Chapter 3: So What If We're Related by Blood

Butler Sowden had been certain Celia Greaves didn't own a single decent thing. The contempt in his eyes was almost overflowing. Celia flicked him a sideways glance and couldn't be bothered to waste even one word. She got into the car. Butler Sowden didn't notice the look she gave him, like she was staring at an idiot. He only assumed she felt guilty, and he launched into a long-winded lecture meant to put her in her place. "Miss Celia, I've eaten more salt than you've walked roads. Whatever little tricks you're trying to pull, I can see through them. I'm warning you, don't use those cheap, disgraceful tactics again in the future…" Just then, a faint rolling sound came from outside. Butler Sowden instinctively turned toward it. A small silver suitcase rolled over on its own, whirring softly as it "climbed" up through the open car door beside Celia, then settled in place without moving. The way it got into the car was so smooth it looked almost human. Too smart by half. Butler Sowden's words cut off mid-sentence. He suddenly remembered that Miss Chloe had a Smart Suitcase too, one that cost nearly $2,000. It could only follow on flat ground. Forget recognizing a car and climbing in by itself, it probably couldn't even handle a slightly steep slope. That piece of high-tech metal might as well have slapped him across the face. It made his earlier assumptions and smug little speech look childish and ridiculous. Celia replied blandly, "Butler Sowden, you're not young, but your taste is pretty intense." His face turned first green, then white. Luckily, his phone rang at that moment and yanked him out of the awkwardness. The car pulled away. Celia took out a sixteen-layer magic cube and started turning it idly. Silver edges. Colorful blocks that gave off a soft, gentle glow. After he finished the call, Butler Sowden glanced at her once, then closed his eyes and rested. Two hours later, the car entered Pine City and stopped in front of Greaves Villa. Butler Sowden opened his eyes again. In the rearview mirror, he saw Celia still fiddling with that magic cube and couldn't help curling his lip. Putting on airs, as expected. Two whole hours, and the cube was still a messy jumble. "Miss Celia, stop playing. We're here." Celia lifted her eyes, casually tossed the magic cube into her backpack, and got out. Butler Sowden didn't know that the "messy jumble" on that cube matched Pine City's topographic map perfectly. He also didn't know that once the cube fell into her bag, it turned completely silver, its sleek metallic texture identical to the little cube charm hanging from Celia's wrist… The moment she stepped through the door, Celia heard laughter and bright voices coming from the living room. "Then Chloe's apprenticeship will be in your hands, Mrs. Balam." "I'm only introducing you to that person. Chloe is the one who's talented enough to seize the opportunity." "Mrs. Balam, you're too modest. In all of Pine City, you're the only one who could win our Chloe a chance to meet Master Sowden." Hearing movement at the entrance, the three women in the living room all looked over. The instant they saw Celia, it was as if someone had hit a switch. Every sound in the room died. The girl's features were exquisite, almost unreal. Her skin was so pale it looked cold. Yet her plain clothes, with no visible brand, clashed harshly against the luxury surrounding her. The young woman linking arms with one of the elegant ladies darkened her gaze for a beat. Then she stood first, wearing a gentle smile as she walked over warmly, reaching to take Celia's hand. "Sis, you're here? Come in. This is your home too, don't be shy." Her makeup was light, her ladylike dress clearly a new designer piece, and everything about her screamed wealth. She spoke to Celia with the bright hospitality of a hostess. She was Chloe Greaves, the "Miss" Butler Sowden had mentioned. And the refined woman Chloe was holding onto was Celia's birth mother, Serena Cutmore. Celia gave a careless "Mm," sidestepping Chloe's hand. On the other side, another well-dressed woman took a restrained sip of tea, her gaze sharp and appraising. "And this is…?" Serena stared at Celia's unbranded clothes and the lazy, unbothered way she stood. She opened her mouth, but the words, this is my other daughter, refused to come out. Her mind went blank. Madam Balam's questioning look pressed in, and Serena blurted the first thing that came to her tongue. "This is Chloe's second uncle's daughter, Celia Greaves. She'll be staying with us for a while." The moment the words landed, the air seemed to freeze. The temperature in the room dropped so abruptly it was almost frightening. No one knew where the chill came from. They each assumed it was only their imagination. The atmosphere stayed stiff for a moment before it slowly eased. Madam Balam tugged her shawl closer and let out a small laugh. "No wonder. I was wondering who she was. So it's your family's…" She didn't finish the sentence. The disdain was unmistakable. Serena forced a smile, barely daring to meet Celia's eyes, and introduced her anyway. "Celia, this is Madam Balam. She's visiting our home." Celia's eyes were dark as ink. She gave a soft, amused "Oh." "Got it, aunt." The moment the word aunt left Celia's lips, Serena stared at her in disbelief. It felt like something had clenched around her heart. Her whole body trembled with anger. But Madam Balam was still there, and Chloe's apprenticeship couldn't afford any mistakes. Serena swallowed down the sting and fury. "Celia, you've been traveling all day. Go rest in your room first." She was afraid that if Celia stayed, she would ruin the Greaves family's image in Madam Balam's eyes. At that, Sally walked over. On the surface she looked respectful as she spoke to Celia. "Miss Celia, please come with me." Inside, Sally sneered. What room had they prepared for her? After a brief thought, malice flickered through her eyes, and she led Celia upstairs to the farthest room in the corner. With Serena and the others out of sight, Sally's courtesy vanished. She jerked her chin at the door. "There. Go in yourself. And if you've got no business, don't come out. Don't go hurting the madam and miss's eyes." Celia pushed the door open. Dust rushed at her in a thick wave. She leaned aside, covered her nose, and surveyed the room Sally had brought her to. It was crammed with junk. The curtains, heavy with grime, were drawn shut, making the already narrow space feel even more cramped. Her Smart Suitcase rolled up and stopped outside the dusty storage room. Celia asked, "This is my room?" Sally folded her arms, looking like she couldn't care less. Sally had watched Miss Chloe grow up. In her heart, she had long treated Chloe as her own daughter. And these past few days, ever since Miss Chloe found out she wasn't the Greaves family's biological child, she could barely eat or sleep. More than once, Sally had caught her crying in her room, then forcing herself to act strong in front of everyone else. How could Sally stand by and let an outsider hurt her? So what if there was blood? Miss Chloe was the one who had stayed by sir and madam all these years! That was why Sally had made up her mind to teach Celia a lesson, to force her to know her place and stop coveting what didn't belong to her. But instead of shrinking into the room the way Sally expected, Celia walked off in another direction. Seeing the girl refuse to act timid or ashamed, Sally's heart lurched with a flicker of panic. Then she told herself Celia was just a little country girl bluffing. The confidence returned. Only, Celia started opening doors. One room after another. From the storage room to the music room to the dance studio, door after door, and she showed no sign of stopping. Sally panicked for real. She hurried to Celia's side, lowered her voice, and snapped, "What do you think you're doing?" Celia ignored her and opened another door. A pink princess bed. A pink sofa. A pink carpet. The whole room looked like it belonged in a dollhouse. The moment Celia opened that door, Sally's expression changed.