When True Heiress Returns, I Choose to Leave

Chapter 3

A few days later, Grandpa threw a dinner party and invited both Holly and me over.

Holly's eyes lit up right away. She changed into her prettiest dress ever, unable to hold back her smug grin. "See? Grandpa actually cares about me."

I got the creeps just listening to her.

Grandpa's fancy dinners were never just free meals you could chill through. Sure enough. The whole ballroom was packed with guests, and my cousin Sarah Shaw was there too.

She'd been my biggest childhood nightmare, the textbook perfect kid everyone always praised nonstop.

Grandpa waved me over warmly. "Shirley, c'mere. I heard you've been taking piano lessons lately. Play us something." I knew it. There wasn't any such thing as a free feast around here.

I walked up to the grand piano, lifted my hands and pressed down on the keys. The tune came out scratchy, off-key and totally awful.

Once I finished playing, the banquet hall fell dead silent for a second. Grandpa slapped his thigh and cheered loudly. "Good job! You've gotten way better!"

Grandma was struggling hard not to burst out laughing. Dad sipped his coffee peacefully, Mom stared at her manicured nails, and Ethan and Leo twisted their heads away, refusing to watch my terrible performance.

Only Holly wore a sneering smile on her face.

Grandpa still wasn't satisfied. "I heard you picked up painting as well? Draw something for everyone." I obediently got down to drawing. He stared at my sketch for ages and asked, "Is this… a little duck swimming in the water?"

I mumbled quietly, "…It's a snail crawling along." Muffled snickers spread all across the room. Holly laughed even louder, her face filled with pure disdain. Dad finally spoke up. "Quit putting her on the spot. This is all she's capable of."

Grandpa shot him a sharp glare. "So what if she isn't talented? I like her just like this." The family nanny backed him up right away. "Exactly. Shirley's honest and genuine. She stays composed even when she can't do things well."

The smile froze completely on Holly's face. She glared at me resentfully then stood up straight. "Grandpa, I'm really good at piano. I wanna play a song for all the guests." She played Mariage d'Amour, her fingers flowing smoothly across the piano keys.

When the music ended, she bowed her head softly, waiting eagerly for piles of compliments. Grandpa looked at her with an amused glint in his eyes and nodded casually. "Not bad." That was it. No extra praise, nothing else.

The hopeful glow faded from Holly's face. She stepped back to her seat and kept glaring at me bitterly. Holly sat right next to Mom, clenching her fingers tight, seething with unfairness. Mom could tell exactly what she was about to complain about, so she tilted her chin and said, "Pay close attention."

Sarah stood up and walked toward the piano. She played a melody that sounded far nicer than Holly's rendition. She wrote a sheet of calligraphy, which looked far more elegant than Holly's work. After that, she danced a waltz. Holly couldn't hold a candle to her at all, and I was even worse by a mile.

Holly's face kept shifting shades of red and pale. She took a deep breath, eyes watering, and stared at Mom reproachfully. "If I'd gotten this kind of upscale education since I was little, I would've been just as brilliant as anyone here."

Mom set down her wine glass and let out a faint chuckle. A chill ran down my spine the second I heard that laugh, so I quietly scooted closer to Leo.

Mom said in a calm, steady voice, "We'll do exactly what you're wishing for. Starting tomorrow, you're gonna take over every single thing on Shirley's daily schedule."

Holly's eyes lit up instantly, unable to hide her excitement. "Thank you, Mom!"

I watched her triumphant look and shut my eyes out of pity for her. Did she honestly not get the meaning behind Mom's words? Mom was handing her my brutal daily routine.

That was definitely not a reward or privilege.

I leaned over and whispered right into Leo's ear. "Leo, is her brain totally messed up?"

Leo tapped my forehead gently and sighed, which was super rare for him. "How could she be any dumber than you? That'd be seriously ridiculous."

I rolled my eyes, held my forehead, and prayed silently to myself: Hang in there, Holly. My whole future's riding on you, girl.