"Didn't you call me annoying yesterday, you little brat?" Charlie teased, his tone a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"I won't do it again, I promise!" Tiffany replied, her voice unusually sweet and obedient.
Her sudden change in attitude made Charlie burst into laughter. "We'll see how long that lasts," he chuckled.
The dramatic episode ended abruptly. The Olson family spent the rest of the day crying and complaining, but their antics paled in comparison to the effect of a single tear from Tiffany.
Out of brotherly love, Charlie had no intention of kicking the Olson family out of his house. Tiffany understood this perfectly. Her actions that day were calculated, designed to ignite the conflict and push the Olsons to their breaking point. She wanted to provoke them until their true intentions were revealed. Then, she would be ready to expose their hypocritical facade.
Later that night, as Tiffany prepared for bed, Eric entered her room, clutching a stuffed toy, and whispered, "I don't like the Olson family at all!"
Tiffany had comforted her brother in the past, reminding him they were family. But this time, she gently patted his head and softly reassured him, "Don't worry! I'll make sure they're gone."
The hatred Tiffany harbored had never faded, and she intended to ensure they paid for their actions.
Early the next day, Charlie left for work. The driver then took Eric to school. Although only eight, Eric's exceptional talents had allowed him to skip several grades. Charlie, however, decided to keep him in primary school, not wanting to push him too hard.
Tiffany and Sandra, who were the same age, attended the elite academy Charlie had arranged for them, sharing the same grade and class.
When Tiffany stepped outside, the driver promptly opened the car door and respectfully said, "Miss Kelley, it's time to go to school." Sandra was already seated inside. Seeing Tiffany, she flashed a mocking smile, thinking, "You can try to drive us out, but Uncle Charlie will never agree."
Sandra was fearless, fully aware of her uncle's temperament. However, Tiffany's gaze remained calm and devoid of anger. She ignored Sandra completely.
After Tiffany got in, the car pulled away from the villa. Tiffany casually flipped through a book, showing no interest in Sandra.
Sandra, growing impatient, finally broke the silence. "Tiffany…"
But Tiffany cut her off. "Cut the act! Do you really think everyone's blind to your little schemes?"
"What do you mean, Tiffany?" Sandra replied.
"Sandra, I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got," Tiffany replied, her lips curling into a cold smile. "Don't disappoint me."
The atmosphere grew tense. Sandra, who had been playing the innocent victim, suddenly realized Tiffany was serious. Panic set in as Tiffany seemed like a completely different person, no longer the easy target she once was. She also realized that manipulating and deceiving Tiffany wouldn't be so simple anymore. Yet, a part of Sandra felt relieved. She had spent a year pretending to be the loving sister, and now she was ready to drop the act. If it came to a showdown, she might not lose.
Half an hour later, Tiffany entered her classroom.
The moment she entered, someone flung a poster at her. It was a blown-up image of her public confession to Kenneth, which had clearly become the school's latest joke.
"Tiffany, how does it feel? Look at you, chasing after a man like a fool. It's embarrassing!" one classmate jeered.
"Yeah! He's rejected you a million times, but you're still clinging to him, insisting on that engagement," another sneered.
"Hey, everyone, Kenneth will be here soon. I can't wait to see how our dear Miss Kelley keeps fawning over him," another chimed in with a laugh.
Kenneth was the same age as Tiffany and in the same class.
Tiffany didn't react to their taunts. She walked to her seat and casually flipped through a book, her expression calm and unbothered. (The line about searching a website has been removed as it is irrelevant and out of place.)
Her classmates were taken aback. Usually, Tiffany would argue or cry, but today, she was unusually composed.
A mischievous boy decided to test her. He snatched her book and threw it in the trash. "Hey, Tiffany, why don't you cry? If you cry, maybe I'll let you off," he taunted.
Tiffany stood up, maintaining her composure, and approached the boy. "Pick it up," she demanded.
"Why would I? I threw it, so I'm not picking it up. Don't be ridiculous!" the boy scoffed.
Tiffany smiled, and just when everyone thought she'd back down, she punched him in the nose.
A loud cry of pain erupted. She followed with a kick to his knee and then slammed his head onto the desk.
Tiffany's ruthless actions surprised everyone. She remained calm, even returning the boy's taunt with a cold smile. "Cry, and if you cry, I might let you off."
The boy's nose bled profusely, and he sobbed. After she finished, Tiffany released him. He rushed to retrieve her book.
Tiffany returned to her seat, her demeanor as calm as if nothing had happened. Whispering continued, with many speculating that she must have been deeply affected, explaining her extreme behavior.
Suddenly, the chatter ceased. Tiffany looked up to see Kenneth entering the classroom.
He was tall and elegant, dressed impeccably. He looked handsome and refined. Kenneth was once the light of her life, but he had ultimately destroyed everything.
It would be a lie if Tiffany said she didn't hate him. She hated how he had manipulated her into taking the fall for his first love, landing her in prison. After five years, he had asked if she thought she deserved him.
His words were a brand on her heart. However, Tiffany hated herself most for her foolishness and humiliation.
Tiffany clenched her fist briefly before relaxing, looking away from Kenneth. Although others didn't notice the change in Tiffany, Kenneth did.
Since their abrupt phone call, Kenneth hadn't heard from her. While welcoming the change, he found it strange. When had Tiffany become so clever? When had she stopped being clingy and started playing hard to get? he wondered. Yet, he had noticed the hatred in her eyes.