Her heart throbbed with bitter clarity. "So it wasn't a dream… I really came back."
Her gaze swept over the room. The familiar layout, the untouched perfume bottles, the stack of untouched invitation cards for Zhao Rourou's upcoming birthday banquet. She remembered that banquet well how she had stood like a shadow in the corner while her cousin basked in praise, only to be humiliated later in front of everyone.
This time, it would be different.
Her lips curved coldly.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Yuexin," a maid entered with a tray. "Madam said you should wear something modest for the banquet tonight. She doesn't want you… outshining Second Miss."
Outshining? Zhao Yuexin almost laughed. In her previous life, she had followed that order obediently, wearing a pale, shapeless gown while Rourou dazzled in diamonds. And yet, her meekness had only made her look more pitiful easy prey for mockery.
"Put it away," Yuexin said calmly, waving the tray aside.
The maid blinked. "But Madam said...."
"Did you not hear me?" Yuexin's tone sharpened, her eyes gleaming like frost. The maid's breath caught; for the first time, she saw not the timid, gentle Miss Yuexin, but someone untouchable.
"Yes, Miss!" She hurriedly left, clutching the rejected gown.
Yuexin turned back to her reflection. Tonight, Zhao Rourou thought she would shine. But instead, Yuexin would reclaim what was rightfully hers.
TO BE CONTINUED