Chapter 4

Luna's POV

Henry froze for a moment, then blurted out, "You keep bullying Lily, and you have the nerve to ask me for money?"

"Henry, did you see me bully Lily with your own eyes? Every time, Lily's the one who comes to me first, then frames me. But in your eyes, it's always my fault?" I paused. "There are cameras in the dining room. Pull up the footage. If I really framed Lily, I'll leave this house without taking a dime. How about that?"

"It's just a small matter. No need to make such a fuss."

My father frowned at me, then turned to Henry and snapped, "Henry, I want you to remember—Luna's home now. I expect you to treat her the same way you treat Lily."

"Silas, that goes for you too."

I was a little surprised.

In my past life, he gave all his affection to Lily. He never cared about how my brothers treated me.

If this were my past life, I might've thought my father had a shred of compassion for me.

But now? I'd already seen through this family.

After breakfast, I went back to my room.

Just as I was about to close the door, Lily appeared in front of me.

She'd changed into a pink dress. The burn on her hand had been bandaged.

"Luna, don't be mad. I know you've been through a lot all these years. Trust me—Mom, Dad, and your brothers will make it up to you."

Lily reached for my hand. I pulled away, my face full of disgust.

"Luna, are you still mad at me? I'm sorry." Lily pressed her lips together. "Luna, how about I show you around today?"

I didn't answer, but I nodded.

In my past life, I didn't agree to go with Lily. She turned around and told everyone I was still angry with her.

My parents and brothers said I was petty and too jealous.

Every time something happened to Lily after that, they assumed I was behind it.

Even when evidence was right in front of them, I was always the one in the wrong.

"Luna, your clothes are so plain. I have a few new outfits in my room that I haven't worn yet. Want to pick out a couple?"

"No need. I think my clothes are fine." I refused.

"Luna, if you go out dressed like that, you'll embarrass the Ashford family. People will think we've gone bankrupt."

Silas and Julian walked over, their eyes full of undisguised disdain.

My clothes were shabby, I had to admit. In my past life, Lily gave me a change of clothes too—but they were old styles, and they'd been worn before.

Because of that, people didn't think I was part of the Ashford family. They thought I was a servant.

"Forget it. I won't go out. I don't have any money anyway."

Just as I was about to close the door, Julian pushed it open. His face remained cold and expressionless. Without a word, he handed me a bank card.

"There's a million dollars in there. Consider it your birthday present. Buy whatever you like."

I didn't hesitate. I took the card.

Lily dragged me to her room to pick out clothes. The styles were new, but the colors didn't suit me at all.

They made me look even worse.

But I didn't care. I followed Lily into the department store.

"Lily, I've never seen you bring a servant out before." A woman with wavy hair walked up to Lily, glanced at me with obvious distaste, and didn't bother hiding it. "She's so ugly. Next time, could you bring a prettier servant?"

"Vera, how else can we highlight Lily's beauty and elegance without a little contrast?"

Another woman, blonde and blue-eyed, looked me over with a smile.

Lily froze for a moment, then quickly tried to explain. "Vera, Mia, she's not our servant. She's my sister, Luna."

I laughed inwardly, keeping my face calm as I looked at Lily.

Vera and Mia—two socialites, Lily's best friends—how could they not know who I was?

"Luna, I'm so sorry. They didn't know who you were."

Lily's face was full of guilt.

I smiled and looked at Vera. "I'm Luna. I have Ashford blood."

"You're really Julian's sister?" Vera's face filled with shock.

I nodded. "I used to live in a foster home. I was just brought back."

"Yes, I already told you—she's my sister." Lily jumped in, her tone urgent.

In my past life, aside from the Ashford family, no one else knew my true identity.

Even Vera and Mia thought I was the Ashfords' adopted daughter—the lost child of a servant.

Now that I couldn't leave the Ashford family, I had to make sure more people knew I was their daughter.

That way, when my birthday banquet came around, even if Lily threw a fit, my parents wouldn't be able to publicly claim their biological daughter was a servant's child—not without destroying the family's reputation.

Lily was nervous because her real identity had never been made public.

And I wasn't in a hurry to expose it.

Mia stared at me for a long moment, then couldn't help but ask Lily, "She's really your sister?"

"Of course she is." Lily forced herself to stay calm.

Mia pursed her lips. "But you two don't look alike at all."

"Lily and I really don't look alike."

"Luna, what do you like? I'll buy it for you as a birthday present." Lily cut me off, staring at me intently. Her hand tightened on my shoulder. "Our birthday banquet isn't far off."

"I like money. Just transfer it to me."

Mia and Vera exchanged glances.

Vera sneered. "Are you that desperate? Lily's trying to buy you a gift, and you're asking her to just give you cash? So what are you planning to get Lily?"

I glanced at Lily. "Even if I had money, I wouldn't buy you a gift. After all, you have everything. I'm the one who's lacking. Lily, you wouldn't mind just giving me cash instead, would you?"

"You're really Julian's sister?" Mia's face was full of doubt.

To them, Julian had always doted on his sister. How could I be so broke that I couldn't even afford to buy Lily a gift—and even asked her to give me cash instead?

I looked conflicted.

Vera huffed. "I think you're just some kid the Ashford family adopted from a foster home. And you have the nerve to pretend you're Julian's real sister!"

I casually pulled a DNA test from my bag and handed it to Vera.

The moment she saw the certificate, Vera's eyes narrowed. She laughed coldly. "This has to be fake!"

"Who carries a DNA test around with them? And it's a photocopy? Aren't you afraid the Ashford family will find out you're using a fake identity to scam people?" Mia's tone was threatening.

I blinked, staring at the report in my hand, my voice nonchalant. "Then should I post it online and let everyone decide if it's real or fake?"