Justin had never been hit before, let alone by his own sister. He was stunned at first, and by the time he reacted, he had grabbed her wrist. "Jenny, are you crazy?"Jenny, unable to continue hitting him, sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping to go a bit crazier."Justin was speechless.The others couldn't help but stifle their laughter at Jenny's words.Justin's face darkened. "Jenny, that's enough."He added, "And don't forget, she's also your mother."With so many people around, if word got out, their parents would certainly reprimand Jenny.Jenny rolled her eyes. "She's Casey's real mom, not mine. What does it have to do with me? You're the only one dumb enough to seek her approval."The more she spoke, the darker Justin's face grew. "Shut up."He pulled Jenny closer and whispered in her ear, "Be careful what you say in public."Jenny pouted. "I don't care, what's there to fear? If you want to keep seeking her favor, leave me out of it. I'm not playing along."Justin was exaspera
Once they returned to the apartment, Lindsay scrolled through her phone. “A-List Actor Justin Called a Cheating Scumbag and Beaten by His Own Sister” and “Justin’s Emotional Performance” dominated the top two trending spots. She clicked on the first one.The video showed Jenny calling Justin a scumbag and beating him up, capturing the entire scene, including Jenny’s comments about their mother. The comments were filled with praise for Jenny, calling her cool and applauding her actions. The consensus was that Justin's reputation as a scumbag was now undeniable, given his own sister's accusations.Lindsay held the phone up to Jenny. "You're trending.""The Ford family might come to drag you back after hearing what you said."Since Lindsay had dated Justin and was close to Jenny, she was well-acquainted with the Ford family dynamics. Currently, Justin's father was the head of the Ford family. Being the third son, he had ousted his two older brothers to take control of the Ford Corpora
Lindsay could tell from Jenny’s expression that something had definitely happened."Did you have a fight with him?" she asked.Jenny shook her head. "Not really a fight."With a look of relief, she said, "You know, it just hit me. All these years I've been chasing after him, trying so hard to make him love me. But his heart... it's like ice. It’s pointless.”She shrugged. "So, I gave up."Lindsay was a bit surprised. "Are you really giving up this time? Can you let him go?"Jenny forced a smile that was more painful than crying. "Yes, I’m really letting go. If you can give up on Justin, I can give up on Joey too."She added, "You inspired me to make this decision. Otherwise, I might have continued wasting my youth on him."It was true. Seeing Lindsay decisively break up with Justin had suddenly enlightened her.Lindsay agreed, "You're right. There's no need to waste our youth on someone who isn't worth it. I support you!"Jenny took Lindsay’s fingers and played with them, sighing. "Lin
Abby never expected her daughter to become increasingly disrespectful, growing more rebellious with each passing day.Abby sneered. "Jenny, it's because of your poor choice of friends that you no longer act like a proper heiress."Lindsay, hearing this, knew Abby was likely referring to her.Sure enough, Abby continued, "You even hit your brother for the sake of someone who doesn't belong in our circle. You've completely lost your mind. Come home immediately and stop associating with that Lindsay."Jenny scoffed. "Madam Ford, I think you must have forgotten, but I remember clearly that you were born into an ordinary family and only became a socialite by marrying Mr. Ford. “The Harper family might have lost Linds for over a decade, but she's still their true heiress. Her status is much more prestigious than yours. Even if you're jealous of her status, you don't need to be so bitter and disparaging."These words made Abby so furious she nearly fainted, her voice rising sharply. "Jenny,
Jenny was exasperated."Fine, I won't come back. It's not like I enjoy going back to the Ford family anyway," she said, then added sarcastically, "But Madam Ford, let me remind you, there's still a matriarch above you. You don't have the authority to ban me from the family."Wait until you become the head of the Ford family before you try to banish me."Abby was so furious she was trembling. "You, you are truly something else." Then she hung up the phone abruptly. If this rebellious daughter wanted to side with outsiders against her own mother, it was better she didn't come back and cause more trouble.Hearing the dial tone, Jenny shrugged. "Madam Ford has been pampered for too long. Her mental fortitude is really lacking if she can't handle this."Lindsay laughed. "That's why she and Mrs. Harper get along so well. They're the same."That day, when Lindsay had argued with Grace, she also acted like she couldn't handle it.Jenny agreed. "Exactly, birds of a feather. Honestly, if I had
"Are you interested in joining my team?"Jenny had studied management and was very capable. "Sure! I came back this time to team up with you," she said, raising her glass to clink with Lindsay's. "I was just looking for something to do, and you presented the perfect opportunity."She added with a hint of self-deprecation, "I originally studied management for that lousy man, but now it turns out I could use it for myself.”Lindsay laughed. "Isn’t that even better? What you’ve learned is truly yours. In the future, we'll expand this studio and make it thrive. You can stand in front of that worthless man, look down on him like a queen, and tell him to get lost. It’ll be so satisfying."From her perspective, she also felt Jenny deserved better. Joey must have had some feelings for Jenny; otherwise, he wouldn't have let her chase after him for so many years. But he was as cold as a stone, always with that scheming assistant by his side. He was even worse than Justin and deserved to be tos
Grace stared blankly at Olivia and her sons, wondering when things had changed between them.When Oliva first came into their lives, all her five sons didn’t welcome her, demanding their real sister back. Especially Alex, who had been traumatized by losing his sister, often waking up in the middle of the night crying for her. He was lethargic and lacked any vitality.They had consulted a mystic for help. The mystic suggested having Olivia take Lindsay’s name. He said it would serve as a catalyst, aiding in the future search for their biological daughter. Additionally, he noted that Olivia would bring them good fortune, and changing her name would fully integrate her into the Harper family, bringing harmony and prosperity. He also suggested that Olivia should sleep with Alex to suppress his nightmares.At first, Alex didn’t like Olivia around him. But within a few days, his attitude began to change. Sure enough, his nightmares ceased, and his spirits lifted with Olivia by his side.
Olivia nuzzled Grace’s shoulder. "Mom, you and my brothers are the best. Having you all is the greatest blessing of my life."Grace smiled at her words. "Of course, we treat you well; we've raised you."But she wasn't going to let the matter slide. Her smile faded, and she cast a stern look at her sons. "Your behavior is simply inappropriate. How can you be hugging your grown sister like that? Via might not understand, but you should know better how to maintain boundaries."Have you seen the rumors online? They’re speculating that Alex and Via are more than foster siblings, even suggesting they’re a couple."She was so upset she even slapped the table for emphasis. "From now on, you all need to be more mindful. No more hugging Via or behaving intimately with her.”She specifically glared at Alex. "Especially you, Alex. You need to stop kissing Via on her forehead or touching her inappropriately.”Remembering the online comments, Alex was infuriated. Just because he was close to his s
In the vibrant district of the historic town, the streets were lined with vintage boutiques and various artisan stalls. Lindsay's group visited the town’s administration office and rented a temporary booth.Alex and Justin eagerly borrowed a table and chairs, setting up the booth. Following Lindsay's instructions, they also bought a piece of white fabric and worked together to create a simple sign. The production team provided markers and other supplies.Lindsay glanced over at Benedict and said, "Benedict, I’ll let you handle writing the banner."She was eager to observe his writing and the energy he gave off while doing it.Benedict sighed inwardly—this girl was constantly trying to test him. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "Alright, I’ll write it."He grabbed a marker, uncapped it, and wrote in bold letters across the white fabric: “Fortune Telling, Divination, and Tarot Readings.”Lindsay watched him closely, noticing the fluidity of his movements as he wrote, his posture exud
Justin added, "My mom’s been trying to get me to help Olivia and distance myself from Lindsay. She’s also said plenty of nasty things about Lindsay. This time, not only did I ignore her, but I even pushed back. It probably pissed her off, and now she’s taking it out on Lindsay."Alex, clearly upset, said, "You should talk to her and tell her to stop fixating on Lindsay. Lindsay hasn’t done anything to provoke her. It’s ridiculous."He was frustrated that Justin’s mom had been stirring up trouble, making Grace even more difficult to deal with.Justin nodded. "Alright, after the show is over, I’ll have a talk with her."He also felt his mom was acting out of line. Back when he liked Lindsay, her disapproval at least made sense. But now that Lindsay had kicked him to the curb, his mom’s continued obsession was baffling.Although they were speaking softly, Lindsay and Benedict, walking ahead, heard every word.Lindsay found the situation with Abby baffling as well. A woman who fawned over
After Lindsay left, the other guests quickly followed, leaving only Alex standing there awkwardly. He spoke briefly to the production staff, and they soon shifted the cameras away from that area. Alex then walked over to Grace, saying, "Mom, since Lindsay won’t lend it, let’s just drop it."Grace shot him a cold glare, her expression dark. "How can you be so heartless? The one lying in bed is your fourth brother. Are you hanging around Lindsay all the time just to learn how to be cold and ruthless?"Unable to contain her frustration toward Lindsay, Grace directed it at Alex instead.Alex sighed in exasperation. "Even if we need help, it has to be something she’s willing to do! We’ve wronged Lindsay enough as it is, so why do you keep trying to guilt-trip her? Brandon’s situation isn’t Lindsay’s fault. Why don’t you go find Olivia? She’s the one who caused all this, maybe she can fix it. After all, whoever’s behind her is no easy target."Right now, all Alex felt toward Lindsay was gui
Grace held back her anger and said, "It'll only take a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with you."Lindsay sat back down in her seat. "Fine, go ahead."The livestream was on, and Lindsay was fully aware of it—she was doing this on purpose.Grace was about to speak when her assistant whispered something in her ear. Her expression changed, and she subtly shifted her body to turn away from the camera.Then she looked at Lindsay. "Can we talk outside?"In her rush to find Lindsay, she had almost forgotten that this was a live-streamed variety show. She didn’t want to be on camera, much less discuss such personal matters in front of an audience.Lindsay, however, refused. "If it's important, say it here. If not, then don’t say anything."Grace’s expression darkened. "It’s because it’s important that we need to talk privately."She emphasized, "It’s not appropriate in front of the camera."Lindsay just smiled. "Unless it's something shady, what’s wrong with saying it on cam
Lindsay thought about it for a while and figured that if Grace was coming to find her, it was probably for Brandon. The only thing she could want would be the artifact in her possession.Alex saw her reply and couldn’t help but smile wryly. His sister was indeed sharp and saw right through it.He sent a voice message, repeating what the head of the Divination Association had told them. "Mom just wants to borrow the artifact from you to suppress Brandon’s condition."Lindsay replied, "Tell her not to waste her energy."Seeing that message, Alex knew right away that she wouldn’t lend it out. It didn’t surprise him—his sister could be ruthless when she wanted to be."We can’t convince her otherwise, not even Dad can stop her... sigh," Alex added. When their mom’s temper flared, she wouldn’t listen to anyone.Lindsay didn’t seem to care. "Then let her come. I’m not going to do her any favors."Alex recalled the conversation between their parents at the hospital and decided to warn her, "M
Recently, Grace had been spending more time with Abby, often meeting up for outings. Over time, Richard noticed that Grace's anger towards their biological daughter had deepened. Abby had always disliked Lindsay and showed more favoritism towards Olivia. She must have been stirring up trouble and egging Grace on whenever they met. With time, Grace was bound to be influenced.Grace, clearly annoyed, said, "You even want to control who I make friends with? Aren't you going too far? What's wrong with me getting along with Mrs. Ford and spending more time with her?"Richard felt cornered. "I just think there's something off about her. Her intentions in getting close to you don't seem good. That's why I'm trying to give you a heads-up."Grace didn't believe him at all. "I think you're overthinking it. We’ve always had a decent relationship. We’re just closer now, that’s all.""What do you men know about women’s matters? Don't interfere." She now had plenty to talk about with Abby. Jenny wa
Richard glanced at Grace with clear disapproval. “This whole mess was caused by Olivia and Brandon. What does any of it have to do with Lindsay?”He could tell that recent events, and the embarrassment caused by their sons, had left his wife feeling bitter. It seemed she had begun to project that frustration onto Lindsay, despite the situation having little to do with her.Grace crossed her arms defensively. “If it wasn’t for her ongoing fight with Olivia, Brandon wouldn’t have gotten involved. He’s her brother. Doesn’t she owe him some consideration now that he’s in this condition?”Richard frowned. “What exactly are you trying to say?”Valarie, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her displeasure clear. “I see it differently. It’s Olivia and your son who started the trouble, and all Lindsay did was defend herself. Are you really looking to embarrass yourselves even more?”Grace shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sting of her mother-in-law’s words. “I’m just thinking abou
Given the Harper family's persistence, there was no way the Divination Association could avoid a thorough investigation. Seeing that Randolph wouldn’t back down, the official left, courteously escorted out by Randolph, who, for the moment, had ceased his protests.Valarie carefully placed the multicolored stone inside a small protective pouch before securing it around Brandon's neck. Though he felt a slight relief after putting it on, the bad luck continued. As the official had warned, his misfortune was too severe for one artifact to fully contain.Randolph tried every connection he had, attempting to borrow a second artifact, but came up empty-handed. Time slipped by, and evening approached before they could find any further solutions.By the time Richard and Grace arrived at the hospital, they were met with the weary faces of their parents. Feeling guilty for everything his father had gone through, Richard bowed his head. "Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry you had to go through this today."
Hearing their words, the hope that had briefly flickered in Brandon’s eyes quickly faded, leaving him more devastated than before. "Grandfather, I know I was wrong," he muttered, finally realizing the truth. His foster sister had been nothing but trouble—far from trustworthy, she had been a constant source of harm. Meanwhile, his real sister, though harsh and distant, had proven to be far more reliable. Regret gnawed at him deeply.Randolph sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment. “Knowing you’re wrong doesn’t change anything. It’s too late now.”Turning back to the two mystics, Randolph asked, “If you can’t break the curse directly, could you at least help suppress his misfortune? Maybe with a protective charm or some kind of mystical object?”Despite his frustration with his grandson’s foolishness, he couldn’t just leave him to suffer.Both mystics exchanged uneasy glances. “We don’t have the ability to suppress his bad luck with charms.”“For something like that, you’d need t