Chapter 4
Raymond had seen Simone earlier. She usually couldn’t wait to come over, but today she hadn’t even glanced his way.
“Guess she’s finally got some guts,” he muttered, thinking back to yesterday when she’d kicked him and called him a loser. His face darkened at the
memory.
“Hey, Raymond, isn’t that your little shadow?” his friend Marico Green followed his gaze, smirking. “What’s up? Usually she’s all over you.”
Another friend Jerry Thompson just looked at Simone briefly before turning back to Stella, putting more food on her plate with a soft smile.
Both of them were Raymond’s best friends, always sticking together and treating Stella like a precious little sister.
Raymond was still seething from yesterday, and hearing his friends ribbing Simone only made him feel a bit better. “That girl needs to learn some respect,” he said. “A few days of being ignored will knock some sense into her.”
Stella noticed Raymond’s sour mood and smiled gently, “Raymond, I think Simone must be mad at me. Maybe I should apologize.”
Jerry ruffled her hair affectionately. “You don’t need to apologize, Stella. She’s the one in the wrong. You’re just too kind.”
J
“Yeah,” Marico chimed in, “Why should a real lady like you apologize to some nobody?”
Raymond nodded, feeling proud of his sensible sister. He patted her head. “Don’t worry about apologizing. She’s the one who should be apologizing to you.”
He paused, and then added, “Don’t you worry, Stella. In a few days, Simone will realize her mistake, and I’ll make sure she apologizes properly.” Stella smiled softly, “It’s okay. I’m just glad if Simone’s coming home.”
Raymond’s heart softened at his sister’s sweetness, and Simone’s behavior seemed even more out of line in comparison.
Marico suddenly had an idea. With a malicious glint in his eyes, he loomed over Simone and ordered, “Simone, Stella’s thirsty. Go buy her orange juice.”
“Don’t push it,” Claire said coldly, standing up. She’d always hated how they treated Simone like a servant, bossing her around without a second thought.
“Who do you think you are?” Marico snapped, jabbing a finger at Claire’s forehead. “You don’t get to speak here.”
Simone suddenly slammed her fork down and slapped him hard – so fast that everyone was stunned. “Talk with your mouth, not your hands,” she said coldly, subtly shielding Claire while glaring at Marico.
Marico clutched his reddening cheek in shock. “You insane bitch!” he finally roared. “How dare you hit me?”
Everyone was stunned into silence. Simone had always been the one to take their orders without complaint, even if she didn’t like Stella. She’d endured their mistreatment without a word. The girl who had always been so meek was suddenly standing up for herself.
“Like I care if I hit you,” Simone said, her eyes scanning the group with open disdain.
Then she fixed a sardonic smile on Marico, knowing exactly where to strike the deepest. “Are you guys incapable of doing things yourselves? And you, you’re just a lackey for Raymond. What’s there to be proud of?”
Marico’s face turned red with rage. He hated being called Raymond’s lackey more than anything. He glared at Simone, murder in his eyes. “Watch your mouth,” he growled, and then shot a sly look at Raymond. “Refuse me? But you can’t refuse Raymond, right?”
Raymond was still fuming over yesterday. He barked at Simone, “Go get it now! If Stella doesn’t get her juice today, you’re gonna hear from me.”
His bossy attitude was pure arrogance. Simone had seen this side of him plenty of times. She couldn’t understand why she’d ever let herself be pushed around by him, chasing after the scraps of attention he threw her way.
“Who do you think you are to boss me around? Just because you’re the Spence family’s adopted son?” Simone gave him a mocking glance, then pulled Claire back to the classroom, leaving Raymond and the others standing there, stunned.
Al eighteen, Raymond was very sensitive about his reputation. Being publicly exposed as an adopted son was a major blow to his
Someone in the crowd couldn’t resist calling out, “Hey, Raymond, is it true you’re the Spence family’s adopted son?”
Raymond’s face drained of color as he glared at the guy.
Marico stepped in and kicked the guy. “Mind your own damn business and get lost!”
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ego.
Stella rolled her eyes. ‘Crashed down by this? Typical. But she still offered comfort. “Raymond, no matter what, you’re always gonna be my real brother to me.”
Marico and Jerry nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that will change nothing.”
Raymond felt a wave of gratitude. Their support cased most of his anger.
The day had gone well, mostly. Raymond and his crew were the usual irritants, but Simone had managed to enjoy herself otherwise.
When she got back home, Cyrus was nowhere to be seen, which suited her just fine.
Bored, she decided to upload the novel “Innocence” she’d started writing abroad in her past life. She’d never published it in her past life, and now, with a fresh start, she wanted to see what might happen.
After that, she spent some time on her computer, playing games. After a few weeks of this, it started to feel almost normal.
At eight in the evening, Simone’s stomach growled. She tiptoed downstairs, opened the fridge, and grabbed a sandwich and a yogurt. She was about to head back to her room when the living room lights came on.
The butler and servants were usually gone by this hour. So she wondered if it was Cyrus.
Simone stuffed the sandwich and yogurt into her pockets and walked out of the kitchen. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw him standing there.
“Back already?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she still felt a pang of guilt.
“Is it a crime to be home?” Cyrus glanced at her bulging pockets. “Hungry?”
“Yeah,” she said, scratching her nose and feeling a little awkward.
For the first time, Cyrus really looked at Simone. She was so thin, almost fragile. Her face was ghostly white, like she’d been through something tough. There was a cool, almost regal air about her, as if she’d wandered out of a fairy tale.
Even though she was just a little girl, it was easy to see that she was going to be a beauty when she grew up.
Cyrus looked at her face, which bore a resemblance to his own. It reminded him of the news Christian had uncovered earlier that day. She had had a tough time with the Spence family and had been sent overseas at the age of eleven.
This made Cyrus think of his own life. As the head of the Irwin Group, he’d fought tooth and nail for every bit of power and authority, clawing his way to the top with ruthless determination.
Growing up in the Irwin family, there was no such thing as a carefree childhood. Power and status were everything.
From a young age, he and his brother had been put through brutal training. Anything less than perfect was met with harsh punishment. Their rivalry had turned toxic, each of them scheming to be the heir, even if it meant tearing each other apart.
“Let’s get you something to eat,” Cyrus said, his voice softening at the sight of her pale face.
Simone paused for a moment, but she didn’t refuse.
