“Treat Eve like she’s one of us. That’s what the Langstons owe her, and more importantly, what you owe her. Got it?”
“Lucian, for someone as ungrateful as she is, if she had any sense, she wouldn’t have pushed Eve into the pool. Mr. Sylas would do better saving a dog than her!”
Lemira felt stranded in a desert, chilled to the bone. She wished she hadn’t been rescued.
Bearing the searing pain in her lungs, she croaked, “It’s my fault. It won’t happen again.”
She wouldn't make such a foolish mistake again. If they preferred Evelina as a sister, she would step aside.
“Did you really do it on purpose? Don’t you know Eve can’t swim? That could have killed her!”
Lucian was disappointed. He’d assumed it was an accident, not expecting Lemira to have intentionally endangered Evelina. When had Lemira become so malicious?
At that moment, the family doctor rushed over, and Caspian turned to angrily rebuke Lemira, “You better pray nothing’s wrong with Eve, or you’ll suffer when Asher gets back.”
Lucian took a few steps, then turned back. Seeing Lemira soaked and pale, he felt a pang of pity. “You should go change your clothes. The party is about to start.”
Lemira didn’t respond and was soon left alone. She waited until they were gone, then bent over, coughing violently. Swallowing the blood in her throat, she steadied herself and returned to her room.
Lying in the bathtub, she closed her eyes, recalling her past life. Abandoned on the streets, consumed by hatred, she had attempted to kill Evelina. But she failed. Asher had her committed to an asylum, where she was tortured to death by a caregiver Evelina had arranged.
Covering her face, she laughed, a chilling sound. “Well, isn’t that just great.”
When Lemira opened her eyes again, her gaze was ice-cold. After changing, she looked around the room, still feeling unsettled. In her past life, this bedroom had eventually been given to Evelina, and she had been moved to Evelina’s smaller room.
She saw a family photo on the table: a young couple holding a baby, with six little boys beside them. Unfortunately, not long after her birth, her parents died in a car accident. The driver saved her first, but when he returned for her parents, the fuel tank exploded, killing him as well. Evelina was the driver’s only daughter, frail from a young age.
After the accident, Asher brought Evelina to the Langston family, raising her alongside Lemira. Since Evelina’s arrival, everything changed. Her beloved brothers all sided with Evelina.
“Evelina’s frail; I’ve hired a chef to prepare meals suitable for her. Lemmy, make sure Eve eats properly.”
“Lemira, Eve wants to learn painting too, and since you’re almost done, give your teacher to her.”
“Lemira, drop out of the competition this time. Let the runner-up, Eve, represent the school; she’s been preparing for a long time.”
“Lemira, Eve’s grades are low; apply to the same college as her. It’ll be good to have someone to look out for each other.”
Lemira covered her head with her hands, her heart aching. Breathing shallowly, she swallowed the pain. She wanted nothing to do with the Langstons in this lifetime.
She put away the photo, bowed her head, and began packing. Soon, a servant knocked. “Ms. Langston, the party has started. Mr. Lucian Langston asks if you could come down.”
“Got it.”
Lemira opened the door, heading straight to the lively venue outside. The servant’s eyes widened. “What is Ms. Langston wearing? Has she gone mad from the shock?”
At the party, Evelina was in a white evening gown, her hair cascading over her shoulders, the picture of an innocent and kind girl-next-door. Lucian and Caspian stood beside her, looking at Evelina with tender indulgence. The scene was heartwarming. Lucian couldn’t help but think of Lemira, wishing she could be as sweet and sensible as Evelina. Over the years, Lemira’s temper had become increasingly volatile.
Chapter 2
“Lemira’s here!”