Chapter 2

Brenda was dumbfounded:

"Ms. Sterling, wasn't that whole act just to get me to forgive her? I trust that with your strict discipline, she definitely won't make the same mistake again…"

Mom, however, snorted coldly. Just like seven years ago, she condemned me without hearing my side:

"The first time she tried to steal another woman's man, I kicked her out of the house. I thought that after all these years of hardship, she might realize her mistakes. Unfortunately…"

The onlookers and Brenda instantly understood.

To curry favor with Mom, Brenda returned the card and even proactively handed her phone to Mom for inspection.

"Ms. Sterling, please have a look."

Mom tapped to play the video of me being beaten before Brenda arrived. A flicker of heartache actually welled up in her eyes.

I shook my head, quickly shaking off that hallucination.

Sure enough, the next second she looked down at me, commanding again:

"This is the last time I'm cleaning up your mess. As long as you apologize to this woman and swear you'll never do this again, these photos and videos won't ever be leaked online!"

Mom's influence and power could indeed prevent the photos and videos from being published online.

But there were countless onlookers, inside and out.

How could she silence the wagging tongues of the crowd?

From the moment she publicly shamed me, I was a mistress everyone cursed.

Even though I knew she wouldn't believe me, I stubbornly said, word for word:

"I am not a mistress, and I will not apologize to anyone!"

The next second, she handed the phone back to Brenda:

"Since she's so stubborn, you don't need to be polite. She's yours to deal with."

Brenda asked Mom, somewhat uncertainly:

"Should I post all the videos?"

"Post them! She needs to pay for her actions!"

Brenda did as she was told.

In just a moment, someone online had already dug up my information.

Mom shoved the hateful messages in my face:

"Chloe, do you admit your mistake now?"

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

Seeing my unwavering denial, Mom trembled with rage, clutching her chest, her face utterly pale.

Seraphina skillfully took some medicine from her bag and gave it to her.

Then she motioned to the bodyguards nearby:

"You two take Foster Mom home first. I'll stay here and handle Chloe."

Mom left without a backward glance.

Seraphina then started a SnapChat group with the onlookers, handing out a generous cash gift to everyone as an apology:

"Today's incident, please forgive us for the spectacle! I beg you all to be kind with your words and please, give my best friend a chance to change!"

The crowd took the money, praising Seraphina for her kindness and beauty, and reminding her that even kindness has its limits, especially with someone like me—she should be extra cautious.

After the crowd dispersed, I wrapped myself tightly in the jacket Mom had left behind, getting up and stumbling away.

Seraphina grabbed me firmly:

"Chloe, come home with me. You don't know how much Foster Mom has worried about you day and night all these years…"

I wrenched myself free, scoffing:

"Seraphina, no one's around. You can drop the act now."