Chapter 2

My expression didn't change. I set my teacup on the table with a crisp sound.

"Are you finished?"

Her smile froze.

I looked at her.

"You say you're the Smith family's beloved granddaughter—do you know how your grandmother married into the Smith family?"

Rayna frowned.

"What do you mean?"

I smiled.

"You want to enter the Caldwell family?"

"Dream on."

Rayna shot to her feet.

"Mrs. Caldwell, you'd better think carefully. After how you treated me today, when I marry in, we won't have a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship!"

I laughed coldly. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, you'll never marry into the Caldwell family."

She grabbed her bag from the table and turned to leave.

"You'll regret this!"

Regret?

The biggest regret of my life was not tearing these people's masks off for my mother to see while she was still alive.

Now she can't see it.

That's okay.

I'll do it for her to see.

The next day, the housekeeper came to report: "Mrs. Caldwell, someone from the Smith family is here."

I set down my book.

The housekeeper led in a woman.

Vivian Smith—the mistress who took my mother's place all those years ago, now the matriarch of the Smith family.

She wore a blue gown with pearl earrings, the picture of luxury.

"Mrs. Caldwell, I'm Rayna's grandmother. I'd like to discuss the children's situation with you."

She pulled out a document from her bag and placed it on the table.

"This is the development rights for the Smith family's land in the South District. Your husband Marcus Caldwell has been eyeing it for a long time, hasn't he?"

"As long as you agree to let the children be together, this land is the Caldwell family's."

I looked down at her hands.

They were white, delicate, with a gemstone ring on her ring finger larger than my thumbnail.

These hands clearly had never touched dirty water.

My mother's hands weren't like this.

Her hands did all kinds of dirty work year-round—dishwashing, cleaning—the dirt under her nails could never be washed away.

They were like that until she died.

"Vivian," I looked up, "my son's affairs don't need interference from outsiders."

Her expression darkened.

"Mrs. Caldwell, though the Smith family isn't as wealthy as the Caldwell family, Rayna is the Smith family's only granddaughter. We've cherished her since childhood."

"Your son marrying her would be his blessing. You, someone who..."

She paused, emphasizing the words "someone who."

"You, someone who married into the Caldwell family halfway through, better know your place."

Halfway through.

She chose those words well.

"Not enough?" She glanced at the envelope on the table. "Then name your price."

I looked at her face.

"Vivian," my tone was flat, "the Caldwell family chooses daughters-in-law based on upbringing and character. In both areas, neither the Smith family nor your granddaughter seem quite adequate."

"What did you say?!"