly tell her to own up and say sorry.

Based only on what he thought was right, he decided she was guilty and declared her punishment.

He made all her defenses and grievances seem like a joke.

After he gave his usual lecture, Andrew waited, ready for her to snap back. He even had his usual lines ready to shut her down and tell her to be more understanding of their parents.

But by the time they got to her old room, Tracy still hadn't said a single word.

She kept her head down in silence until she opened the door. That was when her numb face finally showed a trace of surprise.

Her room, the one she used to know, was now packed with various trendy outfits, shoes, and expensive bags. It looked like a carefully designed, high-end walk-in closet.

But nothing inside belonged to Tracy.

Andrew's face changed as something clicked in his head.

He glanced at her and explained, "You know how Erin had a rough time while she was out there. Dad and Mom felt guilty and kept buying her stuff.

"Her closet filled up, and since no one thought you'd come back anytime soon, Mom turned your room into a second closet for Erin. It was her idea, and we all agreed. Erin's room is next door, after all. Don't blame Erin. She didn't want to at first—"

"I don't blame Ms. Erin," Tracy cut him off, her tone flat. She didn't care why the room had changed.

They were right. She took Erin's place and lived a good life for 18 years. That time was over now.

She wasn't going to act clueless or try to hold on to things that weren't meant for her.

Now, she just wanted a place to sleep.

She looked up and tentatively asked, "Can I sleep here tonight?"

If not, she'd leave while it was still early enough to find a quiet spot to stay—somewhere safe, somewhere she could run if she had to.

It'd be best to find something small and sharp she could use as a weapon. Having it in hand might help her sleep more easily.

"Of course. This is still your home," Andrew said as he pushed his glasses up. "I'll go ask Mom which room she set up for you."

Tracy was about to say not to bother, but he was already hurrying off, like he didn't dare to face her anymore.

Downstairs, Erin was clinging to Daphne's hand, tears running down her face. "Mom, it's my fault. I'm the reason Tracy got sent to that etiquette school, or you wouldn't have taken away all her things. She would have money for a cab and no need to take the bus.

"She's never even ridden a bus before. She probably didn't know how to pay. I used to ride for over an hour and hike to school. She must've had a hard time getting back today."

Daphne looked heartbroken. "This isn't your fault. Tracy was always petty and jealous. She pushed you down the stairs and refused to admit it. Your dad and I were the ones who decided to send her away. It had nothing to do with you."

Liam nodded. "Exactly. This is all on Tracy.

"She's cunning and manipulative. She probably stashed stuff somewhere. Otherwise, how else could she still afford bus rides? I bet she's just acting all pitiful to make us feel bad for her. She's always been good at pretending. We nearly bought it!"

Just then, Liam noticed Andrew coming down the stairs and snapped, "Hey, did Tracy go back to her room? Get her down here—I need to call her out for what she's up to!"

Andrew shook his head. "She didn't go to her room. I forgot that her room got turned into Erin's closet. Mom, where will she stay?"

Daphne, clearly annoyed at first, froze for a second when she heard that.

With everyone staring at her, she looked a little awkward. "I ... I've been busy planning Erin's graduation party. It slipped my mind.

"But we've got plenty of guest rooms. Just have her stay in one for now. I'll tell the maids to prepare a new room tomorrow. I'll make it like her old one and make sure she doesn't blame Erin for this."

There were lots of guest rooms in the Jackman Villa, but most weren't ready. The only one available was way down at the far end of the first floor.

It used to be a maid's room and hadn't been cleaned up yet.

Andrew peeked in but didn't step inside. "You'll have to settle for this one tonight. Mom will fix you up with a proper room tomorrow ... "

Tracy wasn't paying attention. She was already checking out the space.

The room was small—just enough for a bed, a nightstand, and a wardrobe.

But it didn't smell bad, the bed wasn't moldy, and the lights were working. The door was just a step away from the bed. Compared to where she'd been for the past two years, this place was a serious upgrade.

So, when Andrew said, "Don't think it's too tiny, and don't blame Erin ... "

"I don't," Tracy cut in. "I like it. Thanks, Mr. Andrew."

His words caught in his throat, and he felt weirdly relieved.

Tracy and Erin were both his sisters. Andrew had always wished they could just get along. If Tracy had changed and stopped making things hard for Erin, he'd be glad to see it.

"Alright then, get some sleep. I'll bring you to see Grandpa tomorrow. He's missed you a lot. He ... "

As he spoke, he subconsciously reached out, intending to pat her head as he used to.

But before he could, Tracy reacted fast. She shoved his hand away and jumped back.

Thud!

His hand slammed into the door, making him wince. His anger flared. "Tracy, what are you—"

Then, he saw her face and froze.

Tracy was pressed against the wall, eyes filled with fear, wariness, ferocity, and terror, like a scared animal ready to fight.

Just a second later, she looked down and muttered, "S-sorry. I didn't mean to ... "

Her voice was shaky. Her hands were clenched so tight, her whole body stiff like it hadn't happened at all.

Andrew froze for a moment, feeling as if something blocked his chest. The pain in his hand didn't even matter anymore. He was at a loss for words.

She wasn't the same person he remembered.

After a long pause, he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Alright, sleep well." Then, he left.

Once the door shut, Tracy let out a breath.

The moment Andrew raised his hand, she thought she was back at the Angelic Etiquette Academy, surrounded by raised hands holding stones, sticks, whips, or worse.

She freaked out. Then, suddenly remembering something, she started searching the room.

Under the bed, she spotted a pen. She grabbed it, yanked off the cap, and held it tight like a weapon. She switched on every light, climbed into bed, and curled up in the corner with her back to the wall.

Only then did she feel safe.

She clutched the pen to her chest and kept her eyes on the door, just in case someone came in.

The light brightened up the room, but it didn't do anything to ease the fear inside her.

Morning came.

As the maids started moving around, the sounds woke Tracy up.

She glanced around the bright, unfamiliar room, needing a moment to realize she wasn't at the etiquette school anymore.

She had finally escaped that hell.

Even though she knew nobody wanted her around, she still got up early and slipped into the kitchen. She offered to help the chef while putting together something simple to eat.

Breakfast here was fancy and light, all about looks, so there was always a lot of untouched food.

Tracy wasn't picky. Once she got permission, she ate the leftovers, even picking up two small tomatoes that had rolled off to the side.

She was starving.

Her last real meal was two nights ago when she exchanged a beating for half a piece of bread.

She hadn't tasted anything warm, fresh, and sweet like that in two years.

Watching her shovel food into her mouth like a robot, the chef gave her a sympathetic glance.

He used a misshapen, almost-thrown-out fried egg to make a plate of pasta. "Ms. Tracy, have this instead."

She quickly swallowed and accepted the plate with both hands, her eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you."

In truth, she wasn't that hungry anymore.

Going through two years of eating one meal and then going hungry the rest of the day had shrunk her appetite. She couldn't eat much anymore.

But she'd learned never to leave food behind. If she didn't eat it right away, someone else would take it. And she never knew when the next meal might come.

Eating more at once had become her only way of getting through the day.

Tracy finished every bit of the pasta, even the sauce.

She hadn't felt full in so long. It almost felt fake.

Lying back with her hand on her belly, she felt like she was dreaming.

Whenever she was close to passing out from hunger, she used to imagine delicious food to fill her.

"Geez, what are you? A stray? Never seen food before?"

A mocking voice snapped her out of that moment. Her comfortable smile instantly vanished.

Benjamin was standing in the doorway, looking annoyed. She instinctively tried to hide what she was holding, then realized it was just an empty plate. No one here would fight her for food. She felt somewhat at a loss.

Benjamin looked even more disgusted. "I poured so much money into your etiquette lessons, and it was all for nothing! Thank God you're not my real daughter. Erin only trained for four years and still turned out better than you did in 18 years."

Tracy didn't reply. She just lowered her head and endured his reproach and disdain.

Back then, whenever Benjamin said Erin was better than her, she'd fight back, wanting to prove him wrong. But now? She'd accepted it.

She was just a fake daughter who lived a glorious life that wasn't hers for 18 years. There was no way she could measure up to the real daughter.

Benjamin's face turned serious. "If you've already forgotten all that etiquette you were taught, then don't even bother sitting at the table. You'll just ruin the mood."

He scoffed and walked off, not even sparing her another look.

The chef gave Tracy a pitying glance, let out a silent sigh, and quickly served the prepared breakfast for the Jackmans.

Tracy stared at the empty plate calmly. Benjamin's scolding didn't faze her.

She'd heard worse before. His words didn't even scratch the surface.

Since Benjamin didn't want her around, she stayed in the kitchen, cleaning up and listening to the sounds of laughter and conversation coming from the living room.

She didn't come out until everyone was done eating.

The moment Tracy appeared, all the laughter and conversation in the living room came to an abrupt halt. Everyone instantly stiffened.

It was like they'd just remembered she was in the house today.