Phoenix :My rebirth

"Lord Capet, regarding your daughter's body..." Lord Capet's response was delivered in a cold and unyielding tone, " As members of the Capet family, we do not acknowledge this individual as our daughter. The disposal of her remains is at your discretion." As the guests departed and the hotel staff remained, they were unsure of how to proceed. Suddenly, a tall figure appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall, drawing the attention of all present. The manager was taken aback by the sight of the man and quickly approached him, addressing him as "Mr. Tudor." The man cast a glance at the lifeless body on the frigid floor and issued a chilling command, "Please inform the funeral home." The manager promptly complied. Following the man's departure, the manager directed his attention towards the unfortunate woman lying on the ground and let out a sigh. He remarked, "It is often the case that individuals who appear to lack compassion are in fact more genuine than those who feign kindness. My dear, I implore you to live a life that is not fraught with misery in your next incarnation. Live for yourself." In the very moment that the man exited, Lauren, who was levitating in mid-air, was abruptly propelled by an immense force and subsequently lost consciousness. The entrance to the banquet hall was abruptly disturbed by the forceful push of the door, causing a jarring sound that immediately drew the attention of the guests. A woman, elegantly dressed in black, made her way into the hall with a measured pace. Her slender frame was marred by a ghastly scar that snaked across her face, stretching from her left eyebrow to the right corner of her lips, resembling a crimson centipede that had ravaged her once delicate features. The guests were taken aback by her sudden appearance, but one among them recognized her and whispered, "Is she not the child who was brought back by The Capets?" A nearby individual, perplexed, inquired, "Do you mean to say that she was adopted?" It is worth noting that the individual in question is, in fact, the biological daughter of Lord Capet, who was mistakenly taken by Sarah during her childhood. She was eventually recognized and returned to her rightful family eight years ago. Upon her return, she even held a family reunion banquet and was seen at various social events. However, it has been some time since she has been seen in public, and her current situation is quite unexpected. Regarding the matter of how The Capets' biological daughter ended up in her current state, it is rumored that after her return, her presence caused great turmoil within the family. It is said that her grandfather met his untimely demise at her hands. As for the scar on her face, it is rumored that she received it during a physical altercation with a group of hooligans. Lauren had resided in the slums for sixteen years before falling in with a group of ruffians and becoming involved in criminal activity. Despite her subsequent entry into The Capets, she was unable to escape her impoverished and lowly circumstances. She engaged in fights and displayed ignorance, even attempting to steal Sarah's fiancé. There was a prevailing sentiment among the guests that once a person goes astray, they are irredeemable. They questioned Lauren's presence at the event and speculated whether she was attempting to steal her sister's fiancé. The potential for a conflict between the sisters over the same man was seen as a threat to The Capets' reputation. The guests below were discussing the matter in a flurry, and even those who were unfamiliar with Lauren's identity could discern it from the surrounding conversations. Despite the ridicule, disdain, and disgust directed towards her, Lauren remained composed. With her gaze fixed upon the newlyweds before her, she proceeded to take measured steps towards the front. The emcee, who had intended to ease the atmosphere with a few words, was deterred by the woman's cold and stern countenance. The expressions of The Capets and The Wests, seated at the main table, soured considerably, particularly that of The Capet couple. Lord Capet, suppressing his anger, rose to his feet and commanded, "Lauren, today is your sister's momentous occasion. Please take your seat promptly." His eyes were icy and his tone brooked no argument. Lauren, however, paid him no heed and continued her advance. Lord Capet's face contorted with rage upon realizing that his daughter was not complying with his request. "Lauren Capet," he spat out the words with venom. One could easily mistake him for calling out the name of an enemy. Lauren turned her head and smiled at him, "My dear father, why are you so afraid of me standing here? Does my appearance make you lose face or feel ashamed?" Mrs. Capet observed that her daughter was speaking incoherently and promptly interjected, "Pardon me, what is the nature of your discourse, my dear? If you have a matter to discuss, kindly wait until after your sister's nuptials." However, Lauren erupted into laughter, convulsing with mirth until a solitary tear streamed down her cheek. "Nonsense?" she exclaimed, "I, Lauren, have never been more lucid." Abruptly, she pivoted and gestured towards Sarah, resplendent in her million-dollar bridal gown. "Sister?" she scoffed, "I, Lauren Capet, have no such sibling. She is a celestial princess, while I am but a speck of dust on the earth. What right have I to claim kinship with her? She possesses noble lineage, whereas I am of the most ignoble and sullied stock. Am I deserving of the title of her sister?" The aforementioned words were a direct insult to all members of The Capets, causing Lord Capet and Mrs. Capet to no longer conceal their expressions. Lord Capet proceeded to scold the individual responsible, urging them to come down immediately and cease their embarrassing behavior. Despite this, the individual in question, Lauren, remained unfazed by his stern gaze and responded with a calm smile. Lord Capet then issued a final warning, commanding Lauren to leave and apologize to her sister, brother-in-law, and all guests present. Lauren acknowledged his request and expressed her intent to apologize. Although Lord Capet felt somewhat relieved, his anger remained palpable. The incident had caused The Capets to lose face in Lincoln City, and they would need to address the matter upon returning home. Lord Capet was thinking about something good, but the next moment he heard words that made him extremely angry. Lauren faced all the guests, ignoring their contemptuous and disdainful looks, and said in a cheerful tone, "I want to apologize to my dear sister here. I'm sorry for coming to this house and causing you to suffer, to feel pain, and to be unable to hold your head up high." "I also want to apologize to my dear father and mother. I'm sorry for overestimating myself, for being foolishly in love, and for wanting to earn your love." "I was too arrogant, thinking that if I did everything perfectly, you would smile at me with the same kindness as you did to Sarah, and give me a warm hug, even just a word of encouragement." "Unfortunately, I was wrong." "No matter how well I do or how well I perform, it cannot compare to a single tear from Sarah." "She just said one sentence, 'I'm not as good as her,' and you all ordered me not to surpass her." "As long as she says she wants something of mine, you all demand that I hand it over. As long as she sheds a tear, it's all my fault. Because of my existence, she is sad and embarrassed." "Since you all dislike me so much and don't want to see me, why did you bring me back? Why?!!" She was clearly speaking with a smile, but the tears in her eyes blurred her vision. She was smiling, but no one in the room could feel the joy. Her sad laughter hit every guest's heart like a drum.