Chapter 290

Suddenly, a small rectangular white object flashed before her eyes. She instinctively caught it, bewildered.

Kieran’s voice came from behind: “A welcome gift.”

During their second meeting, Kieran’s assistant had brought clothing meant for Clarissa. Alarieka, present at the time, politely accepted it before passing it along.

Clarissa’s expression instantly soured: “I don’t want anything she touched.”

Clutching the garment bag, Alarieka stood frozen—humiliated, cheeks burning, utterly lost.

Kieran stated: “If she won’t take it, it’s yours.”

She hesitated: “Really?”

“My word goes,” Kieran replied dismissively.

She pressed her lips together, feeling no joy in receiving a cast-off consolation prize.

Yet a secret thrill flickered within. Back in her room, she immediately searched the clothing brand using her four-year-old cheap phone.

The sluggish device tested her patience, but Alarieka waited steadfastly.

Discovering the brand’s typical—and lowest—price points made her heart skip a beat.

She never wore those clothes. Perhaps because of the cost, or because Clarissa had rejected them.

Later, as she grew closer to Kieran, his assistant brought more garments. Her tastes refined, nurturing a spoiled, willful nature—albeit restrained.

Later she realized those seemingly friendly Argents were merely putting on social niceties for Wallace’s sake, coupled with their belief that she posed no threat to their status.

Their gazes held the indifference one might show toward an insignificant creature. So after that, without Wallace present, these once-affable people simply ignored her.

Young and naive back then, she only later understood that among the entire crowd, the sole person who harbored genuine kindness and truly accepted her was the perpetually scowling Kieran.

In the years that followed, Alarieka also came to realize Wallace’s stern words toward Clarissa Argent stemmed more from a place of resigned affection than actual anger.

She also understood that no matter how much she tried to please, no matter how many praises Wallace gave her for being sensible, she could never measure up to the spoiled, unreasonable Clarissa in Wallace’s eyes.

When Wallace was truly angry, just recall the day he kicked her out of the Argent’s villa—that was a true distinction between kin and outsiders.

It wasn’t just clothes, but countless other things—luxuries she’d never seen before, items worth more than her father’s annual salary—most were bought for her by Kieran.

Even when she didn’t ask, even when her material needs were minimal, even when servants whispered to Kieran that he needn’t spoil an outsider girl, Kieran still showered her with gifts.

During her stay at the Argent’s villa, Alarieka genuinely developed a young lady’s temper.

That temper wasn’t cultivated by the Argent family—it was Kieran who spoiled her.

Beyond material things, Kieran took her under his wing, teaching her social graces and tactics, showing her that as an Argent girl, she needn’t bow humbly to outsiders.

He told her: “In this city, no one deserves your fear. Do whatever you want—just don’t break laws or harm yourself. Don’t worry, I’ll back you up.”

When necessary, Kieran exposed her to the dark side of high society, teaching her to navigate people and power.

He wanted her proud yet unharmed—not some sheltered caged bird, not just a pampered girl. He wanted her capable.

Back then, she truly admired this blood-unrelated brother, genuinely wanting to learn from Kieran.

Kieran once praised her for being clever, a quick learner.

She couldn’t grasp why—many things took Kieran teaching her repeatedly. Sometimes shame kept her from asking again, fearing he’d think her stupid.

Kieran didn’t notice at first. But when he saw her shame, his face darkened unusually: “Keep this attitude, and stop following me. I won’t have a student like you.”

Chapter 291