Chapter 3

Helena's suspicion flared. She glanced at her brothers, then at Richard, the Fontaine family patriarch sitting at the head of the table. His expression was just as dark.

Everyone stayed silent, clearly unhappy with Katrina's behavior.

Helena knew exactly what to say. She put on a concerned face. "Katy, that's not right. These are all gifts from Uncle Richard and your brothers. How could I possibly take them? If people found out, they'd think I was stealing from you."

Watching Helena's fake concern made Katrina's stomach turn.

"Do you want them or not?" Katrina's voice was cold and impatient. "This is your only chance. After today, even if you beg me, I won't give them to you."

Everyone froze, staring at her face, unable to figure out what she was thinking.

Katrina could feel the sharpest gaze burning into her—Brandon's. His eyes were like fire, ready to consume her.

After all, he'd been the one who treated her best. He'd given her the most gifts.

She used to cherish that brother-sister bond. Now, even looking at him made her sick.

"Brandon, Lance... if Katy's really okay with it, then I'll..." Helena's voice was weak and hesitant.

Brandon snapped, "If she's giving them to you, then take them!"

It was like he said it just for Katrina to hear.

She'd expected this. She shrugged and looked at Helena. "Take them."

Helena's expression brightened instantly. "Thank you, Katy. I'll take good care of them for you."

Disgusting.

Katrina couldn't stand it anymore. She turned and walked to a corner seat.

Helena watched her go, a faint smile on her lips.

Katrina, Katrina. Just keep suffering. Eventually, everything you have will be mine.

"Brandon, what the hell is wrong with her?" Lancelot stared at Katrina's retreating figure, irritation gnawing at him. He pulled Brandon aside.

Brandon's face darkened. "Ignore her. You think I don't know her by now? She's just using cheap tactics to get attention. It's always the same. The more you care, the more she'll push her luck and bully Lena."

Lancelot nodded, finding Brandon's logic sound. He dropped the subject.

He had someone bring over his gift for Helena. "Lena, this painting is a new piece from your favorite artist. I had someone bid on it for you."

Helena gasped, her face lighting up with delight. "Thank you, Lance!"

As she spoke, she deliberately glanced toward Katrina in the corner, barely able to hide her smugness.

Brandon also presented his gift—a luxury custom watch worth three million dollars.

Richard and Kent followed suit, gifting her a Bentley and a property, both worth a fortune.

The atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch.

Everyone could see how much the Fontaine family adored Helena.

"The Fontaines seem to love their adopted daughter more than their real one."

"Ms. Swift looks so elegant and graceful. Not like Katrina—dressed so tacky with zero taste."

"These two have completely different personalities. Katrina's nowhere near as sweet and likable as Ms. Swift."

The whispers spread like a virus among the guests.

Within minutes, everyone's favor had shifted entirely to Helena. They showered her with compliments.

In the past, seeing this would've broken Katrina's heart.

But now? She felt nothing. Just light. Free.

She took a sip of her drink. It was sweet.

Suddenly, she noticed Helena giving a subtle signal to the maid who managed the snake room.

The maid quietly slipped away.

Helena's smile grew even sweeter.

So, their plan was starting.

Katrina waited calmly.

"Katy, can you come upstairs with me? I need to change into another dress," Helena said sweetly, walking over with a soft, gentle look in her eyes.

Behind her, Richard and the three brothers all glanced over, frowning at Katrina like she was about to hurt Helena.

Katrina didn't refuse.

If she did, Helena's plan wouldn't be able to proceed.

The two of them headed upstairs together.

"Katy, I have a big surprise for you later. I promise you'll love it," Helena said, her voice syrupy sweet. But inside, her thoughts were more venomous than a snake's.

In her past life, Helena had framed Katrina, making her look like a lunatic in front of everyone.

Today, Helena would get a taste of that same pain.

"Oh, really?" Katrina's tone was light. "I'm looking forward to it."

She quickly entered her room and locked the door behind her.

Helena stared at the closed door, a satisfied smile on her lips.

"Ms. Swift, everything's ready. The snake will climb up the outer wall and get into her room," the maid whispered.

"Go," Helena said, removing the necklace from her neck. "You know what to say and what not to say."

The maid assured her repeatedly, then left.

Helena entered her bedroom to change.

Her second dress was a powder-blue princess gown covered in diamonds, with a huge skirt supported by a hoop underneath.

As she slipped on the hoop, she suddenly felt a strange, shivering coldness against her calf.

Her mind flashed to the snakes in the snake room. Disgusting.

After changing, she was helped downstairs by the maid, appearing before everyone with elegance and grace.

"Ms. Swift is so beautiful."

"This is the real Fontaine heiress."

"She's so much classier than Katrina."

The compliments rained down. Helena basked in them, her smile growing even sweeter.

The Fontaine men looked over as well, their gazes full of approval.

Helena's vanity was fully satisfied.

"Ahh! Snake!" Suddenly, a child screamed and bolted away from her. "There's a snake in her dress!"

Helena's smile froze. She looked down instinctively—nothing.

The child's mother grabbed him. "I'm so sorry. He's just being silly."

Helena felt irritated and was about to say something when she felt it—something slippery sliding down her leg.

A snake? Really?

Her mind went blank.

Then she felt something licking her—wet, cold...

"AHHH—!"

Helena let out a bloodcurdling scream, her voice cracking as she jumped wildly in place, frantically trying to tear off her dress.

"There really is a snake! A black snake!"

"Oh my God, how did a snake get in her dress?!"

"It's venomous! Run!"

The lively banquet hall erupted into chaos.

Screams, crashes, curses—everything blended together. People panicked.

Brandon and the others immediately tried to rush over to help Helena.

They couldn't let her embarrass herself like this—the Fontaine heiress stripping in front of everyone? Unthinkable.

But the crowd was too thick. Everyone was terrified of the snake.

They couldn't get through. All they could do was shout at her to calm down.

By then, Helena had already ripped her dress to shreds, desperately trying to tear off the hoop skirt underneath.

A bold journalist happened to have his camera pointed right at her—

And captured her most humiliating moment.