Chapter 5

Isabelle's POV

Late at night, the TV was playing preview news of the gala, with glamorous images of Claire on screen.

A vase smashed into the screen, glass shattering everywhere.

I rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a fruit knife.

"I don't want to live anymore!"

I pressed the knife against my carotid artery.

"If you can't get me in, I'll die right here at home! When the police come, I'll say you forced your biological daughter to death to make way for that substitute!"

Mom collapsed on the floor in fright, crying and trying to grab the knife.

"Isabelle, don't do anything foolish! I'll find a way, I'll definitely find a way!"

The knife in my hand broke the skin slightly, blood beading up.

Dad looked at my crazed state, his face iron-gray.

After weighing the pros and cons, he gritted his teeth and went to rummage through a drawer.

"Put the knife down! I still have a supplier's debt contract. This is the only opening left."

Only then was I satisfied.

This was a desperate gambler's bet. I had no way back.

Mr. Walsh, the supplier, sounded reluctant on the phone.

"Mr. Hart, there's definitely no way through the main entrance. You can only go through the cargo passage."

I looked at my well-maintained fingers, instinctively wanting to scream in refusal.

That was a path for lower-class people.

But turning to see Claire's superior attitude on TV, jealousy conquered my pretentiousness.

As long as I could get in.

Even if I had to crawl through the sewers, I would smash that stage.

"I'll go."

I said through gritted teeth, the words squeezing out from between my teeth.

Mom took out a newly purchased haute couture gown from the current season.

"Isabelle, wear this. You'll definitely outshine everyone."

I pushed the new clothes away.

I rummaged through boxes and drawers, dragging out a slightly yellowed dress from the very bottom.

"This was the first gift Sebastian gave me seven years ago."

I obsessively caressed the hem of the dress.

"He wasn't that rich back then, but this represents that I was his first love."

Mom frowned.

"But this one is a bit old..."

"What do you know!"

I shouted, forcibly squeezing my body into the dress that was already too small.

"That substitute can wear expensive clothes but she's still a fake. As long as I appear in this, Sebastian will remember how much he loved me."

I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled.

The next evening, a cargo truck stopped at the back door of the Hart family villa.

I wore an oversized work coat, hiding that white gown underneath.

I wore a mask and baseball cap, climbing into the cargo hold that reeked of lily fragrance and earth.

Dad handed me an envelope.

"This contains what you need. You can only succeed. Whether the Hart family can turn things around depends on tonight."

The cargo truck drove on the highway, jolting badly.

I huddled between flower buckets, enduring the fishy smell of earth.

I took out my phone and clicked on the gala's red carpet live stream.

On screen, flashbulbs fell like a waterfall.

Claire walked the red carpet on Sebastian's arm.

The sapphire necklace around her neck sparkled brilliantly under the lights.

That was a White family heirloom-level unique piece.

I stared fixedly at the screen, my nails digging into my palms.

I was hiding in a cargo hold like a rat.

While that sister who once served me stood on a cloud receiving worship.

All of this should have been mine!

The necklace was mine, the position was mine, the glory was mine too!

Since I couldn't have it, then I'd destroy it in front of the whole world.