Chapter 8:

Fourth young lady Erica heard Emma's words and smiled gracefully, nodding at her. However, Emily, standing beside her, sneered at Emma's arrogant demeanor. "You just arrived and already calling me sister? Who told you to address me like that?!"

Emma blinked innocently and replied, "Can't I call you 'sister'? Should I call you older sister instead?"

Emily was taken aback, her eyebrows furrowing immediately. She looked down at Emma and noticed her beauty with fair and soft skin, black ink-like hair, and finely shaped eyebrows. Emma looked nothing like the rustic girl she had imagined but seemed even more exquisite. This made Emily even more displeased. "What do you mean by that remark? Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"

Deliberately causing trouble is obviously what you're doing! A glint of coldness flickered in Emma's dark eyes so quickly that no one else could detect it. Still, she smiled and calmly said, "Fourth young lady, I must see my father. Please don't obstruct my way."

Emily thought Emma was timid and became even angrier after hearing her response. She said, "You, born in February, dare to talk back to me?!"

Both Fourth and Fifth young ladies, like Emma, were all the Patriarch's legitimate daughters. In their previous life, Emma never understood why Emily always teased her when she had never provoked her. Now, she understood that some people enjoyed stirring up trouble and wouldn't shy away from causing conflicts. Even though she was a newcomer, the other party wouldn't suppress her. Emma thought, why would such a person bother herself with creating disturbances and seeking battles? Emma's face showed no anger, only a calm smile as she replied, "That's right, I was born in February. Does the fifth younger sister have any objections to my birth date?"

Emily saw that Emma didn't show any anger or seem to take her seriously, which made her even more angry. She was about to say something when a gentle voice interrupted, "Emily, it's impolite to speak that way to a third younger sister!"

Upon hearing this voice, a cold gust blew over Emma's back. She recognized this voice, one she could never forget, even in a hundred years—Felicia! Emma turned slowly and saw a magnificent beauty walking gracefully from the other side of the railing.

In short, a slender figure emerged, and a pair of beautiful almond-shaped eyes with long lashes appeared, her light green gown exuding a pure and serene aura. The dress was embroidered with sparkling sea hibiscus flowers, and a transparent silk ribbon was tied to the side, enhancing her graceful and elegant figure like a willow, exuding a charming and tender demeanor like a swan welcoming the wind. Her hairstyle was simple, with only a golden chrysanthemum-shaped hairpin with pearl decorations and a long strand of pearls that cascaded down, adding to her youthful and elegant charm.

Under the azure sky, she strolled forward with a smile, making everyone feel like a myriad of flowers were blooming in spring or the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival. It felt as if faint melodious music was echoing around, with fairies dancing in the air, captivating everyone.

This was the irresistible charm of first young lady Felicia; no one could escape it.

Emma looked at her with a trace of sorrow in her eyes. She blamed herself for her failure against Felicia's allure. With such beauty and a gentle voice, any man who saw her would be enchanted.

Emma was a traditional woman, and once she fell in love with someone, she would love them wholeheartedly. In the eight years of marriage with Edward, she believed she had devoted herself entirely to him. Even if the whole world stood against him, she would protect and love him wholeheartedly, without hesitation. They had spent eight years together, which was an arduous journey. Emma would never have realized that Edward had seen through her from the beginning if it hadn't been for Felicia.

Thinking back, it was indeed true. She was worlds apart compared to the young ladies of the Seldom family's mansion! Emma sighed and thought she had lived half a lifetime as a side character in this story. It was both pitiful and laughable.

"Emily, it's impolite to speak to the third younger sister in that manner!" Felicia gently rebuked Emily, her expression disapproving.

Emily was displaying a domineering attitude, but her expression completely changed when Felicia intervened. She walked up and grabbed Felicia's arm, pretending to act coquettishly, "Eldest sister, I was just teasing the third eldest sister a little. Please don't tell Mother, or I'll be punished!"

Felicia's beautiful eyes looked at Emma's face and said with a smile, "Then we'll see if my third eldest sister forgives you! If she decides to forgive, I'll let it go. But if she doesn't, I won't have any other choice!"

Emily glared at Emma with resentment, but Emma remained calm, smiling. "Eldest sister, don't worry. A fifth younger sister was playing with me."

Felicia nodded and said, "That's good. Emily, go and apologize to my third eldest sister!"

Felicia was indeed Felicia, always taking the role of the leader in righteousness, appearing dignified and amiable. In the previous life, when she had just entered the mansion, Emma felt a natural affinity towards her. But in the end, it was this amiable and approachable eldest sister who had stabbed her in the back, making Emma realize that she had been seen through by Felicia from the very beginning.

Emma's eyes flashed with a chilling glint, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. No one here could detect it.

Emily stood beside her and said coldly, "I apologize, third eldest sister!" When she said, "third eldest sister," she emphasized the tone heavily, making it sound like she was gritting her teeth in anger.

Emma chuckled, her face still gentle. "No problem, fifth younger sister."

Emily didn't say anything more, but her hateful gaze remained fixed on Emma. However, Emma smiled and calmly said, "Eldest sister, you don't need to worry. A fifth younger sister was joking with me."

Felicia nodded and said, "That's good then. Emily, let's go. Master is still waiting for us. Third younger sister, you should go and meet your father too. Don't delay any longer." Although Felicia's words seemed normal, Emma sensed her intention to protect Emily but pretended not to understand.

Emily felt even more resentful. As she walked past Emma, she deliberately stretched her foot to trip her. Emma saw it clearly but acted as if she hadn't and walked past them. Emily expected Emma to lose face in front of everyone. However, to her surprise, Emma uttered a soft cry, and Felicia stumbled. Both of them fell into the nearby pond. Emily was stunned!

"Eldest sister! Eldest sister!" Erica, who had been left behind, quickly rushed over.

Emma was covered in mud, looking like a wild duck emerging from the water. As soon as she stood up, she immediately reached out to help Felicia. The water in the pond only reached their hips, so as long as they stood up, there would be no problem. However, Felicia's beautiful dress was now covered in mud, her hair in disarray, and she seemed startled and afraid, utterly unaware of what had happened.

Emily never expected that she intended to make Emma lose face, but somehow, Felicia got involved. The people present were too scared to say anything. Erica quickly instructed the maids, who were also shocked, "What are you looking at? Hurry and help the first and third young ladies out of the pond!"

Felicia and Emma stepped out of the pond, still covered in mud.

Emma was frustrated and said, "Fifth younger sister, I understand you don't like me, but how could you drag the eldest sister down with you? It's going too far!"

All of a sudden, everyone's gaze focused on Emily. Although she usually relied on growing up with Luna Sandra and was close to Felicia, so far, she had never cared about anyone else. But the current situation was beyond her imagination. She stammered, "I didn't... The eldest sister, I didn't do it intentionally... I just wanted to make her trip... I didn't know it would turn out like this!" She looked at her biological sister, Erica, and pleaded, "Fourth eldest sister, did you see? Please help me say that I didn't push my eldest sister down! It was Emma! It must have been her who made the eldest sister fall!"

Erica did see Emily extend her foot to trip Emma, but she didn't see clearly what Emma did in response. The eldest sister was Luna Sandra's heart, and Erica was afraid that even a tiny mistake from her would result in dire consequences. At this moment, she knew that something significant had happened. Her face turned pale, and she hurriedly said, "Eldest sister, Emily didn't do it intentionally..."

Emma lowered her head, looking genuinely pitiful. "Eldest sister, it's all my fault. It wouldn't have involved you if I hadn't teased the fifth younger sister." After speaking, she bowed and took the initiative to use her dress to wipe the mud off Felicia, leaving no dirt on her gown. When Emily tripped her just now, she immediately used the water to push the boat, deliberately stepping on Felicia's dress and pulling her down, making them both fall into the pond.

Felicia's gaze shifted between Emily and Emma, feeling confused and unsure about who was responsible.

Emily was embarrassed and angry, pointing at Emma and yelling, "Stop pretending to be pitiful! It's all because of you!" After speaking, she was about to jump over to grab Emma's arm. The maids had never seen their young ladies in such a chaotic state, and for a moment, they were too frightened to react.

A stern voice rang out at this moment, "What's going on here?"

Everyone turned around and saw Beta Henry standing not far away, leaving them dumbfounded...

Beta Henry was young, with dark hair tied up high under a yellow official hat. Below the dark hair was a broad forehead; beneath that were long and thick eyebrows like silkworms. His eyes were serious, and his lips were always slightly pursed, making him appear stern. Emma rarely saw him smile so openly.

At least, until now, she had never heard Beta Henry's voice.

At this moment, Luna Sandra's anxious voice also sounded, "Felicia, are you okay?" As she spoke, she quickly pulled Felicia to her side and checked her from top to bottom, afraid her daughter had been injured.

Felicia's eyes turned red, but she tried to suppress her emotions. She tugged at Luna Sandra's clothes and said, "Mother, I'm cold."

Luna Sandra hurriedly took off her coat and put it on Felicia, holding her hand and saying, "What's wrong? Your hands are so cold! What happened?" Her gaze then shifted to Emma.

Beta Henry frowned, his eyes and voice as cold as ice, showing his keen insight into the situation, "Are you Emma? Why did you cause trouble as soon as you entered the mansion?"

Everyone's faces changed, all looking at Emma, no longer as if they were looking at a Third young lady but instead like they were looking at a monster! She was already rejected by the old master as soon as she entered the mansion, so how could she peacefully live here?

Emily's face, which had turned pale with fear, became relieved when she saw Luna Sandra's arrival. Erica, who had a gentle temperament, was about to speak, but Emily quickly leaned into her, and with a few blinks, she silently gestured, "Shut your mouth" to Erica. She just needed to act, and Luna Sandra would punish Emma!

Emma sneered inwardly, as this had happened before. In the eyes of these people, she was less valuable than the mud trampled under their feet, but they pitifully rushed to her side as if they were her closest relatives! It was laughable! Now, facing them, she no longer felt any pity or suffering. Only a strong will to fight surged from the bottom of her heart. Come on, and now she was not afraid of anyone anymore. Let's see who would shatter like an egg when they encountered this supposedly extraordinary but, in reality, extremely fragile figure!