Chapter 12
Esther’s voice immediately drew everyone’s attention as Lenore stepped out of the cab. Dressed head to toe in black, she exuded an icy aura. Under the dim streetlight, her face seemed to glow, instantly capturing every gaze.
There was something about her presence—whether it was confidence or pure magnetism—that made her the center of attention without even trying.
“Troy, is that the daughter you raised in that small town?” Rachel asked, scanning Lenore with a skeptical eye.
She’s wearing a black hoodie and cargo pants, definitely giving off a poor vibe. Rachel thought. Her face is her only redeeming feature—she might not fit into high society, but at least she has potential for a good marriage alliance.
Troy’s expression darkened as he quickly approached Lenore, his voice sharp. “Lenore, who told you that you could come here?”
Ken considered stepping in but hesitated when he saw the look in Lenore’s eyes. She met Troy’s anger with defiant indifference. “I decided to come myself,” she said boldly.
“Do you really think this is where you belong?” Troy’s fists clenched, his expression cold.
Darren, still sulking because Rachel hadn’t given him a gift, glanced at Lenore with irritation. He opened his mouth to say something, but Sharon quickly pulled him back, covering his mouth.
Though Sharon was Troy’s wife and mother to his son, her background wasn’t impressive, and Rachel never missed an opportunity to belittle her.
Esther stepped forward, her eyes glinting. “Dad, maybe she knew Auntie Rachel would be here and wanted to see her. Since she’s already here, why not let her join us?” she suggested innocently.
Rachel shot Lenore a disapproving look, her authoritative voice cutting through the tension. “You see me standing here and don’t even know how to greet me? Have you thrown your manners out the window?”
Lenore gave Rachel a cool glance, hands tucked into her pockets, and smirked at Troy. “Ask him,” she replied.
Troy stiffened at the subtle sting in her words, a bitter reminder of their small-town roots. His face darkened. “Go home. Now.”
Suddenly, Esther’s grip on the gift box tightened as she remembered something. “Dad, since you spent money to get Lenore into Greenvine High School, shouldn’t you also teach her some manners? We don’t want her small-town attitude causing problems.”
Troy paused, his expression shifting. “What did you just say?” His eyes narrowed. “Lenore got into Greenvine High?”
Esther nodded, feigning confusion. “Yeah, and she made a big splash as soon as she got there. Didn’t you know?”
Lenore hadn’t been home all day, and with Troy busy at work, it was easy to overlook her.
Troy recalled Lenore mentioning Greenvine High just yesterday. At the time, he thought she was just rambling. She actually got in? But how? Esther never lies…
His gaze snapped back to Lenore. “How did you manage to get into Greenvine? Who gave you permission?”
Lenore smirked coldly, her eyes filled with defiance. Casually picking at her ear with her pinky, she said, “It’s just Greenvine. I got in because I wanted to. No permission needed.” Her tone was light, dripping with arrogance.
How dare she say that so casually? That’s a top-tier school! Troy’s face turned green with frustration.
His reaction made Esther’s eyes flicker with amusement. Biting her lip, she asked softly, “Did you really want to get into Greenvine? Or did you secretly use our family’s name to make it happen?”
Her fingers tightened around the box as tears welled in her eyes. “Lenore, do you hate me for always bringing up Mom’s death? Is that why you got into Greenvine—to get revenge on me?”
As one of Greenvine’s top students, Esther knew that having a sister there could ruin her reputation in every possible way.
Rachel, now fully grasping the situation, turned her disgusted gaze on Lenore. “I don’t care how you got into Greenvine,” she said sharply. “You need to quit. Immediately.”
Her tone left no room for argument.
