Chapter 2
Katrina turned and walked away.
"You..." Brandon's gaze darkened. He wanted to call her back and lecture her, but inexplicably felt her retreating figure looked desolate.
She'd never been like this before. She used to demand justice for even the slightest grievance.
Today, what was going on?
"Bran, did I do something wrong again? I just wanted to ask if she could postpone her birthday party by one day so we could celebrate together with mine tomorrow. I only wanted to get closer to her, but I didn't realize it would make her so unhappy. Maybe... I shouldn't celebrate my birthday tomorrow." Helena spoke carefully.
Hearing this, Brandon's heart instantly softened. "Don't worry. Your birthday is happening as planned."
Not only would it happen—it would be a big celebration. He'd invite everyone. He wanted the whole world to know how much the Fontaine family valued Helena.
"Thank you, Bran. Having you all is such a blessing." Helena smiled and hugged Brandon's arm, her eyes curving into crescents.
Tomorrow, there would be another show to watch.
Night deepened.
Katrina sat in her room for a long time, sorting through memories from both lives.
In her past life at this point, she'd already developed a phobia, covered in hives, unable to sleep peacefully. Tomorrow at Helena's birthday, all the precious gifts Father and her brothers had given her over the years would be taken by Brandon in the name of "making amends" and given to Helena.
When she refused, they called her petty and sent her back to her room.
That's when Brandon's pet snake would slip out and into her bedroom. She'd be so terrified she'd vomit and scream, disturbing the guests downstairs. From then on, everyone in Kingyard City treated her like a fool. The Fontaine family despised her even more. Her situation only got worse.
She certainly wouldn't repeat that mistake.
Not only that—she'd give Helena a big gift.
She turned off the light and lay on her side in bed, quietly waiting.
Around midnight, she heard soft footsteps enter her room. The person gently opened her closet. After a moment, they tiptoed away.
Once the door closed, Katrina got up in the dark and opened the closet. She found a small black powder packet, about the size of a thumb.
She sniffed it. A distinctive fishy smell hit her, nearly making her gag.
This powder attracted snakes. It was the root cause of her attack in her past life. If Helena hadn't accidentally let it slip later, she'd still be in the dark.
She thought for a moment, then put it away for now.
The next morning, when servants throughout the mansion were busy preparing for Helena's birthday party, she found an opportunity to slip it into a drawer in Helena's vanity.
Then she dusted off her hands and retreated to her room.
At noon, guests filled the house. The birthday party was about to begin.
Katrina heard a knock on the door—a maid calling her downstairs.
She applied simple makeup and put on a pale yellow dress. She smiled at herself in the mirror, happy to see her youthful, full face.
After all, not everyone got a second chance. She would treasure it and enjoy life properly.
But as she turned, she put on expensive jewelry—diamond tiara, earrings, sapphire necklace, jade bracelets, rings—everything at once.
Like a total nouveau riche.
When she stepped out, the maid looked shocked, hesitating to speak.
Katrina ignored her and went downstairs on her own.
Someone let out a gasp, and everyone turned to look.
"Why doesn't the Fontaine daughter match the rumors? Why is she so tacky?"
"That's way too much—like she's never worn jewelry before."
"Is she crazy? Who let her do this?"
"What is Katy doing? Is she deliberately embarrassing us?"
The voices grew louder, but Katrina didn't care. She even ignored the glares from the Fontaine men and walked right up to Helena.
"Happy birthday, Ms. Swift."
In her past life, starting today, her miserable second half began. No matter how humbly she tried to please them, how much she groveled, everyone sided with Helena.
Father even said Helena was more like his daughter than she was.
In this life, she wouldn't believe in that blood relation crap anymore.
"Thank you, Katy." Helena stared at all the priceless treasures on Katrina's body, her eyes practically glowing green with envy and resentment.
But she didn't show it.
She smiled and said softly, "Katy, I know you targeted me before because you were afraid I'd steal Uncle and your brothers away. Don't worry, I won't compete with you. I'm just an orphan with a different last name. I could never compare to you."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened with fake grievance.
Katrina rolled her eyes internally. How was she so blind in her past life that she couldn't see through this act?
"Lena, don't say that. You'll always be our family." Seeing this, Brandon quickly comforted her.
Beside him, the second Fontaine brother, Lancelot, also chimed in urgently. "Exactly. We're all family. You'll always be our little sister."
Lancelot served as PR Director at the Fontaine Group, working under CEO Brandon. He was the smoothest operator of them all.
Unlike Brandon's straightforward cruelty toward Katrina, Lancelot was indirect. He'd strike, then offer sugar. That's why Katrina had the highest hopes for him—only to be hurt the worst in the end.
Like right now. After comforting Helena, he smiled at Katrina and added, "Katy, don't you agree? We're all family, right?"
Katrina watched coldly and nodded indifferently. "Of course."
Lancelot choked on her lukewarm response. After recovering, he continued, "Then as her older sister, shouldn't you prepare a gift for Lena? She prepared one for you just the other day."
A greeting card worth a few cents—that counted as a gift?
Katrina almost laughed.
She turned her head and caught a flash of smugness in Helena's eyes, along with a hint of provocation.
"Yeah, Lena didn't hold your mistakes against you. Shouldn't you show some sincerity and make amends?" Brandon also spoke up.
Katrina let out a cold laugh. "You're right. I should make amends."
She removed the tiara from her head and all the jewelry from her body, placing them on the coffee table.
"These were all gifts from you. They're very important to me. Perfect for making amends."
These treasures—she used to cherish them like her life. But now, just looking at them made her sick.
Besides, even if she didn't hand them over, Helena would find a way to take them soon enough.
Looking at the items on the coffee table, both Brandon and Lancelot froze.
They knew better than anyone that these were Katrina's most precious possessions. She normally kept them locked in a safe. Helena had once just wanted to look at them, and she refused.
How could she possibly give them away today?
"Katrina, what's the meaning of this?" Lancelot frowned. "The gifts we gave you—how can you give them to someone else?"
"Lance, this is all my sincere apology. Are you saying it's not enough?" Katrina's eyes showed no emotion, as if discussing something totally trivial.
Lancelot's face turned dark. He said nothing.
Helena stared at the treasures on the coffee table. Beyond shock, she felt confused.
Any one of these items was worth hundreds of thousands. How could that bitch Katrina just hand them over?
Was this... a trap?
