Tiffany's rapid succession of slaps left Sandra completely stunned. The pain was the least of her concerns. She glared at Tiffany, her eyes filled with venom. "Aren't you afraid I'll smash this bracelet?" she threatened.
The bracelet was on Sandra's wrist. One deliberate knock against the table would surely break it. This tactic might have worked on the old Tiffany, who treasured the bracelet and her status as Kenneth's future wife. But the new Tiffany smirked nonchalantly. "Go ahead. Break it. Then you can kiss your chances of marrying Kenneth goodbye."
Sandra's fortitude crumbled. The old Tiffany would have done anything for Kenneth, but this new Tiffany seemed possessed—ruthless toward her sister and utterly disgusted with Kenneth. Sandra hoped it was an act.
While Sandra hesitated, Tiffany grabbed her and unceremoniously tossed her out of the room. Sandra landed face-first on the floor. Worried about breaking the delicate diamond bracelet, she couldn't use her hands to break her fall, resulting in a harder landing on her backside.
Selena, who had just come upstairs, witnessed this. Assuming the worst, she immediately shouted, "Tiffany, how dare you bully your sister like this!" Her ability to twist any narrative was remarkable.
Tiffany remained calm, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile. "You seem to have forgotten. This is my territory. Even if you brought my parents here, what could you do to me?" It was true. Tiffany's protective parents would likely be more concerned about whether she'd hurt her hand.
Selena was enraged. To avoid involving her parents, Tiffany gritted her teeth and said, "Sis, don't be angry. Here, take it back…" She looked down at Sandra, her smile imperious. "Learn your lesson. The next time you enter my room, it won't just be a few slaps."
Tiffany instructed a nearby maid to take the bracelet, disinfect it, and return it to her room. Her only reason for not trashing it after Sandra's touch was its impending return to the Harper family; to Tiffany, it was now tainted. With a resounding slam, she shut the door in Selena and Sandra's faces.
Sandra struggled to her feet, her face hidden behind her hands, eyes brimming with tears. Selena gazed at her daughter, sympathy etched on her face. "Why did you have to touch her precious bracelet? That little witch went too far, hitting her own sister like that!"
Sandra remained silent, trudging to her room with her head bowed. Once inside, she collapsed onto her bed, unleashing a torrent of tears. The physical pain paled in comparison to the emotional anguish. What truly stung was the absence of anyone to rescue her.
Sandra unleashed her fury on her parents. "You're both useless!" she spat. "You just stand idly by while your daughter is humiliated! You promised a better life with the Kelleys, but look at what's happened—we're nothing but glorified doormats here!"
"Sandra…" Selena murmured. Her parents had dreamed of a pampered life for her; reality had cruelly shattered those illusions. Selena was right; they had no real power, living under someone else's roof and enduring their whims.
Looking at her daughter's swollen cheeks, Selena's anger flared. She lowered her voice, "Don't worry, Sandra. Your father will see to this. When the time is right, the Kelleys won't be able to push us around anymore!"
"Really?" Sandra perked up, feeling somewhat relieved. Since yesterday's incident, she had been goading her parents, insisting that the Kelleys' treatment was mere charity. To truly succeed, they needed to be on top—their plan was to gradually take over the Kelley family business. They were finally going to fight back!
A rush of excitement filled Sandra. She could almost see Tiffany on her knees before her, begging and crying. When that time came, Sandra would have countless ways to make Tiffany's life a living hell.
As the mother-daughter duo fantasized about usurping the Kelley family's vast fortune, they were oblivious to the listening device Tiffany had planted in Sandra's room. Tiffany was all too aware of how devious this family could be. Their ambition knew no bounds, their greed insatiable.
Their claim that the Kelleys hadn't treated them well was rich. On the contrary, they were never satisfied, always demanding more without decency. Deep down, they knew the truth, but chose to lie to themselves, feigning ignorance to justify their boundless greed.
Tiffany removed her headphones, her eyes gleaming with intensity. The eavesdropped information might not be enough to sway her father's opinion completely; more concrete evidence was needed to expose the Olsons' intentions. She needed to dig deeper.
Her plan was simple: root out every hidden scheme and lay it bare before her father. He had to see that his kindness had been wasted on a family without conscience. They were wolves in sheep's clothing, plotting to bring her family down. When the time came, no amount of pleading would save them from her father's wrath.
With a determined nod, Tiffany grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number. "Hey, Uncle Owen? It's Tiffany. I need a favor."
Meanwhile, Cedar Ridge Villa was alive with laughter and chatter, the warm glow of lights spilling from every window. The family sat together, enjoying each other's company, while Stan and Selena played the part of dutiful guests, pouring drinks and serving food with smiles that seemed almost too innocent. Tiffany smirked. The bait was set; now all she had to do was wait for the fish to bite.