Chapter 3
Helena immediately became wary, quickly scanning the brothers and Richard, the Fontaine family patriarch sitting in the main seat, his expression equally grim.
Everyone fell silent, clearly displeased with Katrina's actions.
Helena read the room and immediately said, "Katy, that won't do. These were all gifts from Uncle and your brothers. How can I accept them? If word gets out, people will think I'm stealing from you."
Watching her disgusting, phony act, Katrina nearly threw up.
"Whether you want them or not, this is your only chance. After today, I won't give them to you even if you beg on your knees." Her voice was cold, clearly impatient.
Everyone froze. They stared at her face, unable to read her.
The most intense gaze Katrina felt came from Brandon. His eyes burned like fire, as if wanting to incinerate her. After all, he used to treat her the best. He'd given her the most gifts.
Before, she cherished their sibling bond. Now, even looking at him once made her sick.
"Bran, Lance, Katy already said so, then I..." At that moment, Helena spoke weakly.
Brandon immediately responded, "Since she's giving them to you, take them!"
His voice carried inexplicable anger, as if deliberately speaking for Katrina to hear.
She'd already guessed it would go this way. She spread her hands and looked at Helena. "Take them."
Helena's expression brightened considerably. "Then thank you, Katy. I'll take good care of them for you."
Disgusting.
Katrina couldn't stand it anymore. She turned and went to sit in a corner.
Watching her retreating back, Helena smiled slightly.
Katrina, oh Katrina, just keep suffering. Eventually, everything you have will be mine.
"Bran, what's wrong with her?" Lancelot watched Katrina leave, feeling inexplicably annoyed. He pulled Brandon aside.
The latter's face alternated between pale and flushed. "Ignore her. I know her game—just playing hard to get. She always does this, using these cheap tricks to get attention. The more you care, the more she pushes it and bullies Lena."
Lancelot nodded, thinking Bran made perfect sense, and let it go.
He had someone bring the gift he'd prepared for Helena. "Lena, this painting is a new work by your favorite artist. I had someone bid on it for you."
Helena gasped with delight. "Thank you, Lance."
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Katrina in the corner, unable to hide the smugness in her eyes.
Brandon also presented his gift—a high-end custom watch worth three million dollars. Richard and youngest son Kent gave a Bentley and a property respectively, both worth serious money.
The atmosphere instantly peaked. Everyone witnessed how these distinguished Fontaine men doted on Helena.
"The Fontaine girl with the different last name seems more favored than the real one."
"Ms. Swift looks so graceful and elegant, unlike that Katrina."
"These two are worlds apart, honestly."
These comments spread like wildfire among the guests. Within minutes, everyone's sympathy had shifted toward Helena, showering her with compliments.
If this were before, seeing all this would have devastated Katrina.
But right now, her heart felt no ripples—only lightness.
She sipped her wine. It was sweet.
Suddenly, she noticed Helena signaling to the maid who managed the snake room. The latter quietly slipped away.
Helena's smile grew sweeter. Looks like their plan was starting.
Katrina waited quietly.
"Katy, can you come help me change into another dress?" Helena walked over with a smile, her gaze soft.
Behind her, Richard and his three sons all looked over, watching Katrina closely, as if afraid she might devour Helena.
She ignored them and didn't refuse Helena's request. Otherwise, the upcoming show wouldn't go on.
The two went upstairs together.
"Katy, I have a big gift for you in a bit. I guarantee you'll love it." Helena stayed a step behind Katrina, her voice cold and bone-chilling, more terrifying than a venomous snake.
In her past life, Katrina had been fooled by this fake mask, losing her composure in front of everyone.
Today, Helena should get a good taste of that pain herself.
"Oh really?" Katrina said softly. "I'm looking forward to it."
With that, she quickly entered her room and locked the door.
Looking at her closed door, Helena smirked with satisfaction.
"Ms. Swift, everything's ready. The snake will climb up the exterior wall into her room. It won't affect anyone else," the maid whispered.
"You can go." Helena removed the necklace from her neck as she spoke. "You know what to say and what not to say."
The maid promised repeatedly and left.
Helena entered the bedroom to change.
Her second dress was a sky-blue princess gown studded with diamonds, with a very full skirt supported by a crinoline underneath.
As she put on the crinoline, she suddenly felt a shivering coolness on her calf. She couldn't help thinking of those creatures in the snake room.
Disgusting.
After changing, she appeared before everyone like a fairy, supported by the maid.
"Ms. Swift is so beautiful."
"Now that's a Fontaine heiress."
"So much more refined than that other one."
With each compliment, Helena floated on air, her smile growing sweeter. The Fontaine men also looked over, their gazes full of approval, as if looking at a glittering princess.
Helena's vanity was riding high.
"Ah! A snake!" Suddenly, some kid screamed and bolted away from her. "There's a snake in her dress!"
Helena's smile froze. She instinctively looked down but saw nothing.
The child was pulled back by his mother, who gave her an apologetic glance.
Displeased, Helena was about to speak when suddenly a slippery sensation slithered down her leg. The feeling of fine scales sliding over the tender flesh of her calf instantly reminded her of Brandon's favorite black snake.
Her mind went blank.
Then she felt the thing flick its tongue against her ankle.
Sticky. Cold.
"Ahhh!"
She let out a bloodcurdling scream, her voice breaking. Like a total lunatic, she jumped frantically in place and began tearing at her clothes.
"A snake! There really is a snake! A black snake!"
"Oh my God, how is there a snake in her dress?!"
"Run!"
The lively ballroom descended into chaos. Screams, crashes, curses—everything mixed together. Everyone panicked.
Brandon and the others immediately tried to rush over. Of course they couldn't just watch Helena lose it like this. The dignified Fontaine heiress—how could she undress in public?
But the hall was too crowded. Everyone was terrified of the snake.
They were pushed back by the mob, only able to shout for her to calm down.
By this point, Helena had already torn her dress to shreds, wanting to rip apart even the crinoline underneath.
A bold media person happened to aim their camera at her.
Capturing her most humiliating moment.
