I had returned from overseas to attend my foster son's wedding, already wearing my dress for the evening.

My former high school classmates recognized me and pointed at me, laughing wildly.

They tore my dress off me without hesitation.

Ruby Saunders apologized to me, but it was all an act. She looked at me with malevolence.

She had instigated her lackeys to strip me in public.

When I tried to retaliate, she slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground.

I closed my eyes and laughed coldly as I saw the cruel excitement on her face.

She used to imitate me and accuse me of copying her, but I always endured it.

However, today was my last straw. I would not allow her to marry into my family and turn me into her mother-in-law, no matter what!

I had returned from overseas to attend my foster son's wedding, already wearing my dress for the evening.

My high school classmates recognized me right away, pointing and laughing.

"Isn't that the copycat from our class? You used to copy everything Ruby wore, and you're still doing it today! Do you have any idea what today’s occasion is?"

They tore my dress off me without saying another word.

Ruby Saunders acted apologetic, but the look she threw at me was savage. "I'm so sorry, Chloe. I tolerated you back then when you copied the way I dressed, but today is my wedding day. I can't let you continue stealing my style any longer.”

She instigated her group of underlings to strip me in public. I struggled to escape, but she slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground. I shut my eyes and sniggered when I saw how savagely excited she was.

Ruby was the one who had copied me, not the other way around, but whenever she accused me, I would just endure it.

This time, however, I would not give in to her. I could not allow her to marry into my family, making me her mother-in-law!

I had rushed to the hotel right after I got off the plane, having flown back from overseas. I quickly changed into the dress the domestic help had prepared for me for the wedding.

It was my son's wedding today, and I was attending it. Despite describing him as my son, I was actually only three years older than he was.

I held a very high place in my family’s generational hierarchy. When Connor Milford's parents passed away, he was brought to my family. My family practised strict generational rules. According to the family's official genealogy, I was the only person who was a generation higher than he was.

That was how he was placed under my name as a foster son, and how I became a mother at a very young age.

As we were close in age, we had a good relationship. I took my duties as a mother seriously and followed the family rules to discipline this boy, who once acted like a rich, arrogant brat.

Who could have known that the rich brat from Lark City who once ran ragged through the streets and regularly got into fights would one day get married?

I could not help thinking back on these memories as I admired the exquisite embroidery on my dress. Fortunately, the dress was quite modern. Otherwise, I would not have wanted to put it on.

When the domestic help came in to take the clothes I had changed out of to the laundry room, I stayed in my room alone to tidy up my hair.

I looked up to see my former high school classmate, Ruby, being ushered into the room while surrounded by a group of people. Her face was glowing. She was chattering away happily as everyone was busy flattering her.

Ruby loved it. The more others envied her, the brighter her smile. However, her face fell when she saw the dress I was wearing. Something seemed off to me as well.

It turned out the dress I was wearing was part of a set. They were dresses designed specifically for the wedding toast.

"I wondered who that was. It's the copycat from high school! You've been copying Ruby since high school, and you're still doing it now? Are you that obsessed with her?"

"Ruby didn't hold it against you because she has a kind heart, but that doesn't mean we'll let you get away with this!"

Many of those in the group by her side were our high school classmates. They immediately noticed the dress I was wearing and looked me up and down with disdain.

Ruby's bestie pinched her nose and looked at me like I was something dirty. "Our Ruby's rich husband hired a top designer to customize that dress for her. Do you think the knockoff version you have can compare to what she's wearing?"

"Ruby’s getting married to Lark City's rich heir, Connor Milford, today. Did they even invite you to the wedding? Stop being so thick-skinned and throwing yourself at her. I can't believe you're even dressed like that. Who are you trying to seduce?"

I could not believe Ruby was the woman my foster son was marrying. I felt horrible!

She would always copy the way I dressed back in high school, but she got away with accusing me of being the copycat because she was popular among our classmates.

I did not bother to explain myself as I did not want to end up in a meaningless fight. All I did was focus on producing enough work to help me apply for my studies overseas.

However, the rumors got worse over time, and I ended up being bullied and avoided by everyone during high school.

Even though I did not like Ruby, I had to show her some respect as she was the woman Connor loved. All I wanted to do was hurry home after getting through the wedding and their insults, but Ruby decided to block my way. It hurt tremendously when she stepped on the tip of my shoe.

She pretended to move her foot away with shock, saying pitifully, "It's my wedding today, Chloe. Please don't steal the limelight from me on my big day by wearing the same dress as me! Can you take it off? You can copy whatever I wear after today. I’ll forgive you if you stop it right now!”

I looked incredulously at the dress I was wearing. It was designed for the wedding toast and looked low-profile yet respectful. It was not that similar to the dress Ruby had on.

Moreover, her makeup had been done by celebrity makeup artists who helped make her bridal makeover look exquisite. Anyone who was not blind could tell right away that she was the bride. How could I be stealing her limelight?

I frowned. I did not want to waste time arguing with them. "I'm wearing an official dress for the wedding toast. It's not appropriate to take it off."

Before I could leave, Ruby suddenly grabbed my hand. She cried pitifully while tearing off my dress. "You heard what she said, everyone. She said it's an official dress for the wedding toast. She did this on purpose! I would’ve tolerated this on other days, but this is my wedding day! How can I let this slide?"

When she grabbed my collar, she deliberately scratched me violently with her sharp, manicured nails. Blood splattered everywhere instantly, and I screamed with pain.

Ruby cried even louder and pitifully when she saw this. She pushed me into the crowd out of panic. "I didn't do it on purpose! It's because you insisted on wearing that dress. My husband tailor-made my dress for me, and it means a lot to me. I can't allow anyone to take that away from me!"

Her tears fell freely, and her underlings grew angry over the predicament she was in. Her group of besties started to grab my hands to hold me down while continuing to pull at my collar. Viciousness flashed in their eyes.

"Don't dirty your hands, Ruby. Cheap women like her rarely have more than two dresses. It would be bad luck for you to even touch her!"

"We'll help you tear the clothes off this b*tch. Who does she think she is to imitate you?"

"Hey, any men around here who are strong enough should come help out. This b*tch is actually brazen enough to fight back!"

Before I could react, someone's arm wound around my neck. I almost passed out from suffocation as my limbs started to go weak. It didn't matter how much I tried to fight back. I could not fight off the numerous hands grabbing at me.

Tears filled my eyes as I shouted at them to stop, "I-I'm Connor's foster mother… Uff…"

Before I could finish what I was saying, a bloody scratch appeared on the corner of my mouth. The group kept insulting me one after the other, not bothering to listen to what I had to say. The dress was soon torn off me.

I was left cowering alone on the icy floor with wounds all over my body. My dress had been torn to shreds, and everyone brought chunks to Ruby as if presenting a treasure to her. Ruby did not even glance at them. All she did was stare straight at me.

When I tried to say something, the person holding down my hand immediately slapped me. My cheek became badly swollen. I could feel the burning pain sear through my brain. Before I could react, I was dealt another slap.

Cruel laughter rang in my ears. "Shouldn't you be grateful that I made sure your features were balanced with swollen cheeks on both sides?"

The world spun around me when I heard Ruby's coquettish voice amid her sobbing. "Thank you, everyone. I'm sorry I let everyone see something so unsavory on my big day. It's all my fault for indulging her shenanigans.

"But she's still a woman, after all. She won't be able to marry anyone if she has so many wounds. She won't be able to live a life of luxury like me once I become Mrs. Milford!"

With that, Ruby picked up a glass of whisky and raised her hand to pour it all over me. "What a great coincidence that there’s alcohol here. I can help Chloe disinfect her wounds."

When she saw me wince from the pain, her smile got wider as she said to me, while feigning being considerate, "Don't worry. Even though you can't afford such expensive whisky, it's my wedding, after all. I can use it however I want."

It was the beginning of autumn, and I was left wearing only my undergarments. I could not help hugging myself tight as I shivered from the cold. I was like a fish out of water that was about to die. The group seemed to have found something interesting as they were encouraged to imitate what Ruby did by grabbing alcohol off the table.

"Isn't Ruby creative? I want to have some fun too! I wonder if this bottle of 1982 Lafite would work well as a disinfectant."

My tears mixed with the red wine as it flowed to the corner of my mouth.

"Hey, don't sneak a lick of that wine! It's pretty disgusting now that it has blood in it."

They looked at me maliciously and with disgust as they continued laughing while having their fun with me. They carefully observed my painful expression and described it loudly for Ruby.

I could no longer speak. If I even attempted to speak, a slap would come for me. I was numb from the pain as the alcohol burned all the wounds on my body. It felt like I had just been grilled on a hot plate.

When I tried to stand up to run away from this hellish room, I was pushed to the floor numerous times, helpless as everyone burst out into laughter.

"Trying to escape? Not so fast. We gave you a chance before this, but you didn't take it." Ruby looked down at me with superiority. She kept stepping on my fingers with her high heels as she listened to my weak cries of pain.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Sam Chilton is here!"

Everyone instantly hushed as they looked worriedly between Ruby and me.

Sam was the high school heartthrob. Everyone knew that he had a crush on me back then. He was also the reason why Ruby copied my fashion style. It was because she had a crush on him. Her expression turned savage as she coldly called for the taunting to stop.

I thought the torture had finally ended, and I could have a moment of peace. I struggled to get up by holding onto the table leg and attempting to run out of the room, but the moment I touched the table, Ruby kicked me down. I fell heavily to the floor.

The sound of leather shoes stomping toward us became louder. Ruby grabbed my hair to reveal my injured face. "Guess who this is, Sam. This b*tch tried to compare who looks better by wearing the same dress I did. Who do you think is prettier? Me or her?"

Ruby grabbed my cheek and patted it with the back of her hand, chuckling playfully. Sam looked at my face carefully with a cold look in his eyes. He was suddenly taken aback by what he saw. I knew he had recognized me.

I tried my best to blink at him, hinting crazily for him to save me, but he ignored me and even scoffed, "Who is this? I don't know her at all."

The young man who had once disregarded Ruby now looked at her in a flattering and humble manner. "The bride is always the most beautiful woman at a wedding. Where did this ugly thing come from to have the courage to compare herself with you? She must be out of her mind. Ptui!"

He spat cruelly right on my face. My heart sank as I was filled with despair.