Chapter 3

3

That was Arthur and Olivia's plan.

David, however, was dead set against it.

He thought his sister was gone, and there was no point in trying to replace her.

That's why, last time, David treated Summer like dirt.

Summer kept telling me, "No matter what David says, don't pay any attention to him."

As if I could avoid David.

On Olivia's orders, he had to teach me the rules of high society.

David called me into his study.

The moment I walked in, his handsome face turned cold. He frowned and snapped, "Don't you know how to knock?"

I said, tonelessly, "Sorry. Let me try again."

I backed out, knocked a few times, and walked back in.

David was still scrutinizing me. "In a few days, it's your Aunt Olivia's birthday. A lot of people will be coming over. What will you say when you meet them?"

I deadpanned, "Hello, I'm Jane. Nice to meet you."

David looked at me. "Can't you smile?"

"Not really a fan of it."

David just stared at me.

Finally, he said, "You're not exactly charming."

Whatever. I could care less.

But then, David saw a glimmer of amusement flashing across my face, which startled him.

"You're a piece of work." He muttered, glaring at me.

Hey, don't get mad.

If you insult me well enough, I might actually enjoy it.

Since David said I was impossible to teach, Olivia decided to take over.

Besides going to school, Olivia started overseeing my piano lessons, tennis lessons, etc.

While I was playing the piano, Olivia sighed a few times. "Your fingers are like claws."

"When it was my birthday every year," Olivia continued, "Amy would come out and play the piano. If I asked you to do that, it would be like forcing a square peg into a round hole."

Amy was the Chiang's dead daughter.

I looked at Olivia. "I could be ready by next year."

"Next year?" Olivia said absentmindedly. "That depends on how you do."

Even though I didn't care about a lot of things, I picked up on something key that Olivia said.

"I'll do my best, just don't send me back."

"So, that's what you're afraid of." Olivia's cold expression flickered. "Jane, I remember you saying you'd become whatever we wanted, right?"

I nodded. "Yep."

"Even become like Amy?"

I remembered the family photo hanging in the living room.

Amy was sweet and gentle.

I'd learned a little bit about drawing, and after imagining myself as a model copying Amy, I managed to force out a smile.

Olivia seemed stunned.

She gave me a calculating look. "Not bad."

That day, I practiced in the soundproofed music room until dawn, eventually falling asleep inside. The maid found me in the morning.

When David heard about it, he said I was trying too hard.

But Olivia seemed pretty satisfied.