Chapter 2

"You can't expect me to have any manners when I grew up without parents, Mrs. Rosewood," Elysia said, crossing her arms.

"Who are you calling Mrs. Rosewood? I'm your mother!" Bella snapped.

"From what I've seen, you haven't acted like my mother at all. Seriously, what kind of mother blames her own daughter without getting the full story?" Elysia sneered.

"You—" Bella was so furious she could barely speak. She raised her hand, ready to slap Elysia.

"Enough!" Scott's voice boomed, cutting through the tension. He took a deep breath and turned to Elysia. "What's going on?"

Elysia explained the earlier events, her voice tinged with frustration. "Dad, isn't this my home? Aren't you and Mom truly my parents?"

Scott furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about? This is your home, and we are your parents."

"Then why am I being insulted in my own house?" Elysia retorted, her beautiful eyes flashing. "You asked me to come back, but Emma still questions whether I'm really part of the Rosewood family. Should I have just stayed away?"

Scott shot a disapproving glare at Emma. "As the older sister, you should act like one. And is this really how a Rosewood lady should carry herself? Who taught you those manners?"

Tears welled up in Emma's eyes as she whimpered, "I'm sorry, Dad. It's all my fault—"

"Enough!" Scott interrupted. Looking at Emma, whom he had raised for eighteen years, he couldn't bring himself to reprimand her harshly. He waved his hand and said, "It's good you own up to your mistakes."

Emma turned to Elysia with a smug look, as if saying, "So what if you're Dad and Mom's real daughter? They still have my back. See? Even if you're in the right, they're always on my side."

"Mary, take Elysia to her room," Scott commanded.

"Yes, Mr. Rosewood," Mary replied respectfully. Turning to Elysia, she added, "Please come with me, Ms. Elysia Rosewood."

Elysia followed Mary to a small, dimly lit room on the second floor. "This is your room," Mary said.

Elysia was shocked. The room was dark, sparsely furnished, and depressing. "Are you sure I'm supposed to stay here?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes, and Mrs. Rosewood arranged this herself," Mary replied.

Elysia's heart sank. She'd never valued having parents, her memories of them too hazy. But what about them? Didn't they feel any guilt or longing for a child missing for eighteen years? Scott had said she was stolen and abandoned in a forest. She'd believed that story once, but now, it felt as if her parents hadn't cared since she'd entered the house.

With that thought, Elysia asked in a chilly voice, "Can I see some other rooms?"

Mary hesitated.

Chapter 2 (Continued)

"Sure enough, my voice doesn't really carry weight in this house. If Emma said something like that, Mary would have agreed instantly," Elysia thought. "I'm a Rosewood, aren't I? I don't even get to look at the other rooms?"

Mary shook her head hurriedly. "It's not like that. This way, please."

There were only two sunlit rooms in the Rosewood residence: Bella and Scott's master bedroom, and Emma's. Elysia checked all the rooms and stopped at a beautifully decorated one, asking, "Who stays here?"

"This is Ms. Emma Rosewood's room," Mary replied.

Elysia examined it closely—it was impressive, though the pink color scheme wasn't to her taste. Still, it was far nicer than her own small, sparsely furnished room.

She glanced at Mary and said, "Get two servants to clear this room."

Mary looked troubled. "Ms. Rosewood, you're…"

"I'm moving in here."

"I'm afraid you'll need Mrs. Rosewood's permission for that."

Elysia frowned. "Just go get them."

"Yes, Ms. Rosewood." Mary left respectfully, muttering, "She must be losing her mind. This room is specially decorated for Ms. Emma Rosewood, with custom furniture. How could she just take it over?" She added to herself, "Even though she is the biological daughter of the Rosewood family, she's too arrogant, showing no respect for Ms. Emma Rosewood. Someone like this isn't fit to be a Rosewood at all."

Downstairs, the Rosewoods were chatting pleasantly. Bella noticed Mary and asked, "Is everything settled?"

Mary, hesitant, replied, "No. Ms. Elysia Rosewood is not happy with the room you prepared."

"Not happy? Then where does she want to stay?"

"She wants to move into Ms. Emma Rosewood's room."

"What? She's really picky. She must have picked up bad habits from the countryside."

Overhearing, Scott also felt dissatisfied with Elysia. The Rosewoods held a prominent position in the city, and Elysia's behavior could damage their reputation. "Let's go take a look," he said, rising and heading upstairs. Bella and Emma followed.

Elysia was considering furniture arrangements when Scott appeared. "I heard you're not happy with the room your mother set up for you. You want to stay in your sister's room instead?"

Elysia chuckled softly. "Yeah."

Scott frowned. "Then why not choose another room? Why insist on Emma's?"

"Is it because of what happened in the garden today? Are you holding a grudge against me and trying to make it hard for me on purpose?" Emma's voice quivered, sounding hurt.

Elysia rolled her eyes.

Bella comforted Emma and scolded Elysia, "If this is about the garden incident, your dad already talked to her. You shouldn't dwell on it."

Elysia sneered silently. "Dad, you misunderstood. Why would I ever want to fight with Emma? The room Mom set up for me is unsuitable. When I was born, I was left out in the freezing cold all night. Although I was saved, my health isn't great, and I can't stay in a dark, damp room—it needs sunlight. I checked all the rooms, and only yours and Emma's get sunlight. Obviously, I can't take yours, right? Then I remembered what Dad said—sisters should support each other."

"You don't mind, do you?" Elysia asked, glancing nervously at Emma, thinking, Does Emma think she's the one who can be two-faced? Humph. Honestly, how does Emma keep this up every day? Doesn't she get tired of pretending?

Emma hesitated. She didn't want to give up her room, but Elysia's words left her feeling pressured.

Before Emma could speak, Bella interjected, "Elysia, Emma has lived in this room since she was little—she's used to it. Besides, there are plenty of rooms in this house. Can't you pick another? Worst case, we have a villa in the suburbs, and you could stay there."