REBORN FOR REVENGE

Chapter 3 A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

"Excuse me," Emma spoke softly, "Are you the ones my dad sent to pick me up?"

The butler turned around, and upon seeing Emma's face covered in red blotches, he immediately recognized her as the Second Miss they were waiting for.

But wasn't this country girl supposed to be timid and weak? Why, then, did he sense an indescribable aura from this country girl that made him hesitant to underestimate her? It must be his imagination!

The butler snapped back to reality and nodded, "Miss, we're here to pick you up..."

"Thank you for your trouble. Let's go," Emma smiled slightly, a smile that nearly made the butler feel queasy.

She was... just too ugly and frightening!

But perhaps that was for the best. The lady of the house had deliberately arranged a luncheon today, inviting society's elite wives to showcase just how unattractive Emma was. Once the rumors reached the Thompson Family, who had a marriage agreement with Emma, they would surely refuse to marry someone so plain and unsophisticated. This would give the lady's own daughter, the Third Miss, a chance to marry into the prestigious Thompson Family.

"Miss, please get in the car." The butler pinched his thigh hard to maintain his composure, hiding his disgust as he drove.

About half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of the Wilson Family villa.

Emma looked at the familiar mansion, recalling her first visit here in her past life.

Back then, she was overwhelmed by the luxury, timid and awkward, which made her the subject of ridicule and caused the old lady to be displeased with her. But later, she learned that the Wilson Family had only just entered the upper echelons of Inspireville society, and this mansion was nothing special there.

This time, she was called back because the old lady's health was failing, and her indifferent father wanted her to be present for the funeral. The old lady was the only one who showed her any semblance of care, even if she wasn't fond of Emma. At least she offered a hint of familial warmth. In this new chance at life, Emma wanted to accompany the old lady through her final days.

Though her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, Emma's face remained calm and unreadable.

Once inside the gates, the butler led Emma straight into the living room. The room was filled with guests and expensive decorations. Emma knew these items were usually kept hidden, for fear of damage. Her stepmother, Mia, had intentionally displayed them today to intimidate her.

"Madam," the butler approached the center of the living room, bowing slightly, "Madam, the old lady, Second Miss is back."

Mia suppressed the smile tugging at her lips and raised her voice to the old lady in the wheelchair, "Mom, Emma is back."

The old lady now spent more time asleep than awake, but today she forced herself to stay alert because she knew her other granddaughter was coming home.

When Mia mentioned Emma's return, the old lady slowly opened her eyes, revealing an undeniable sharpness and authority. "Where is she?" she asked in a calm voice.

The butler realized he was blocking Emma and quickly stepped aside. Instantly, everyone turned their curious gazes toward Emma. The girl stood there with a face covered in alarming red blotches, making her appearance quite off-putting. Her poorly made clothes only added to the impression of a country bumpkin.

Mia swallowed her disdainful smile and waved her hand in a show of affection, "Emma, come up here."

As she spoke, Mia deliberately signaled to her own impeccably dressed daughter, Emily, sitting beside her.

Emily understood immediately, stood up, and approached Emma. Despite her disgust, she took Emma's hand and said, "Sister, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you ever since I heard you were coming!"

Known as the top socialite in Inspireville, Emily wore a designer limited-edition sky-blue dress, her tall figure, long hair, and slender waist making her look like a living painting. Compared to the travel-worn Emma, Emily's fair skin and exquisite makeup made her beauty undeniable.

Emma looked at Emily's overly affectionate demeanor and felt a complex sadness. No wonder Christopher had abandoned her and teamed up with Emily to take her heart. Such beauty was indeed irresistible to any man.

The guests whispered among themselves:

"This Second Miss is so ugly! Compared to the Third Miss, it's like heaven and mud!"

"No wonder the Wilson family took so long to bring her back. If I had a daughter like that, I'd never want her home, too embarrassing!"

"I heard Emma has a childhood engagement with the Thompson family's Second Young Master. Madam Thompson would be furious if she knew about this marriage!"

Hearing this, Emily's lips curled slightly. Suddenly, she didn't mind Emma's arrival. With this ugly duckling around, her own elegance as the top socialite shone even brighter!

Emma heard the mocking voices but remained unfazed. No amount of venomous words could hurt someone who had already died once.

Ignoring the chatter, she nodded slightly at Emily in greeting. She didn't spare a glance at Mia's deliberately lavish decorations and gracefully approached the old lady.

With a slight bow, she softly said, "Grandma, I'm back." Her manners and respect were impeccable.

The guests who had been mocking her instinctively fell silent. The old lady squinted, observing the girl's face covered in red blotches, yet her eyes were strikingly bright. Most people meeting her for the first time were intimidated by her sharp aura, but this granddaughter from the countryside showed no fear. This intrigued the old lady about Emma.

With a hint of admiration, she waved Emma over. "What a good child, you look like you're blessed."

Emma looked at the elderly lady's aged face, and her heart stirred. She mustered the courage to hug her.

"Grandma! I've missed you so much!" The old lady's back stiffened slightly, clearly unaccustomed to such closeness, but she quickly relaxed and hugged Emma back. "You must be tired from the journey?"

Emma inhaled the calming scent of incense on the old lady, feeling an unexpected sense of peace.

In her past life, when her grandmother passed away, she had held Emma's hand, crying and apologizing to her and her mother. At the time, Emma didn't understand what she meant, but now, after hearing Emily's words before her death, everything was clear.

Her grandmother had known that her stepmother was responsible for her mother's death. But... the dead couldn't come back to life, and Mia was already pregnant at the time. She had to pretend not to know, to maintain the facade of family harmony.

Since her grandmother felt indebted to her, Emma could use this guilt to bring up the old issues and settle them once and for all!

"It's not tiring at all, Grandma. Seeing you makes any effort worth it." Her words made the old lady's eyes crinkle with a smile. It was rare for a younger family member not to be afraid of her, and she hadn't felt such closeness in a long time.

Mia watched the old lady's satisfied expression towards Emma, her face darkening.

Wasn't this girl supposed to be from the countryside? How could she have none of the rustic demeanor? Her poise, manners, and speech were even better than Emily, whom Mia had meticulously groomed!

Fuming, Mia's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea.

She smiled and asked, "Emma, it's been so long since you've seen us. Did you bring a gift for your grandma?"