nst her cheek. "We believe we can succeed based on our merits alone.

, and her teary eyes locked onto his,

rd of her through his grandmother, and t

er eyes looked strikingly familiar,

nything, a knock inte

birthday banquet is about to begi

ithdrew his hand sharply, a

lid off the bed and quickly seize

lete her sentence, De

sufficient to sway me? You are vastly overestimating yourself. Get

ed that Derek was actually leavin

a j

bed, feeling pain in

lebration that evening, Aileen quickly

vator, she was met w

Grandma's birthday celebratio

ee Rosalie standin

We generously took you in. Shouldn't you have been here early to serve

Aileen tightened h

had taken her rightful place. She had tormented Aileen throu

her voice steady and submissive. "However, the ban

ned even icier. "As a servant, shouldn't you ha

"servant" caused o

ose biological parents are the Jeff

s to recognize her place. She remains a poor, lowly

words, dripping wit

e, as the adopted daughter, to assume the duties of a servant, I am willing

dare

e Aileen. The sharpness of Aileen's

napping incident, the family treated her with even greater tenderness. Now, to b

nd struck Aileen shar

cheek quickly reddened and swell

pain. Her mood improved as she continued her taunts. "Do you see your

onlookers, and derisive gl

entually drew Gret

hen, encircled by attendees, em

oticed Aileen was tardy, so I thought to remind her to be earli

en cheek, she admonished, "Aileen, why must you be so thoug

gaze, feeling a k

r an attempt to uncover the trut

ome accusto

he bitterness within her, when a d

rrection, it needn't be

mere coat that added to his elegant demeanor. His deep blue t