Chapter 3

The air seemed to freeze.

Olivia, who had been glaring at me coldly, suddenly stiffened. Her pupils dilated in sheer shock.

Olivia is such a brainless btch. As long as I play the sweet little brother, she barks at whoever I want like a loyal guard dog. What a useful tool.

Christian's voice echoed with crystal-clear precision inside Olivia's mind.

Olivia turned her head slowly, staring at Christian in complete disbelief.

"Christian... what did you... what did you just say?" her voice trembled.

Christian looked completely bewildered, blinking his innocent eyes. "I did not say anything, Olivia. I was just saying that Ethan must have had a hard life..."

What is wrong with this crazy btch? Why is she looking at me like that? Did she find out that I was the one who broke her boyfriend's designer watch and blamed it on the new chauffeur?

The second thought exploded in Olivia's mind.

Olivia's face drained of all color. She took a step back, her eyes filled with absolute horror and shock as she looked at Christian.

"Olivia, what is wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Victoria noticed her daughter's distress and asked quickly.

Olivia pointed at Christian, her lips trembling, but she could not squeeze out a single word.

What could she say? That she heard her brother calling her a brainless dog in her head?

Who would believe her?

I chose that exact moment to look down, playing the part of the humble, mistreated son.

"Olivia, is it because I am standing here? Am I ruining the mood? I will go to the servants' quarters right now. I do not want to ruin Christian's birthday."

My quiet, submissive behavior made Christian's secret thoughts sound even more monstrous.

Olivia looked at me with a whirlwind of emotions—shock, doubt, and a trace of guilt.

"No need," Olivia said, taking a deep breath to suppress the chaos in her heart. Her voice was raspy. "You are a biological Vance. You are not sleeping in the servants' quarters. Mother, have someone get him a suit. He is joining the party."

"Olivia. Are you crazy?" Arthur glared at her. "Do you want him to walk out there like a hobo and make us a laughingstock?"

Old man, you have already lost all your face anyway. Once I get my hands on the family shares, you are the first one I am kicking off the board of directors.

This time, I switched the broadcast channel to Arthur.

Arthur's shouting stopped instantly.

He looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He whipped his head toward Christian, his eyes bulging.

"Father? What is wrong?" Christian was terrified by the murderous look in Arthur's eyes. He shrank back toward Victoria.

Arthur panted heavily, his chest rising and falling violently.

He pointed a shaking finger at Christian. It took him a long moment before he spat out through clenched teeth:

"Fine. Perfect. Get him changed. He is joining the party."

Victoria had no idea what was going on, but seeing her husband and daughter acting like they had seen a ghost, she did not dare argue. She reluctantly called a maid to take me upstairs.

I followed the maid up the grand spiral staircase. At the landing, I stopped and looked down at the pale father and daughter, and the completely confused Christian.

The show was just getting started.