Chapter 2

"Vanessa has been well-behaved since childhood! Look at you! What on earth have you been doing all these years?!"

I stayed completely calm and answered, "Feeding chickens, slopping pigs, cooking every meal, and washing dishes for the whole family."

Richard froze. "What did you say?"

I offered a faint smile. "Weren't you the one asking what I've been doing all these years?"

His expression shifted uncomfortably.

"As for manners..."

I looked him dead in the eye. "Mr. Hayes, I was switched at birth when I was less than a month old. Vanessa’s biological parents were a violent alcoholic and a gambling addict.”

“ I wore cast-off rags from other village kids and went days without knowing where my next meal would come from."

"When I wanted to go to school, they refused, saying girls didn't need an education. The only reason they let me go was because a truant officer showed up at our shack threatening legal action."

"Oh, you probably don't know this, do you? Why my name is Brooke? They actually tried to register me as 'Trash.' The county clerk took pity on me and wrote down 'Brooke' instead."

"So tell me, Mr. Hayes, where exactly was someone like me supposed to learn your high-society manners?"

Richard's face drained of color, turning a sickly shade of gray.

Eleanor's arms around Vanessa went stiff.

Vanessa bit her lower lip, a flicker of panic surfacing in her teary eyes.

A hint of guilt finally flickered across Eleanor's face. She looked at me hesitantly. "Brooke, your father and I didn't mean to..."

"Let me make one thing crystal clear today: I don't care for any of this," I cut her off. "From now on, don't talk to me about studying, elite talents, or test scores. I won't learn, I won't practice, and I won't compete."

Vanessa was stunned.

Richard frowned deeply. "Brooke, what kind of attitude is that? Vanessa was only trying to bond with you out of the goodness of her heart, and you—"

"And I'm rejecting her out of the goodness of mine. Mr. Hayes, if there's nothing else, I'm heading to my room."

"You...!" Richard’s face flushed bright red with fury.

Eleanor scrambled to smooth things over. "Brooke just got back, she’s still adjusting. Let's take it slow, take it slow..."

As I walked up the stairs, I heard Vanessa whisper softly, "Does Brooke still blame me? If she really doesn't want me here, I can pack my bags right now..."

Eleanor immediately hugged her tighter. "Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? You are my daughter! No one is ever kicking you out!"

Richard chimed in harshly, "Ignore her. She doesn't know what's good for her."

I didn't turn around, nor did I break my stride.

My room on the second floor was just a guest bedroom.

It was half the size of Vanessa's suite, but to me, it was more than enough.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, private en-suite bathroom.

Luxuries I never dared to dream of back in the countryside.

I shut the door and collapsed onto the soft mattress, staring at the ceiling.

I would never be the naive fool who worked herself to the bone again.

Since Vanessa had that Effort Cashback System, she relied on my hard work to steal double the rewards.

So, if I completely checked out and slacked off, where would she get her rewards from?