MasukShare
Chapter 8
Bab terkait
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 9
Bella seemed strangely confident as if she was certain of her victory, and it left me puzzled. As the race started, I kept a steady pace, curious to see what she had up her sleeve. Bella drove casually, with no urgency to competeâshe even took the time to fix a stray strand of hair. Her attitude irritated me. It seemed she was only interested in drawing attention, not in actually winning the race. We had become mere performers for the audience.But after the first turn, I realized Bellaâs true intention. Someone had tampered with my carâit wouldnât brake at all during the turns. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, feeling a sinking sensation in my chest. Fortunately, I wasnât going too fast, and there were tires set up near the finish line to help me slow down.Percy noticed something was wrong too. He led a group of people to the finish line, directing them to set up more obstacles to reduce my speed. It was one thing for Bella to want Percy or even the Scott family, but f
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 10
An adopted daughter was still a daughter. After raising me for 20 years, my Scott parents had been through countless sleepless nights with me. They had seen my laughter and my tears, watched me take my first steps, and witnessed my growth from a baby to a successful student. This kind of bond was impossible to sever.At this moment, my Scott parentsâ expressions turned cold. My dad, Charles Scott, brought the same commanding presence to the room that he usually reserved for business."Itâs our fault. We failed to properly discipline Bella when she was young, and now sheâs grown up with this attitude."My biological parents were quick to apologize, even though it was their own daughter who had been hurt and their adopted daughter who had caused the harm. But Charles cut my mother off before she could continue. "The problem is with our daughter. She canât keep going down this path. Iâve arranged for her to attend an all-girls school in Westinâstrict, full-boarding. Bella, youâll g
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 1
I was helping my mom pick out shoes for an evening party when I first ran into Bella White. From a distance, she noticed my momâs elegant demeanor and immediately rushed over, shoving aside the young intern who had been serving us. With a bright, eager smile, she pulled out a pair of shoes for my mom to try, but the moment her eyes met mine, the smile vanished.Her hands tightened around the shoes, squeezing them out of shape. In an instant, she plastered a flattering smile back on her face and turned her gaze to meet my motherâs eyes. The two of them stared at each other for a long time, growing more and more astonished with every passing second. Even the store employees began to join in on the hushed conversation around us.It hit me like a bolt from the blue - Bella was the spitting image of my mother. The resemblance was so uncanny, it was as if they'd been cut from the same cloth. An onlooker might've sworn Bella was my mother's flesh and blood, while I could've passed for a
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 2
From then on, everyone in our circle joked that Percy had found his âfirst love,â someone truly worthy of his admiration. Next to her constant white dresses, my tank tops and jeans made me look like a complete tomboy.By our senior year, Bella knew graduation was approaching fast, and if she didnât win Percy over soon, that would be the end of their story.Unsettled by how special Percy seemed to treat me, she began provoking me, trying to grab his attention. She even stole my research results, attempting to publish a paper with Percy. When our professor caught on, she retaliated by accusing my advisor of harassment. Then, she spun a story that I had deliberately pushed her to the advisor to gain sympathy from the group, determined to leave her mark before graduation.I couldnât stand to see her get away with it, so I testified against her. The school expelled her, putting an end to her ambitious climb. Percy witnessed the whole ordeal and only remarked, "Was that really necessar
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 3
Seeing that I wasnât taking the bait, Bella began throwing my things around. A priceless antique vase hit the floor with a loud crash, and she let out a scream, shouting for me not to hurt her and that sheâd leave right away. Her shouting brought the household staff and my parents rushing into the room. For a moment, everyone was too stunned to react.My mom glanced between us, clearly conflicted, but she moved toward me first. "Alice, are you okay?" she asked, then turned to Bella to check if she was hurt.Realizing that her little performance hadnât had the desired effect, Bella, unwilling to give up, held out her arm, which was somehow already bruised. âSister, itâs fine. Iâm not hurt; it doesnât matter,â she said with a falsely brave smile.I rolled my eyes. After all, I had been in this house for twenty years, and everyone here knew I wasnât the type to stir up trouble. Apart from occasionally teasing Percy, I couldnât even be bothered to look at people I had no business
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 4
âWhy is it so hard to reach you these days?â Percy asked, his voice low as he took the wine glass from my hand just as I brought it to my lips.âI told you alreadyâyour fiancĂ©eâs changed. Go be with her,â I said, shooting him a pointed look.Percy glanced over at Bella, then turned back to me, but before he could say anything, Bella somehow appeared with a microphone in hand. She climbed a few steps up the stairs and began speaking to the crowd.âHello, everyone. My name is Bella Scott, the true daughter of the Scott family. The Alice you all know is actually my motherâs adopted daughter. Now that I'm back, I hope we can all get along. And I hope my sister doesnât worryâIâm not here to take away her affection. It hasnât been easy for me all these yearsâŠâBella dove into yet another tale of her hardships, eagerly soaking up all the attention. She carried on for a full half hour, leaving my mother teary-eyed, while the distinguished guests shifted uncomfortably, glancing around awkwardl
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 5
Under the blazing sun, even his hair seemed to glint with a golden light. He looked refined, but his presence was commanding. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his forearms, where veins bulged slightly under his skin. The man who had been shouting moments earlier suddenly wilted, like a scolded child."Mr. Percy, what brings you all the way out here to the outskirts? Are you here to race?" the man stammered, clearly trying to make himself known. Percy didnât even glance at him, his eyes fixed on me and Derick who was standing protectively in front of me."Alice, who is this?"I held my ground under his intense stare and replied, "No idea."Seeing the guy back down, Derick grabbed my arm and pulled me away. âYouâve got some guts, showing up at a place like this. Letâs see if you dare to come back here again.âWe had only taken a few steps when Percy caught my wrist. "Alice, are you avoiding me on purpose?"Derick realized then that I must know Percy. He stepped
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 6
I carefully selected outfits for my parentsâelegant but not overly luxurious. The outfits struck the perfect balanceârespectful to our hosts without seeming overly flattering.Many people who knew me from before made a point of coming over to offer a toast. My parents, well-versed and confident, held their own in every conversation, navigating the small talk with ease. There was a sense of goodwill and curiosity in each exchange. After all, it was the first time anyone here had met them, and a little probing was just part of the evening's tradition.The banquet was already underway when Bella finally arrived, dressed in an extravagantly luxurious gown that instantly drew all eyes. The dress was layered and voluminous, so much so that wherever she walked, people had to clear a path for her. I recognized it as the gown my mom had bought for one of my previous birthdays; it must have been something Bella dug out from storage. Even after six months back in the family, she was still
Bab terbaru
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 10
An adopted daughter was still a daughter. After raising me for 20 years, my Scott parents had been through countless sleepless nights with me. They had seen my laughter and my tears, watched me take my first steps, and witnessed my growth from a baby to a successful student. This kind of bond was impossible to sever.At this moment, my Scott parentsâ expressions turned cold. My dad, Charles Scott, brought the same commanding presence to the room that he usually reserved for business."Itâs our fault. We failed to properly discipline Bella when she was young, and now sheâs grown up with this attitude."My biological parents were quick to apologize, even though it was their own daughter who had been hurt and their adopted daughter who had caused the harm. But Charles cut my mother off before she could continue. "The problem is with our daughter. She canât keep going down this path. Iâve arranged for her to attend an all-girls school in Westinâstrict, full-boarding. Bella, youâll g
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 9
Bella seemed strangely confident as if she was certain of her victory, and it left me puzzled. As the race started, I kept a steady pace, curious to see what she had up her sleeve. Bella drove casually, with no urgency to competeâshe even took the time to fix a stray strand of hair. Her attitude irritated me. It seemed she was only interested in drawing attention, not in actually winning the race. We had become mere performers for the audience.But after the first turn, I realized Bellaâs true intention. Someone had tampered with my carâit wouldnât brake at all during the turns. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, feeling a sinking sensation in my chest. Fortunately, I wasnât going too fast, and there were tires set up near the finish line to help me slow down.Percy noticed something was wrong too. He led a group of people to the finish line, directing them to set up more obstacles to reduce my speed. It was one thing for Bella to want Percy or even the Scott family, but f
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 8
There were never many people in our circle who were close to Bella, and after the Shaw family banquet, there were even fewer. She was left to mix with a handful of faux socialites, becoming increasingly ostracized by the inner circle. Her desire to see me humiliated only grew stronger with each passing day.Ever since her return, Bella knew Percy had a passion for racing, so she spent half a year rigorously training with an instructor. When she invited me to a go-kart race, I was genuinely surprised. How had this pampered heiress taken an interest in racing? Back in school, whenever we organized activities, she would tag along, but she was always too worried about getting hurt and ruining her appearance, so sheâd just cheer from the sidelines and hand Percy water.I glanced at Percy, who was reviewing a contract beside me, and realized this was Bellaâs attempt to use me to catch his attention. I had always respected people with the courage to act boldly, and I admired her spirit
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 7
Completely disregarding any semblance of a lady-like demeanor, Bella darted behind Percy, clinging to his arm as she nervously rubbed his sleeve. I could see Percyâs face darken in an instant. What had been a calm scene quickly turned chaotic. In a circle that was usually dull and lifeless, who wouldnât enjoy a bit of juicy gossip?The Scotts looked displeased, asking Percy who had invited my parents. Meanwhile, my biological parents stood there with composure, meeting everyoneâs gaze without the slightest hint of fear or hesitation. Moments passed, and the room grew quiet again.Everyone knew that the Scott family had given birth to their child in a well-known private hospital. If a switch had occurred, it was more likely a hospital mistake rather than a case of kidnapping. After all, the Whites werenât just any ordinary family.Percy shrugged off Bellaâs hand. âI invited them. The Whites are the family of my fiancĂ©eâwhy shouldnât they be here?âPeople quickly realized that P
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 6
I carefully selected outfits for my parentsâelegant but not overly luxurious. The outfits struck the perfect balanceârespectful to our hosts without seeming overly flattering.Many people who knew me from before made a point of coming over to offer a toast. My parents, well-versed and confident, held their own in every conversation, navigating the small talk with ease. There was a sense of goodwill and curiosity in each exchange. After all, it was the first time anyone here had met them, and a little probing was just part of the evening's tradition.The banquet was already underway when Bella finally arrived, dressed in an extravagantly luxurious gown that instantly drew all eyes. The dress was layered and voluminous, so much so that wherever she walked, people had to clear a path for her. I recognized it as the gown my mom had bought for one of my previous birthdays; it must have been something Bella dug out from storage. Even after six months back in the family, she was still
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 5
Under the blazing sun, even his hair seemed to glint with a golden light. He looked refined, but his presence was commanding. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his forearms, where veins bulged slightly under his skin. The man who had been shouting moments earlier suddenly wilted, like a scolded child."Mr. Percy, what brings you all the way out here to the outskirts? Are you here to race?" the man stammered, clearly trying to make himself known. Percy didnât even glance at him, his eyes fixed on me and Derick who was standing protectively in front of me."Alice, who is this?"I held my ground under his intense stare and replied, "No idea."Seeing the guy back down, Derick grabbed my arm and pulled me away. âYouâve got some guts, showing up at a place like this. Letâs see if you dare to come back here again.âWe had only taken a few steps when Percy caught my wrist. "Alice, are you avoiding me on purpose?"Derick realized then that I must know Percy. He stepped
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 4
âWhy is it so hard to reach you these days?â Percy asked, his voice low as he took the wine glass from my hand just as I brought it to my lips.âI told you alreadyâyour fiancĂ©eâs changed. Go be with her,â I said, shooting him a pointed look.Percy glanced over at Bella, then turned back to me, but before he could say anything, Bella somehow appeared with a microphone in hand. She climbed a few steps up the stairs and began speaking to the crowd.âHello, everyone. My name is Bella Scott, the true daughter of the Scott family. The Alice you all know is actually my motherâs adopted daughter. Now that I'm back, I hope we can all get along. And I hope my sister doesnât worryâIâm not here to take away her affection. It hasnât been easy for me all these yearsâŠâBella dove into yet another tale of her hardships, eagerly soaking up all the attention. She carried on for a full half hour, leaving my mother teary-eyed, while the distinguished guests shifted uncomfortably, glancing around awkwardl
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 3
Seeing that I wasnât taking the bait, Bella began throwing my things around. A priceless antique vase hit the floor with a loud crash, and she let out a scream, shouting for me not to hurt her and that sheâd leave right away. Her shouting brought the household staff and my parents rushing into the room. For a moment, everyone was too stunned to react.My mom glanced between us, clearly conflicted, but she moved toward me first. "Alice, are you okay?" she asked, then turned to Bella to check if she was hurt.Realizing that her little performance hadnât had the desired effect, Bella, unwilling to give up, held out her arm, which was somehow already bruised. âSister, itâs fine. Iâm not hurt; it doesnât matter,â she said with a falsely brave smile.I rolled my eyes. After all, I had been in this house for twenty years, and everyone here knew I wasnât the type to stir up trouble. Apart from occasionally teasing Percy, I couldnât even be bothered to look at people I had no business
The Real Heiress: A Blooming Thorn   Chapter 2
From then on, everyone in our circle joked that Percy had found his âfirst love,â someone truly worthy of his admiration. Next to her constant white dresses, my tank tops and jeans made me look like a complete tomboy.By our senior year, Bella knew graduation was approaching fast, and if she didnât win Percy over soon, that would be the end of their story.Unsettled by how special Percy seemed to treat me, she began provoking me, trying to grab his attention. She even stole my research results, attempting to publish a paper with Percy. When our professor caught on, she retaliated by accusing my advisor of harassment. Then, she spun a story that I had deliberately pushed her to the advisor to gain sympathy from the group, determined to leave her mark before graduation.I couldnât stand to see her get away with it, so I testified against her. The school expelled her, putting an end to her ambitious climb. Percy witnessed the whole ordeal and only remarked, "Was that really necessar
