Chapter 2 She Is Not an Ingrate

Wendy froze for a full two seconds before shrieking and rushing over. "Elara! Have you lost your mind? How dare you hit Jasmine?"

She pulled Jasmine into her arms, distressed as she examined the red mark on her jaw, then whirled on Elara with fury. "Illegitimate child, you're so barbaric—no wonder Brandon Robinson called off the engagement!"

Jasmine nestled in Wendy's embrace, her eyes rimmed red, voice choked with tears. "Elara, I know you like Brandon, but you can't attack me just because he chose me over you..."

The surrounding guests murmured among themselves—so that's why Elara lashed out. She was fighting with her sister over a man.

Hearing the whispers, Jasmine grew even bolder in her performance. "Elara, Brandon told me himself that he likes me. You're not mad at me, are you?"

Elara was almost amused by this family's shamelessness.

Jasmine really knew how to deflect. She was truly Wendy's daughter.

She watched Jasmine's affected display, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "Mad? Two trash people belong together, forever. I couldn't be happier for you both."

She'd never liked that playboy Brandon anyway. She'd only agreed to the engagement for the sake of the family alliance.

Since Jasmine loved dumpster diving so much, of course she'd offer her blessings.

Jasmine's tearful expression froze for an instant, a flash of irritation crossing her eyes.

Gordon's face darkened. "Elara! What kind of garbage are you spouting? With your attitude, what man would want you? You can't compare to Jasmine!"

Elara turned her head, her gaze settling coldly on him. "Manners? Mr. West, the West family thinks they can lecture me about manners?"

She faced the crowd, her voice measured but crystal clear. "Three years ago, the day Jasmine showed up with her paternity test, you banished me to the storage room. I could only eat your leftovers, and even the servants could order me around."

The guests exchanged glances.

Wendy's expression shifted. "Stop slandering us! Should I pull up the security footage?"

Elara's gaze swept past Jasmine as she continued, "Sophomore year, when Jasmine bullied a classmate at school, you forced me to take the blame to protect her reputation. And you gave Jasmine a hundred thousand dollars a month in allowance, while I got zero."

The room fell dead silent. The guests' expressions changed.

Those who'd been whispering accusations against Elara moments ago now shut their mouths, their criticism redirecting toward the West family members.

"That's way too much. They raised Elara for eighteen years, and they couldn't even give her a hot meal?"

"Right? Making her take the blame, giving her no allowance—if I were Elara, I couldn't take it either!"

Gordon's face turned ugly, his lips trembling as he struggled to form words.

He wanted to refute her, but Elara had stated facts—things he'd actually done. Denying them in front of all these people would only make things worse.

Wendy panicked, quickly tugging at Elara's sleeve, her tone softening. "Why bring up family matters like this? We know you're upset about going back to your poor parents, but the West family raised you for over a decade. You can't bite the hand that fed you, right?"

"Bite the hand that fed me?" Elara laughed coldly, shaking off her hand. "What kindness did you show me? In this entire family, the only one who treated me like a human being was Grandpa. The rest of you just used me as Jasmine's scapegoat!"

Gordon ultimately cared about his reputation and knew that continuing this scene would only embarrass the West family further.

He gritted his teeth, his voice low. "What do you want?"

Elara didn't look at him, simply holding out her hand. "I just want my grandfather's box."

Wendy quickly signaled the butler with her eyes. "Bring out that old box from the storage room!"

Ten minutes later, the butler arrived carrying a leather briefcase.

The surface was already peeling, covered in dust.

The moment Jasmine saw the box, she wrinkled her nose in disgust, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Elara, don't tell me you've got leftovers in there? It reeks. Are you afraid you won't have food in the countryside?"

Elara ignored her, taking the box and checking inside. The vials were neatly arranged, not one missing.

She glanced at the empty house. Nothing else remained.

It seemed the purple wooden box wasn't here—they didn't even know it existed.

"We've given you your things. You can delete the video now!"

The moment Wendy finished speaking, the butler hurried in from outside, breathless. "Mr. and Mrs. West, there are people at the gate. They say they're here to pick up Elara."

Hearing this, Wendy's face twisted into a contemptuous smile, her voice mocking. "Your birth parents must be here. Get lost! Don't dirty our home!"

Gordon, more concerned with his image, shook his head with a sigh. "Let's see her off. After all, we were family. We can't let people think the West family doesn't know proper etiquette."

His words sounded gracious, but in reality, he wanted to personally watch Elara get picked up by those poor parents, so the guests would think the West family had done their duty by raising a child from the gutter.

A group of nosy guests followed along.

Elara carried her box, expressionless, walking behind them.

The gates of West Manor slowly opened.

Everyone froze simultaneously.

In the open space outside the estate, sixteen black Maybachs were parked in a perfect line, stretching as far as the eye could see, an imposing sight.

Every car was brand new, the paint gleaming so brightly it reflected the sunlight.

Wendy's steps halted, her smile freezing on her face.

Gordon's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open, unable to close it.

Jasmine's fingers nearly dug into her palms.

She stared hard at Elara's calm face, a flash of vicious malice in her eyes.

Jasmine quickly adjusted her elaborate makeup, plastering on an innocent, pitiful expression before pushing back into the crowd.

Just as everyone stood confused, the lead car's door opened, and a middle-aged man stepped out.

He appeared to be in his thirties, tall and imposing, wearing a dark gray cashmere coat, his features sharp and defined, his eyes carrying a commanding aristocratic air.

The man walked unhurriedly to Elara, speaking with polite courtesy. "You must be Elara?"

Elara looked him up and down. "You are...?"

"I'm the Shaw family's butler, James." James gestured to the bodyguards behind him. "Address her."

Dozens of men in suits spoke in unison: "Ms. Shaw!"

The sound was deafening. Wendy and Gordon's expressions completely collapsed.

Didn't they say Elara's parents were from the countryside, so poor they could barely afford food?

That's what all the background checks said!

Jasmine was so jealous her eyes nearly bulged out.

She refused to accept this. She'd finally stolen Elara's parents back—how could she stand by and watch her live such a good life?

Besides, she'd investigated thoroughly. Elara's birth parents were dirt poor, digging potatoes in the fields all day. Where would they get luxury cars and bodyguards?

Fake. It had to be fake!

Jasmine pushed through the crowd, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Elara, Mom and Dad only want what's best for you. Since you've arranged such a grand display, don't let your poor family down."

She deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of the surrounding guests. "I know you care about your dignity and might have used funds you shouldn't have... If your family finds out you're this vain, Elara, you'll be thrown out."

She was setting a trap for Elara—if Elara showed even a hint of guilt, or later appeared less than "polished" at the Shaw family, all the guests would think she was a fraud, completely destroying her birth parents' first impression of her.

James slowly turned his head, staring coldly at Jasmine.

That look sent chills down Jasmine's spine. She didn't dare say another word.

James withdrew his gaze, looking back at Elara, a flicker of complexity in his eyes.

The Shaw family had never stopped searching for her.

They'd used the world's most advanced family-finding systems, yet there'd been no news—as if she'd vanished into thin air.

It wasn't until after Aiden's death, when Elara voluntarily unsealed part of her identity information, that the Shaw family's global search system finally captured that long-delayed match result.

His tone softened slightly. "Ms. Shaw, the cars are ready. Your family has come to bring you home."