“Disciplined? You got no right to discipline
her!”
My grandma snapped, her eyes flashing.
She’d always looked down on my mom’s
background, and she couldn’t stand that even
though my mom was married, she didn’t
seem to care about the Millers‘ reputation.
One day she’s spotted having dinner with
く
some big–shot CEO, the next day she’s
getting papped having lunch with some boy
band member.
Half the high society crowd was laughing at
my grandma and my dad behind their backs.
Before, I used to try to smooth things over
between my grandma and Sarah, telling her
all sorts of good things. But it never worked
out.
“I don’t care what you do out there, but don’t
you forget where you got this position and
this status. You ever make my granddaughter
suffer again, you won’t be staying in this
house!”
L
“And you!”
My grandma turned her glare on Ashley.
Ashley looked like she was about to faint.
She stammered, “Grandma, I…”
“Don’t call me grandma. I only have one
granddaughter, and that’s Brittany.”
My grandma’s eyes were filled with pure
disgust, as she said coldly:
“I heard you’ve been going around school,
pretending to be Brittany Miller.”
<
“N–no, I haven’t–”
“Don’t play dumb. You know what you’ve
been doing.”
My grandma kept pushing, not giving Ashley a
chance to wiggle out of it.
She snorted. Ashley’s forehead was dripping
with sweat.
After my grandpa passed away, my grandma
took over the Miller family business.
She had an intense, assertive, commanding
personality.
く
“I’m making it clear right now. The Miller
family only has one heiress, and that’s
Brittany.”
“Some people who’re trying to pull some
shady moves better think long and hard about
what they’re doing, if they are trying to cross
this old lady.”
“If I ever hear that someone’s been messing
with my Brittany, or making her life difficult,
they’ll regret it!”
She grabbed my hand, stood up, and told
Maria:
“Pack my things. I’m staying here for a while.”
<
- 4.
Grandma moved in.
The very next day, she replaced all the staff
except for David.
Sarah and Ashley were livid, since they had
pulled strings to place staff members in our
house. My mom was seething but couldn’t do
anything.
Ashley, who had been throwing her weight
around, taking advantage of Sarah’s
favoritism, was in even worse shape.
<
With Sarah unable to leave my grandma’s
sight, Ashley had no protection.
She was the one who acted as the “queen
bee” in the house. All her workers in the
house were also fired, and she had no friends.
Even David, who had been kind to her, kept
his distance, not wanting to upset me.
Ashley was basically invisible in the house.
She had food and a roof over her head, but
those princess treatment days were over.
Ashley tried to get back on my grandma’s good side, but her little tricks didn’t work on
く
her.
She couldn’t take it anymore.
This was the most relaxed I’d been in a long
time.
Without all those stressful people and events,
I could focus on studying for the upcoming
midterm exams.
Without any trouble, I was still the smartest
student in my grade.
Next up after midterms was the parent-
teacher conference.
く
She made it clear to everyone that she didn’t
want to be the mother of Brittany.
That day, I was collecting parent signatures
and directing parents into classrooms.
I could hear a commotion getting closer.
I heard someone say:
“No way! I just saw Sarah and Ashley at the
entrance.”
“So, Ashley really is Sarah’s daughter? The
heiress to the Miller fortune?”
“Totally! I saw Sarah put her arm around
<
“Totally! I saw Sarah put her arm around
Ashley. It looked like a mother and daughter!”
The murmurs got louder.
The sound of familiar heels grew louder.
Sarah and Ashley were standing right in front
of me. Sarah had a smirk, and Ashley was
smug.
Ashley looked at the empty chair, took a dig
at me, and said “Sorry, Brittany. My Aunt
Sarah came with me.
“You shouldn’t mind if I’m the one that gets
the parental love.”
く
“Yup, I don’t mind!”
I pushed the sign–up sheet towards them.
“Sign quickly! The rest of the parents are
waiting!”
I wasn’t embarrassed or upset. Sarah wasn’t
my mom.
They didn’t like that I didn’t care.
Sarah scowled and signed quickly.
“Keep pretending like you’re fine!”
I laughed.
<
Sarah’s appearance drew the attention of
everyone in the class.
As a celebrity, she had a certain fame.
Ashley looked proud and kept glancing at me.
I didn’t see her and walked to my seat.
The parent–teacher conference was starting.
Teachers walked in and looked at Sarah and
asked:
“Ashley, is this your–”
“Hello, Ashley’s mother.”
Sarah announced to the class, “I am Ashley’s
く
mother.”
She looked at Ashley lovingly.
After introducing herself, she said, “I’m
always working and her dad is busy.
“I want to make friends with Ashley and ask
them to treat her nicely.”
“We like Ashley!”
“Ashley really is a beautiful person!”
“We are always going to be there for Ashley!”
Everyone was talking about me.
<
After talking to Ashley’s mom, the teacher
found me.
I was all alone. She frowned and said:
“Brittany, where are your parents? Are they
coming?”
