Chapter 75

Linda pulled Amber into a hug, but she squirmed free, clearly uncomfortable. “What do you want?”

Linda glared at Amber, the ungrateful brat she could never tame, bitter resentment welling up inside her.

All these years, she hadn’t kept Amber at home so she could live in luxury. Amber was only ever meant to serve their purposes.

“Amber, I just can’t take this anymore,” Linda whimpered, thrusting her worn hands forward. “Look at my hands. After working all day, do you have any idea what I’ve been through?”

Linda launched into a lengthy tirade about all the injustices she'd suffered that day, convinced Amber was hanging on her every word. The more she vented, the more animated she became.

Amber’s heart was in her throat, her nerves frayed. Sienna had already warned her about this.

Amber couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge anyone as her mother now. After hearing Sienna’s words, she realized her mistake. Linda wasn’t her mother. She couldn’t possibly call her Mom.

Sienna sat in her chair, eating fruit and watching the financial news on TV. Linda kept repeating, claiming to be Amber’s mother. Sienna must hear Linda’s words, Amber’s heart pounded with anxiety as she wondered, “Would Sienna think I…?”

Amber hadn’t called Linda Mom again since hearing Sienna’s words. Every time she remembered using that title before, Amber was filled with bitter regret.

“Amber, come here.” Sienna’s voice cut through the tension at that moment.

Amber moved as if summoned, but just before facing Sienna, she feigned annoyance, pride flickering between her brows.

“How was school today?” Sienna asked.

“What?” Amber froze, bracing herself. Isn’t Sienna about to grill me about Linda and then tear into her? Ground me without dinner?

Sienna glanced sideways at her adorably dazed little sister, reached out to ruffle her hair, and asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

Amber crossed her arms over her chest with a soft hmph, turned her head away, and lifted her chin defiantly. “Hey, you messed up my hair. So rude.”

Even as she complained, Amber couldn’t help but lean in even closer like a pampered cat, her eyes half-lidded in contentment. It was all a show of protest, but pure contentment underneath.

As Sienna withdrew her hand, Amber’s rosy lips instantly formed a petulant pout of protest.

So impatient, what an annoying woman, Amber grumbled inwardly. Sienna has coddled Vivian for ages, but when it comes to me, it’s just a quick ruffle on the head.

“The moment I say something, she pulls her hand back. Seriously, she can’t even stand the test. Imph.”

“I never skipped class. I attended every single one,” Amber said.

Sienna asked gently, “And were you actually paying attention?”

A flicker of guilt flashed across Amber’s face as she lowered her head and was just about to explain.

“Amber, I was talking to you. How dare you just walk away?” Linda rushed over, her voice sharp with indignation.

Amber’s heart leaped into her throat again as she pried Linda’s hand off her shoulder. The grip was so tight it hurt. “Linda, you’re hurting me.”

“Amber, what did you just call me?” Linda’s eyes widened in shock, just as Jocelyn, who had just come back, overheard the exchange.

Both of them felt their hearts skip a beat. Jocelyn exclaimed, “Amber, what did you just call Mom? How dare you call her Linda instead of Mom?”

This has to be Sienna poisoning Amber’s mind again, Jocelyn wondered. Bitch, she has gone so far.

Amber considered for a moment, then said solemnly, “She’s not my mother. My mother is gone.”

Amber’s eyes dimmed with sorrow as she spoke, and Sienna felt a quiet relief, pleased to see how quickly Amber had come to terms with it.

Linda said, “Amber, ever since I came into this family, I’ve worked my fingers to the bone raising you. I know I’m not your mom.

“If you don’t want to call me Mom, that’s fine. I can put up with that, as long as it’s truly your choice, not because someone’s forcing you.”

As she spoke, Linda shot a pointed look at Sienna. Jocelyn quickly pulled Amber aside and said, “Amber, how could you break Mom’s heart like this?

“Sienna, I know you have issues with me and my mom, but you can’t force Amber to turn her back on her. Sienna, Mom truly treats Amber like her daughter, even more than me sometimes. And now you’re cruelly driving a wedge between them.”

Amber quickly explained, “No. No one’s forcing me. It’s my choice, Jocelyn. I have a mother, so I can’t call Linda Mom anymore. She’s your mom.”

Jocelyn never expected Amber to be so thoroughly influenced. Clenching her fists, she demanded, “Amber, do you really not want to acknowledge us as a family anymore?”

Sienna let out a cold, mocking laugh, her eyes glinting with lethal frost.

Family? Totally nonsense, she thought. To them, Amber was just a pushover, easy to bully, control, and mold. Keeping her close was merely a pretext to use her for their own ends.

Sienna remained silent, watching to see how Amber truly felt about them.

Amber shook her head, her adorable face twisted in distress, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.”

Amber wondered, Sometimes Jocelyn is actually really nice to me. As long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters to her.

Sometimes Linda is really nice to me, too. Both she and Jocelyn would always tell me to just focus on my own happiness and ignore what others think.

They said, as the Hart heiress, I’m entitled to be unreasonable, spoiled, and proud, and that’s exactly how it should be. And I can’t afford to show anyone even a hint of kindness.

Amber said, “Jocelyn, Linda, I’m starving. I’m going to grab some food.”

With that, Amber dashed off. Sienna cast a knowing, mocking glance at the two thwarted schemers as if she were watching a pair of clowns whose act had fallen flat.