Chapter 3

In my previous life, after Mom died in the car accident, I was so insecure, so afraid Dad would give everything to Jasmine. I tried so hard to be kind and forgiving, to tolerate everything. But in the end, I still lost everything, didn’t I?

So, I, Cassidy Sterling, was born to be a villainess. I couldn could never be the tragic heroine.

Feelings are the cheapest thing in this world; they change in an instant.

Only what you hold firmly in your hands is truly yours.

“My mom’s marriage was sabotaged, and I ended up with a half-sister. And *I*’m not pitiful?”

I quickly shut the door, not wanting to see Jasmine’s pathetic face.

My dad decided to host a banquet for Jasmine.

He was going to acknowledge Jasmine’s identity to everyone.

Was it just out of guilt?

Or did he want to use Jasmine to secure another high-status marriage to consolidate his business?

I thought the latter was more plausible.

My dad was naturally cold-hearted; he only loved himself, that was clear.

On the day of the banquet, many prominent families and their daughters arrived.

I knew most of them, but Jasmine didn’t know anyone.

Even dressed in a lavish gown, she stood in the center, unnoticed.

She had a rather… off-putting vibe, honestly.

“Cassidy, who is she?”

Seeing Jasmine approach, my friend immediately asked.

Of course, she knew who Jasmine was; she was just doing it on purpose.

So, the several girls standing next to us immediately burst into laughter.

Jasmine’s head was almost touching the floor, and she kept tugging at the hem of her dress.

She seemed to gather courage and said, “Hello, my name is Jasmine Vance.”

“Your name doesn’t matter, little sister. Go play somewhere else. Don’t bother us.”

I smirked dismissively, waving my hand.

“Sister, this is the banquet Dad is holding for me. How can you treat me like this?”

Jasmine’s voice trembled; she sounded deeply wronged.

But in my previous life, when she took everything from me with that innocent smile, there wasn’t a hint of sadness on her face, was there?

“If you can’t handle it, call the cops. See if they care.”

I let others mock her, even leading the taunts myself.

Someone interrupted it all.

“You’re Cassidy Sterling?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so harsh to your own sister, completely devoid of sympathy.”

Striding forward was Caleb Thorne, the Thorne family heir.

He was just as he had been in my past life, drawn to weak, fragile women.

Or rather, drawn to Jasmine.

“Who could be as chivalrous as Sir Thorne?”

I feigned politeness.

Because…

I couldn’t afford to offend him.

“Miss Sterling, you should go back and read some more. You have no sense of honor or propriety.”

Caleb Thorne dropped that line, then left with Jasmine.

“Cassidy, your stepsister is something else. She just met him, and she’s already got Caleb Thorne’s attention?”

“Don’t let her snatch your fiancé in the end.”

My friend’s warning made me a little distracted.

The Sterling and Thorne families had a childhood betrothal, arranged by our elders.

My grandfather and Caleb Thorne’s grandfather were war buddies, who had endured hardships together.

So, after they both retired from service and successfully started their own businesses, they set up this arrangement.

However, Caleb Thorne’s father had caught a lucky break in his youth, and since then, his net worth had skyrocketed. He was now the wealthiest man in the city.

Here, Caleb Thorne could pretty much do whatever he wanted; no one dared cross him.

Marrying Caleb Thorne was the fantasy of many women.

I had never liked him since I was a child; I found him hypocritical and falsely righteous.