Chapter 2

Freshly back in the country, I was like a wild animal, starved for ages. I went out every day, meeting old friends and feasting, vowing to make up for all the food I’d missed over the years.

During this time, I didn’t have time to deal with Vanessa. But then, a friend brought her up.

“How’s your future sister-in-law treating you? She’s not just anyone, is she?”

It was my childhood friend, Jake. His expression and demeanor screamed, *I know everything, but I won’t tell you until you ask.* He’d been like that since we were kids. I shot him a glance and, as he wished, said, “Spit it out already!”

He grinned, even more slyly.

“That girl is an intern at your family’s company. She barely started, and she’s already got your big dummy brother wrapped around her finger.”

I scoffed. “That’s it? You needed to tell me *that*? Everyone knows that. Tell me something I *don’t* know.”

Jake didn’t get annoyed. He continued,

“But did you know, this girl only had one goal from the moment she joined the company: to snag your brother. Now she’s going around, calling herself the future mistress of the Thompson family, flaunting that status everywhere.”

I finally turned to look at him. Jake smugly pulled out his phone and showed me a few screenshots.

It was a SnapChat conversation between Vanessa and her girlfriends.

【Ryan is mine. What rich heir? He’s practically groveling at my feet, Vanessa’s feet!】

【Ryan brought me home to meet his parents. The Thompson house is so big! And they have a housekeeper! I *have* to hold onto this.】

【Ryan’s sister is coming home soon. Daughters in these families are always a threat. Once she’s here, I’m going to give her a good lesson.】

*How stupid.* To brag about something like that, she clearly couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

I grumbled to myself, then turned back to Jake.

“What’s your connection to the person in the screenshots?”

Jake gave a cheeky smile. I looked at him disdainfully, but he was quite brazen.

“What’s the big deal? It’s a mutual thing, we both got what we wanted. Not like your brother.”

But I couldn't help but keep an eye on Vanessa.

From what I observed, though her name meant "butterfly," her ambition was anything but delicate.

She presented herself as a gentle, kind, innocent flower, not fighting for anything, not wanting anything. But in reality, she made sure she wanted for nothing.

She manipulated my brother into getting her a permanent position, a promotion, and a cushy department job.

From occasionally staying over, she practically moved into our house completely.

She was great at playing the victim and charming people.

In this house, apart from me and Maria the housekeeper, she had a smile for everyone.

She buttered up my parents, her future in-laws, and reeled in my brother, eager to marry him and become the *real* Mrs. Thompson.

I was the only one, his sister, she didn't even bother to pretend for.

Maria brought me a late-night snack, and when Vanessa saw it, she demanded some too.

But it was already very late; the soup had been simmering for hours.

There was no time to make more now, and Maria was about to go to sleep.

The moment she heard Maria was reluctant, Vanessa put her hands on her hips and pulled out her "future madam" act again.

“What, I can’t even get a bowl of soup made for me? Are you the Thompson family’s housekeeper, or are you here to enjoy yourself? Am I not allowed to tell you what to do?”

Maria had no choice but to go make it for her.

She was truly this domineering, yet in front of my parents, she constantly yielded to me.

I, on the other hand, was too lazy to play along with her childish games and never gave her a pleasant look. This contrast made me seem like the ill-mannered one.

I even tried to ask my brother, hesitantly, if he was really going to marry Vanessa. Did he truly know her?

Ryan just thought I was acting like a child, saying he would marry her and hoped I’d get along with her.

My parents also grew increasingly fond of Vanessa.

Vanessa would go shopping with Mom, buying bags. No matter what Mom liked, she’d praise her taste.

She made Mom laugh constantly.

Of course, she often received gifts from her future mother-in-law.

Emotional value exchanged for material value—both were quite satisfied.

Ryan, naturally, was happy to see their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship so harmonious.

I was the only one in the family who didn't like her.

This disparity became more and more apparent. I actually started to look like the villainous sister.

Because of this, Vanessa became even more confident with me.

In places my parents couldn't see, she treated me even worse.