Here's the translation of the text into English: "My mom hasn't been buried yet, and Wells brought home an illegitimate daughter. He used my mom's card to buy her designer clothes and luxury bags, and even wanted me to give her my spot in the elite class. I turned around and slapped the severance agreement on the table. Wells sneered in contempt. 'Think carefully, if you do this, I won't give you a penny in the future.' I smiled gently and replied, 'That's a line I should be saying to you.'"
Before my mother was even rest in peace, Wilbur Wells brought an illegitimate daughter home.
Wilbur used my mother's money to buy her luxury clothes, bags and other items, and even asked me to give up my spot in the prestigious program for his illegitimate daughter.
I turned and forcefully placed the agreement to end ties on the table.
Wilbur sneered dismissively and said, "Thought it carefully. If you do this, I won't support you financially in the future."
I replied with a gentle smile, "Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?"
1
Upon my mother's death, Wilbur finally brought home the illegitimate daughter he had yearned for over a decade.
Wilbur brought his illegitimate daughter into the grand villa where my mother had worked tirelessly to build.
Wilbur embraced his illegitimate daughter affectionately, speaking to her with a voice full of affection.
Wilbur showed his illegitimate daughter what an 'amazing' father she had and the extraordinary life he was living.
Watching the surveillance footage of Wilbur entering the living room with that illegitimate daughter, I felt a profound sadness greater than when my mother closed her eyes for the last time.
I never thought that in Wilbur's eyes, his wife who had supported him for two decades held no significance whatsoever.
And I, Wilbur's legitimate daughter, was less important than his cherished illegitimate child.
I stood silently, watching the nurse remove the various tubes from my mother's body.
Taking off the oxygen mask, I looked at her one last time.
Wiping away my tears, I whispered, "Mom, rest assured, I won't let Wilbur get his way."
2
When I returned home, Ethel Wells was standing in the living room.
She wore a worn-out and faded white T-shirt, jeans, and twenty-dollar canvas shoes, standing on our expensive custom-made carpet, tears streaming down her face.
"Daddy, why did you only bring me back now? Why does sister have this big house and such a good life? I thought you had forgotten about Ethel..." Sobbing, Ethel said.
Wilbur held Ethel in his arms, comforting her with a tenderness I had never heard before.
"Silly Ethel, how could Dad ever forget you? It was that woman... that woman wouldn't let Daddy see you. but Dad really missed you." Wilbur said.
Afterwards, the two of them embraced and cried, a scene so touching, which one might think it was a long-lost father and daughter finally reunited.
Meanwhile, my mother, the 'woman' Wilbur spoke of, had just passed away.
"Get out." I said.
I stood at the door and coldly uttered the words.
Only then did Wilbur notice me standing there, while Ethel played the victim, hiding behind Wilbur and clutching Wilbur's shirt, sobbing softly.
Wilbur was momentarily flustered upon seeing me, but quickly composed himself and feigned concern.
"Katrina... why are you back at this time? Your mother..." Wilbur asked falsely.
"Don't make me say it again." I interrupted Wilbur, repeating myself coldly.
My cold eyes stared fixedly at Ethel's face.
Under my stare, Ethel stiffened, too frightened to meet my eyes or call out to Wilbur.
Ethel awkwardly picked up her backpack from the floor, preparing to leave.
Wilbur didn't dare say a word.
It was just that Glenn Rowe, the assistant who spoke up, "Mr. Wells, please accept my condolences. Ms. Blake didn't make it."
At that moment, I even saw a fleeting hint of joy in Wilbur's eyes.
Wilbur's hunched back straightened instantly, and his tone and gaze towards me changed abruptly.
"Oh... since that's the case, Katrina, don't be too sad. Get some rest." Wilbur said.
With that, he turned back to Ethel, saying, "Come, let Daddy take you to see your room."
3
I couldn't allow Wilbur and his illegitimate daughter to act wantonly in the home my mother had fought for with her life.
I grabbed Ethel by her long hair and dragged her out.
Ethel screamed in pain, her shrill voice calling out, saying, "Daddy, help me!"
Wilbur panicked, rushing forward to stop me, roughly grabbing my arm.
Fortunately, Glenn wasn't entirely heartless and helped hold Wilbur back, preventing me from getting hurt.
Wilbur was restrained by Glenn, watching helplessly as I dragged Ethel and her pile of junk out.
Ethel fell awkwardly at the door, her suitcase spilling clothes everywhere.
Among them was a dress I recognized, one was missing from my closet last year, never worn, and suddenly missing.
I felt disgusted and harshly instructed the housekeeper, "Sophie, take the carpet and have it cleaned tomorrow. If it can't be cleaned, make Ethel pay for it!"
The housekeeper, not daring to speak, hurriedly ran into the living room to roll up the carpet.
Pointing at Ethel lying on the ground, I said each word distinctly, "If you dare set foot in my house again, dirtying my home, I'll make you regret it."
Wilbur, furious, hurled every insult he could muster at me from behind.
Glenn reminded him, "Mr. Wells, Ms. Blake just passed away. This isn't appropriate."
Wilbur glanced at Glenn, thinking that my mother's estate was still undecided.
Thinking of the money, he suppressed his anger.
Wilbur pushed Glenn aside, glaring at me fiercely, saying, "Do you think you can ignore me? Let's see how long you can stay arrogant!"
With that, Wilbur tenderly helped his precious daughter up, limping down the steps.
As they walked, Wilbur deliberately spoke loudly enough for me to hear, "Ethel, don't worry. Once the inheritance is divided, I'll kick Katrina out! No one will bully you again!"
Ethel obediently agreed and her eyes were red, but she glanced back at me with a sly, triumphant look, a slight smirk on her lips as if declaring victory.
4
But what kind of victory was this?
Did Ethel think everyone was as enamored with Wilbur as she and her mistress mother were?
To me, Wilbur was nothing but trash.
Aside from indulging in vices, he achieved nothing and even utilized my mother's funds to sustain multiple mistresses.
My mother was preoccupied with her business, frequently travelling, and scarcely had time to attend to such affairs.
She was concerned that an abrupt divorce would leave me, still young, without parents nearby, feeling too lonely.
So she never pursued it in detail.
But I saw everything.
I watched as Wilbur brought those women into the luxury cars and homes my mother bought for him.
Later, Wilbur became even more brazen, wanting to buy houses to the mistress and let child to school in this city.
Unfortunately, my mother refused to give Wilbur money.
Wilbur and my mother argued over this more than once, every argument, since I can remember was about Ethel and her mistress mother.
Once, Wilbur even hit my mother.
I was only three years old that year, and my mother's business wasn't very large at the time.
Wilbur's vicious face as he beat my mother became a shadow over my entire childhood.
So I never had any affection for him, only hatred.
But after that incident, my mother was very determined to expanded her business.
She traveled alone between Mepluodor and Lochudor far away, enduring immense hardships.
My mother started with nothing and built a successful business, taking her company public and amassing a fortune worth billions.
After that, Wilbur became obedient, never daring to defy my mother's wishes.
Yet, I knew Wilbur secretly harbored thoughts of that illegitimate daughter.
Every year on Ethel's birthday, Wilbur would sneak away.
Each time, something from my wardrobe would go missing, sometimes clothes, sometimes accessories, and even my toys that Wilbur would steal to give them to Ethel.
Wilbur dared not use his credit card to buy these items, for fearing of my mother discovering and pursuing, so he resorted to stealing from me.
Now, he had taken things from my home, right in front of me.
5
Half a month after my mother's passing, Ethel hadn't shown up.
Wilbur left early and returned late, putting on a show of deep mourning and devotion for the public, as if he wished to join my mother in death.
After his performance, he had put on a show of concern by draping an arm around my shoulder, saying, "But I have responsibilities, I must care for the child."
I coldly exposed him, saying, "Care for your illegitimate daughter, Ethel?"
At this, his facade cracked, and he glared at me with a menacing look, his hand twitching as if to strike.
But in public, he dared not.
That night at home, Wilbur grabbed my throat and said, "Don't think I won't do it. Push me, and I'll recognize no one!"
This time, he was truly enraged, almost devoid of reason.
I was nearly choked unconscious, but I coldly retorted, saying, "Go ahead, but if you end up in jail, who will care for Ethel?"
At the mention of Ethel, his eyes softened, as if touched by a tender spot in his heart.
Wilbur released me, nodding repeatedly, saying, "Yes, I must care for Ethel. I owe her and her mother too much. I must take care of Ethel."
It dawned on me then that when Wilbur spoke of responsibility and caring for a child.
From the beginning, Ethel was all that he could think about.
To him, only Ethel was his child.
The day before I decided to return to school after handling the funeral arrangements, I discovered another piece of clothing missing from my wardrobe, which was my school uniform.
I wore school uniform often, so it hung at the front.
But today, the wardrobe was empty.
I called Sophie Wells to ask, and she avoided my gaze, stammering.
Finally, Sophie said I might have left it at school.
I scrutinized her coldly.
This Sophie, also a Wells, was a distant relative of Wilbur.
My room was locked, and only Sophie could enter.
The disappearance of my uniform was self-explanatory.
I chuckled, feigning surprise, saying, "Oh dear, could there be a thief in the house?"
Sophie stood awkwardly, not daring to meet my eyes or respond.
6
So I had to wear casual clothes to school.
Before leaving, I learned that Wilbur had indeed enrolled his precious daughter in the elite class at our school, using my name.
Unfortunately, even with my father's influence, it depended on whether my classmates accepted Ethel.
I attended a prestigious school where the children were all from wealthy families.
From kindergarten through high school, we were often in the same school or class.
In other words, they were my good friends and companions.
As soon as I got out of the car, I saw my friends blocking Ethel outside the school gate together.
Ethel was surrounded by a group of young ladies and gentlemen, shrinking back, not daring to lift her head.
Evan Ashton saw me and immediately came over, eager to report, "Hey, Katrina, we caught a girl wearing your school uniform! Who is she? How could she wear your uniform?" Evan asked.
Upon hearing me arrive, Ethel suddenly looked up and shouted, "I didn't steal it! I'm also a Wells, Katrina is my sister, and this uniform was bought by my dad! Please explain to them, Katrina!"
Ethel's face was earnest, as if hoping I would rescue her from their grasp.
I laughed.
"Oh Ethel, you really have the nerve. A child of a mistress, and you dare call me sister? How shameless can you be?" I said.
The surrounding crowd, upon hearing Ethel's mother was a mistress, widened their eyes in shock and disdain.
It's not uncommon for fathers to have affairs these days, they all despised their father!
"Ah? She's the Ethel you mentioned?" One person asked.
"The one your dad always steals things for?" the other man asked.
Perhaps Ethel didn't know that the gifts her dear father gave her were stolen from me.
She was at a loss, looking at me with humiliation, unable to respond.
I snorted and said, "Do you think your dear father is so capable? Buying you luxury brands? That's all money my mom earned through hard work, stolen by him to support you and that mistress!"
Ethel, somehow finding the courage, cried out and said, "My mom is not a mistress, my dad and my mom are true love! Your mom is the unnecessary bad woman!"
On her first day at school, Ethel became infamous.
For being shameless.
For a long time, everyone called her the Mistress's Daughter.
Wherever she went, people would mimic, saying, "My dad and the mistress are true love!"
She soon couldn't bear it and requested to withdraw from school.
7
The night Ethel requested to withdraw, Wilbur stormed into the house.
Upon entering, he grabbed my collar and slammed me against the wall, trying to strangle me.
Ethel stood behind him, her eyes red from crying but filled with a sense of satisfaction and glee after witnessing me being treated violently.
"How dare you incite those brats to bully our Ethel?!" Wilbur said angrily.
Wilbur pressed his forearm against my throat, nearly choking me to death.
His eyes were full of hatred, as if I were his enemy, not his daughter.
Though I had long since given up hope or affection for him, being treated like an enemy by my own father still stirred a sense of indignation.
Especially Ethel's expression, which made me want to gouge out her eyes.
"It's your Ethel who's shameless, wearing clothes that aren't hers, pretending to be me, trying to infiltrate an exclusive social circle, and pursuing what she thinks is elite education. Has she ever asked herself if she's worthy?"
I calmly questioned, word by word, coldly looking at Ethel behind Wilbur.
Under my words, Ethel wilted, finally dropping her pretense, her eyes filled with resentment.
"It's you who's unworthy! Katrina, you took everything that should have been mine! I should be living in this big house, attending a prestigious school, and claiming the status of the Wells family's heiress! It's you and your mother who are shameless!" Ethel said angrily.
I laughed and said, "Oh, it seems Wilbur hasn't told you whose name is on the deed of this big house. I suppose he also hasn't told you whether his name is among the shareholders of my mother's company."
Seeing his lies about to be exposed, Wilbur's eyes turned red with anger, and he slapped me hard across the face.
My left cheek immediately swelled.
Just then, the guests I had invited arrived at the door.
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