Chapter 7 Cecilia's Birthday

• An hour later, Ophelia arrived at the Moore Residence, where Sophia was eagerly waiting for her.
• "Ophelia, you'll be working here," Sophia said warmly. "Your job will be to keep me company and take Roxie for walks in the garden."
• "But I still have to go to school. Maybe you could—" Ophelia began.
• Sophia cut her off promptly. "It won't interfere. You'll live here, and after school, you'll come straight back."
• What? Live here?
• Ophelia was stunned.
• Living here would mean constantly running into him.
• Ophelia bit her lip and lowered her head, picturing Ethan's face—those long, narrow almond eyes and the cold, slightly mocking gaze within them.
• His gaze truly annoyed her, but beneath his cold exterior, he had a warm heart.
• "Alright, it's settled then. Hurry up and pack your things," Sophia urged, shooing Ophelia away to get her belongings.
• Just as Ophelia stepped outside the villa, her phone rang. It was Walter Lark.
• "Ophelia, why didn't you come home last night?"
• His voice was tinged with genuine concern.
• After leaving the hospital the day before, she had stayed at a friend's rented apartment. She felt deeply let down by her real parents.
• "Dad, I'm not going to be living at home anymore. I'll come by later to collect my things," she said.
• "You're part of the family. Why the attitude? Today is Cecilia's birthday. Don't forget to bring a gift, or your mom will be angry," Walter reminded.
• "Alright," she responded quietly.
• As Walter hung up, Ophelia felt a lump in her throat.
• When the Lark Family lost their daughter, they kept it a secret. Instead, they quickly adopted another child to take her place, along with her identity and birthday. Now, they expected her to bring a gift for Cecilia.
• Ophelia took a deep breath. Today would be her last day with the Lark Family. It was best to leave on good terms.
• Feeling a bit distracted, she thought about how everyone always remembered Cecilia's birthday but never hers.
• At the mall, Ophelia wandered for a long time before finally splurging over a thousand dollars on a bottle of perfume. As she paid, she bit her lip hard, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.
• It was half a month's salary.
• After composing herself, she took a cab back to the Lark Residence, where Cecilia's birthday party was already in full swing.
• Before even stepping through the door, Ophelia could hear the gentle strains of music, followed by the sounds of laughter and lively conversation.
• Her head injury, concealed beneath her hair, was barely noticeable unless someone looked closely, which offered her some relief.
• However, as soon as she appeared in the doorway, an abrupt hush fell over the room.
• Walter looked momentarily surprised but quickly regained his usual calm demeanor.
• Evelyn Skye, who was seated next to Cecilia, immediately adopted a cold expression.
• In contrast, Cecilia stood up with a warm smile.
• "Ophelia, you're back! Mom and Dad have been waiting for you."
• Her voice was sweet, graceful, and elegant.
• Ophelia managed a faint smile. "Happy birthday."
• She handed over the gift.
• The young people standing next to Cecilia quickly crowded around.
• "What kind of birthday gift is it? Let me see."
• "Judging by the box, it doesn't look very fancy. It probably isn't worth much."
• "It's not impolite to open it in front of everyone, Cecilia. We're all quite curious to see what's inside the box!"
• Cecilia smiled gently. "You're all my good friends, so it's not impolite at all. I'm eager to see what my sister has given me, too."
• As she spoke, she extended her fair fingers and gracefully unwrapped the gift box.
• When the contents were revealed, gasps and murmurs filled the room.
• Some people offered awkward smiles, while others laughed openly.
• "Why this? This perfume is so cheap. Even my housekeeper wouldn't use this brand."
• "The real gift must be something more valuable. This has to be just a teaser, right?"
• "Cecilia, your birthday gift seems to be full of surprises!"
• Confronted with the ridicule, Ophelia hesitated, not knowing how to respond.
• Evelyn's expression darkened, clearly dismayed by having such a modest and unimpressive daughter.
• Ophelia felt a sharp pain in her heart, and even her breathing became unsteady.
• "A birthday gift is a token of affection; it's the thought that counts," Cecilia interjected, glancing at the embarrassed Ophelia, trying to defuse the situation.
• Cecilia swiftly linked her arm with Ophelia's, putting on a display of sisterly affection.
• "Please don't say that, everyone. I'm already very happy that my sister could afford this gift," Cecilia said sweetly. "She used to live in a small town and hasn't seen much of the world. This perfume is already very precious to her."
• She offered an understanding smile as she spoke.
• The smile on Ophelia's face grew colder. Cecilia's words were a painful reminder of her earlier offer to take her place that night.
• This family really knows how to put on a show.
• As Ophelia thought, she felt increasingly out of place in this environment.
• "Let's get the party started!" someone suggested from the crowd.
• The atmosphere instantly lightened, and Cecilia's friends returned to their seats.
• Cecilia deliberately sat next to Ophelia. To everyone present, the two were worlds apart. Dressed in a snow-white gown, Cecilia resembled a princess from a fairy tale, while Ophelia wore fitted jeans and a simple white blouse.
• It felt as if her presence was meant to highlight the disparity between the Lark Family's cherished daughter and herself.
• "Ophelia, it's my birthday today. Could you peel an apple for me?" Cecilia's request interrupted her thoughts.
• Ophelia nodded and picked up the fruit knife in front of her. Without paying much attention, she pointed the tip toward Cecilia as she absentmindedly took it.
• Suddenly, Evelyn's sharp voice cut through the air. "Stop! What are you trying to do?"
• From her angle, it appeared as though Ophelia was aiming the knife directly at Cecilia.
• Everyone was startled, but before they could react, Evelyn, with a horrified expression, had already seized the fruit knife from Ophelia's hand.
• "What did Cecilia do to you that made you try to hurt her? Have you lost your mind?" Evelyn demanded.
• "I... I just wanted to peel an apple," Ophelia stammered.
• Just as Ophelia finished her sentence, Evelyn scoffed. "I saw it clearly. You're jealous. You meant to harm Cecilia!"
• Ophelia was momentarily speechless, her gaze fixed on Evelyn's hand, which was gripping her arm with a tightness that nearly cut into her skin.
• The physical pain in her arm was nothing compared to the deep hurt she felt in her heart.
• "Sorry, please continue."
• Forcing the words out of her throat, Ophelia retreated to her room.
• Her belongings were sparse, barely enough to fill a travel bag.
• The only valuable item was the watch, a constant reminder of that night and her parents' indifference.
• Ophelia frowned as she opened the door to leave. The watch slipped and fell to the floor.
• Cecilia, hidden in the shadows, intended to stop her but was momentarily captivated by the sight of the fallen watch.