Sophia was a kind person.

However, I was the daughter of an enemy who almost got her and her daughter killed. She could only do her best not to shift her anger towards me.

On top of that, her daughter, Cindy, had been in poor health since she was born, requiring her to put in even more effort to look after Cindy.

Sophia was naturally too occupied to pay attention to me.

Back then, there was a big fuss over this. Nearly everyone in our social circle knew where I came from. Naturally, the Lamberts' maids were no exception.

They could see that my parents didn't treat me well. Although they wouldn't do anything obvious to a kid like me, they gossiped about me behind my back. Once I was old enough to understand, some of them began to bring up my sinful origin.

"She's a sinner's daughter!"

"A nasty child."

"Her mother was evil. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

I could hardly count how many times I had heard such things. I didn't understand why I had to be blamed for my mother's wrongdoings.

"Cindy, stop worrying about Rachel. She's probably happy about being married to Caleb," Mark said, his voice instantly pulling me back to reality.

"Mark!" Sophia said sternly. "Even if you haven't realized your mistake, you shouldn't say something like that as a joke."

Mark seemed a little sorry, but he quickly stuck his chest out again. "I didn't say anything wrong! If I hadn't lost the bet with Caleb, Rachel wouldn't have married into the Carpenters with her status."

"Stop talking back!" Sophia placed her hands over her chest. "I've spoiled you too much over the years. You had the audacity to place a bet over your sister's marriage! Have you thought about what Cindy would have to do if Rachel refused?"

"Mom, don't get mad. Mark was only kidding," Cindy said.

With that, she quickly rushed to hold Sophia.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought this up," Cindy added softly.

Cindy had always been good at this. As long as she showed a hint of unhappiness, everyone around her would drop what they were doing to console her.

As expected, after hearing what Cindy said, Sophia stopped being angry and quickly rushed to console Cindy.

Steven placed one hand on Cindy's shoulder, then glared at his misbehaving son. Mark, worried Sophia might actually get angry and wary that Cindy might take the blame, quickly admitted his mistake.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have said those things. It has nothing to do with Cindy. I was wrong. I won't do it again."

Although Mark said this, he still muttered something after turning around.

"I only made the bet because I knew Rachel was around. How could I possibly place a bet over Cindy's marriage?"

My hearing had always been good. Obviously, I heard what he said very clearly.

Although I had long known the origin of the marriage arrangement between the Carpenters and the Lamberts, I couldn't suppress the anger in my heart after hearing Mark's unremorseful words.

'Mark Lambert!'

Mark was born when Cindy was four.

Before he was born, I craved familial affection, but never received any. Steven loathed me.

When Sophia was pregnant again, she treated me kindly for once. It could have been due to progesterone interference.

Cindy, having observed this, would also initiate contact with me.

However, it seemed we couldn't get along naturally.

Whenever she was with me, she would somehow bump into something or fall flat on her face.

Cindy was physically weak, so the slightest bump would result in the most obvious bruises.

Sophia frequently cried whenever she saw Cindy getting bruised.

However, there was no proof that Cindy was injured because of me. Hence, Sophia could only tell Cindy to be more careful while she went about her day.

Steven hardly doubted as much. The moment he saw Cindy was hurt, he decided I was the one who hurt her.

"You're just as evil as your mother!"

As a result, I was moved to the small room closest to the maids' room. I was also ordered to follow the maids around daily. It was a fancy way of saying they would teach me to have better manners on behalf of my mother.

I was powerless to resist.

Fortunately, I was alert and clever. I was used to reading the room.

Those who initially gossiped about me soon changed their attitude towards me. A few of the maids saw how hard I worked at such a young age, and began to sympathize with me.

They secretly criticized my family for being inhumane. However, they only dared to take care of me in secret.

That was the happiest time of my childhood.

It was around then that Mark was born.

He had a round face and dark eyes, his hands were soft and tender, and he was very healthy.

Whenever he saw me, he would reach out to grab me with his fleshy fingers. His plump face looked ugly yet adorable whenever it scrunched into a smile.

With Steven's busy schedule, Sophia's main focus was still on Cindy as she recuperated herself.

Mark was left in Maggie's care most of the time.

Maggie liked me, and always said her grandson was about my age. I ought to have addressed her as Grandma Maggie.

I liked Maggie, too. I knew she never said anything bad about me.

Not only that, but she also took it upon herself to stop people from getting angry at me because of my mother. She always said that I was innocent, and that what happened in the previous generation should not be blamed on a child.

Mark was a little crybaby. He was a hard one to coax.

However, he would miraculously calm down once he held my fingers. Perhaps it was because we both shared blood from Steven.

We were connected by blood. He was family.

Reality worked in miraculous ways. Mark made me feel a kinship I had never felt before, even if he was only a child who could barely speak.

However, reality was also terribly cruel. It soon took away all the warmth I felt on the inside.

Steven realized I was getting close to Mark. The moment he saw me in Mark's room, he would drag me out by the arm despite Mark's cries.

There was a perpetual somberness and disgust in his eyes when he looked at me. It took only a moment for him to realize my life hadn't been as bad as he thought.

I had never seen him this livid.

"At such a young age, you already know how to forge an alliance. You cajoled Maggie into letting you get close to Mark! You're just as scheming as your mother!"

I wanted to deny it by saying I simply liked Mark. Yet fear was like a hand that strangled me by the neck, making it impossible to even say a word.

All I could do was tremble and shake my head.

I watched as Steven ordered Maggie to pack her bags. He then kicked her out of the house in front of the other maids.

"No, please don't kick Maggie out!" I cried.

I dove in front of Maggie and grabbed her bags, tears falling down my cheeks. If word got out that Maggie had been kicked out by the Lamberts, she wouldn't be able to stay in the business.

The next moment, I looked into Steven's eyes that were full of disgust.

It felt as if someone had poured cold water over my head.

I instantly realized…

Steven was making an example of Maggie. He was telling everyone present that whoever was nice to me would become her next.

As a result, I was left alone once again.

Just then, the butler's arrival broke up the merry scene in the living room. He quickly approached Steven from behind.

"Sir, the Carpenters sent news that Rachel was met with a car accident on her way to the birthday party. She's been taken to the hospital. It could be serious."

Steven's facial expression turned gloomy, and his lips moved.

"Bad luck," he uttered almost inaudibly.