Chapter 3

3.

"Good girl."

As a reward, Mrs. Moretti gave me a black card and told me to take a day off to relax.

It was my most leisurely day since arriving at the manor.

The driver dropped me off at the luxury shopping district downtown.

I walked a few steps and saw a familiar figure.

Isabella.

She was standing under the scorching sun, handing out flyers on the street corner.

The Millers had a meager income and barely had any spare cash. It wasn't surprising that she was forced to work.

After all, I lived that life in my past.

During summer breaks, I worked three jobs while trying to study.

I also had to do all the housework for my adopted parents.

They claimed they treated us equally, but they never let their precious son, Julian, lift a finger.

I only found out later that the Millers didn't adopt me because they wanted a daughter.

They wanted free labor.

"Hello, please take a look at this―"

A flyer was shoved in front of me.

Isabella stopped mid-sentence when she looked up and saw me.

"Elena?"

Noticing my designer clothes and glowing skin, a flash of jealousy crossed her face, but she hid it quickly.

She smirked. "You look comfortable. But let me warn you, the Moretti house isn't a place for normal people. That old woman is scarier than you think. You'll find out soon enough."

"Oh."

My flat reaction annoyed her.

She started bragging about her new family. "Mom and Dad treat me so well. My life is so full. Julian helps me with my homework every night. By the way, we both got into Northwood Prep on scholarships this year."

Northwood Prep...

That was the same school on the admission letter Mrs. Moretti gave me.

It was a school for the elite. Only the wealthy or the geniuses got in.

In my past life, Julian and I were the ones who got in on scholarships.

"Our lives are only going to get better. And you? You're going to die in a gutter."

She looked so sure of herself.

I opened my mouth to speak, but someone interrupted.

"Bella!"

"Julian! What are you doing here?"

Isabella looked delighted and threw herself into Julian's arms.

Julian held up a lunchbox. "Mom told me to bring you food. It's too hot out here. Let me take over for a bit."

"No need, brother. I can do it."

The Millers would grit their teeth to pay for Julian's expensive tutoring, but they wouldn't let Isabella rest for a second.

I was exploited the same way in my past life.

"You work too hard," Julian said softly.

Then, he noticed me standing there.

"Brother, this is my sister, Elena. You saw her at the orphanage," Isabella introduced me.

Julian looked me up and down. His cold expression was filled with disgust.

He ignored me and turned to Isabella. "Don't associate with trash like her. Let's go."

Before I could say a word, Julian dragged Isabella away.

"Brother, why are you so mean? You might scare her."

"Silly girl. You can tell just by looking at her that she's bad news. Stay away from her, or she'll stab you in the back."

His harsh voice drifted back to me.

I felt a ripple in my heart, but it calmed down quickly.

I took the black card Mrs. Moretti gave me and went into the nearest boutique.

I bought a mountain of luxury goods.