The Fortune-Bringer's Revenge

The fortune teller said I was born under a special fate—destined to attract wealth.

My biological father didn't believe a word of it. He scoffed, "What good is that? She's just a worthless girl!"

So he dumped my mother and ran off with his mistress.

Later, my stepfather's career skyrocketed. Luxury cars, mansions, private jets—we had it all.

Meanwhile, my biological father hit rock bottom. He went on to have three more daughters, only to discover two of them weren't even his.

The neighbors mocked him relentlessly: "That fool gave up a golden goose for nothing. Spent over a decade raising other men's children. Karma's a bitch!"

1.

I heard Yvonne was throwing a fit about studying art. Her grand plan? Get into film school and become a superstar.

My classmates said she was jealous of me.

A few days ago, a talent scout stopped me outside the school gates, wanting to recruit me as an actress.

Nothing had been decided yet, but somehow the news spread like wildfire.

The ridiculous part? Yvonne actually came to challenge me: "Celeste, I'm going to be way more famous than you someday. I'll crush you under my heel!"

Oh, I forgot to mention—Yvonne is my half-sister, six months younger than me.

She's the product of my biological father Damian's affair.

My mother Mira was married to Damian for five years before she got pregnant with me. When she was expecting, everyone said her belly was pointy—definitely a boy.

Her family was thrilled. They waited ten long months.

But out came a girl.

Damian was a civil servant. No second child allowed.

A girl couldn't carry on the family name, and the villagers would mock them for having no heir.

So Damian and his mother cooked up a plan and kicked my mother out.

At the time, Mira still had feelings for Damian. She couldn't bear the thought of her newborn daughter growing up fatherless.

Tears in her eyes, she begged him to stay: "The one-eyed fortune teller at the village entrance read Celeste's fortune. He said she has a noble destiny, blessed with wealth. Ever since she was born, you've gotten promotions and raises. Everything's been going your way. Can you really give her up?"

But Damian was dead set on divorce and a son. He wouldn't listen.

"What good is she? Just a useless girl!"

Afraid Mira would make a scene, he brought his pregnant mistress Yvaine to meet her. Pointing at Yvaine's swollen belly, he said, "If you won't agree to a divorce, you can raise Yvaine's son as your own."

While Mira was suffering through her pregnancy, Damian was running around behind her back.

The truth shattered her.

She wiped away her tears, got a divorce, and took me away from the family.

My grandmother's side urged her to give me up for adoption. They said she was still young, that she could find someone better than Damian.

But Mira couldn't let me go. She said we were bound by blood, and she'd rather eat chaff and drink water than abandon me.

As it turned out, she never had to.

The moment I learned to walk at one, she took me to the big city to make a fresh start.

And luck was on our side. She found an amazing boss.

He paid her far more than she expected, gave her an easy job, and made sure she had no trouble raising a child as a single mother.

That boss? He's my father now.

He fell for Mira at first sight. The salary and position were all part of his plan to win her over!

Compared to Damian, he was younger, handsomer, richer—and completely devoted to her. He wouldn't marry anyone else.

My grandparents were furious. They even showed up at our door to break them up.

But it didn't work.

Mira would cover her mouth and laugh, her eyes sparkling with pride: "You were like a little snowball back then—adorable, soft, and fair. Your grandparents hadn't held a baby in thirty years. The moment they saw you, they were smitten. They called you their precious darling, even more affectionately than I did."

2.

My father Julian caught a lot of flak for marrying my mother.

"Julian's lost his mind. A young, successful man like him could have any pretty virgin he wants. Instead, he's stuck on some withered old cabbage with a brat in tow!"

"If he's so eager to raise someone else's kid, he might as well raise ours. At least our child shares his blood."

I was only three and didn't understand a thing. But I sobbed and argued back: "My daddy is not a pig! He's a person—a good person!"

Julian thought the relatives were bullying me. His face darkened as he held me close and snapped back:

"Anyone who dares to bully Celeste is my enemy!"

"And if you're my enemy, you're no longer family."

At three years old, I became a legend.

The relatives called my mother a vixen and me her little fox cub, saying we'd bewitched Julian.

Great-Uncle led the charge, shaking a finger at Julian: "Are you really willing to turn against your own family for outsiders? What kind of spell have those two cast on you?"

Julian's temper flared: "So it was you, Uncle. At your age, picking on a three-year-old. Have you no shame?"

Great-Uncle nearly had a heart attack on the spot.

"Julian, you fool! Treating a bastard child like a treasure. You'll regret this!"

These relatives had come hoping Julian would help them get ahead in business.

But their plan backfired spectacularly.

Because of me, they didn't even get a chance to state their case before Julian sent them packing.

The relationship soured, and they secretly prayed for Julian's downfall.

They hoped his company would go bankrupt, leaving him homeless with my mother and me.

But that year, Julian's business boomed beyond belief. Big contracts kept pouring in, and he made a fortune!

3.

When I was four, we moved out of my grandparents' old house.

Julian had made enough money to buy the best villa in the city.

By then, he'd already distanced himself from relatives like Great-Uncle.

Those who'd been waiting for him to fail were now ready to grovel at his feet, hoping for scraps from his table.

That year, something happened.

Julian's company was expanding, keeping him constantly busy. He was always traveling for meetings and factory inspections.

Sometimes I wouldn't see him for two weeks.

So before every trip, I'd cling to his leg and refuse to let him go.

When it was time for another trip, I pulled the same trick—crying my heart out.

I wailed dramatically: "Celeste doesn't want Daddy to leave! If Daddy leaves, Celeste won't have a daddy anymore!"

I was a spoiled kid, not prone to tears.

But this time, I cried so hard I started gasping for air, like I was about to keel over.

Julian panicked. Forgetting all about his trip, he scooped me up and rushed me to the hospital.

Meanwhile, his subordinates left for the airport on schedule.

On the way, they were caught in a horrific pile-up.

Everyone in the car died.

When the news reached my grandmother, she nearly fainted.

Once she recovered, she hugged Julian and sobbed: "My son, thank God you didn't go. Otherwise, you'd be gone too!"

In other words, my crying fit had indirectly saved Julian's life!

4.

The next time I saw Damian was when he came to the big city to make his fortune. He wanted to rent my grandmother's old house.

"Making his fortune" was just a cover.

The real reason? Yvaine's ultrasound had been wrong. They'd been told she was having a boy, but out came another girl.

Desperate for a son, Damian had quit his stable government job.

"Mira, it's you!" Damian's eyes nearly popped out when he saw my mother.

He'd probably assumed she'd be miserable after he abandoned her.

But reality slapped him in the face.

Mira looked even more beautiful than she had ten years ago. Her skin was fair and firm—she didn't look like she'd ever given birth.

His current wife Yvaine was five years younger than Mira.

But standing next to her, Yvaine looked fifteen years older!

"Fox! Dressed like that to seduce men. Shameless!"

That wasn't Yvaine speaking—it was her ten-year-old daughter Yvonne. Even at that age, she knew how to defend her mother.

If she hadn't been insulting my mother, I might have admired her.

Defending your mother isn't wrong.

I love my mother too, and like Julian, I'm petty. I won't let anyone slander her.

So I grabbed Mira's hand and said firmly, "Mom, I don't like this family. Don't rent them our house."

"No way! Mrs. Jiang already said we just need to sign the contract today. If you back out now, that's a breach!"

Damian was desperate not to lose the rental.

The old house might be dated, but its location was unbeatable—close to everything.

Mira laughed coldly and pointed at the door: "I haven't taken your money or signed anything. What breach? Damian, take your family and get out."

Damian's face turned red with rage: "Mira, you're just settling a personal score!"

"So what? This is my house."

"I'd rather let a beggar stay for free than rent it to you, Damian!"

It took ten years, but Mira finally got her revenge for the day Damian kicked her out.

5.

Damian's face was ashen. He demanded to see my grandmother: "I want to talk to Mrs. Jiang myself!"

"My grandmother's busy. She said my mother handles everything about the house." I stepped in front of Mira, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Damian froze, staring at my face for a few seconds before remembering he had another daughter.

"Is this Celeste? Why is Mrs. Jiang your grandmother? Mira, did you marry my daughter off to another man?"

His expression twisted with anger and jealousy, as if Mira had wronged him.

His daughter?

I looked at him and his family with confusion: "What are you talking about? My real father died a long time ago."

That's what Mira had told me.

She'd said, "Your biological father died the year you were born. That's why he never showed up—dead men can't come back."

I'd nodded in understanding.

I didn't care whether my birth father was alive or dead. I had no feelings for him.

I had Julian. He'd raised me, cherished me. There was no better father in the world.

Damian exploded like a firecracker. He grabbed my wrist and roared: "Who said I'm dead? I'm alive and well, Damian! Open your eyes—I'm your real father!"

My wrist felt like it was breaking. Pain shot through me.

But his words made me forget the pain. I instinctively shot back: "No, you're not. I only have one father, and his name is Julian!"

Mira saw my reddened wrist and her heart clenched: "Damian, let her go!"

"Mira, you told my daughter I was dead! You made her call another man 'Dad'—"

Mira raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

"Call another man 'Dad'? You think you deserve that title?"

"Did you ever come looking for her? Did you pay a single cent in child support?"

"Now you want to play the father? Not a chance!"

"The day we divorced, I considered you dead. Celeste doesn't have a father named Damian. You'll never touch my daughter again!"

6.

The Damians were driven off. My mother and I had won.

She stared at the direction they'd gone, then pulled me into a tight hug, as if afraid I'd disappear.

"Celeste, forget what happened today."

I looked up at her, confused.

"Some people are better off dead—like Damian. He was never a good husband, and clearly not a good father. I won't let him near you again."

Her eyes were red, her tone resolute.

She rarely showed negative emotions in front of me or interfered with my friendships.

In fact, Mira was always reserved.

Unlike Julian, who'd openly declare, "Celeste, you're my treasure, my princess. Daddy loves you!"

Mira never said things like that.

But I knew she loved me just as much as Julian did.

"Okay, Mom. Don't cry. I'll always remember I only have one father—Julian. I'm Julian's daughter!" I patted her back gently.

When my grandmother found out the house wasn't rented, she wasn't upset.

"It's not hard to find tenants. We'll leave it for someone else."

But Julian noticed something was off with Mira. While she was in the shower, he cornered me.

"Spill it, kiddo. What happened today?"

I'd promised Mira I wouldn't mention Damian at home. I hadn't even told my grandmother who he was.

Facing Julian's interrogation, I could only shake my head: "Nothing, Dad."

"Liar. Your mom was fine when she left, but now her eyes are red. Think I didn't notice?" Julian rolled his eyes.

My eyes went wide: "Mom even touched up her makeup! How did you still see?"

Realizing I'd slipped up, I quickly covered my mouth.

Julian pulled my hand away: "Too late. Spill it now!"

Under his pressure, I confessed everything about Damian.

"That bastard Damian dares to throw his weight around on my turf and bully my wife and kid?" Julian's temper flared.

"I should have gone with you two today. I'd have knocked his teeth out!"

Julian was all bravado in front of me.

But the moment Mira came out of the shower, he shushed me and went to blow-dry her hair, all lovey-dovey.

7.

Our house was peaceful that day. Damian's appearance didn't cause any family drama.

But the Damians weren't so lucky.

After failing to rent the house and getting provoked by Mira, Damian drowned his sorrows at a motel.

Drunk and furious, he took it out on Yvonne.

"You little brat! Who told you to call anyone a fox? If you hadn't upset Celeste, she would have let me rent the house!"

Everything in the big city cost money. Every extra day at the motel meant more expenses.

And finding a place as good as my grandmother's house on short notice was nearly impossible.

Yvonne wailed as he beat her. Yvaine couldn't take it anymore and rushed to stop him: "Damian, are you still hung up on Mira now that she's young and pretty again?"

Ever since Yvonne was born a girl, Damian had been fooling around, causing Yvaine no end of grief.

"Shut up, Yvaine!"

"Am I wrong? The moment you saw Mira, your eyes lit up. Regret divorcing her?"

"Too late for that. She's already found a rich husband, and your own daughter won't even acknowledge you..."

That hit a nerve. Damian raised his hand and slapped Yvaine across the face.

"You barren hen! Can't even give me a son, and you dare run your mouth!"

"Damian, you hit me?"

"You deserve it! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have divorced or quit my job. I wouldn't be suffering here!" The more he ranted, the harder he struck.

I only know all this because of Yvonne.

Apparently, no one in their family slept that night.

Damian and Yvaine brawled, and Yvonne was too scared to close her eyes.

Yvonne and I couldn't stand each other, but fate made us classmates. Afraid Yvonne would get bullied at her new school, Yvaine bribed our homeroom teacher.

So our dutiful teacher led Yvonne into the classroom, scanned the room, and pointed to the empty seat next to me.

With a wave of her hand, Yvonne became my deskmate.

"Celeste, you little menace! Because of you, I got hit by my dad for the first time!"

Yvonne glared at me with hatred. She didn't blame Damian, the abuser—she blamed me.

I looked up and offered her some advice: "You'd better watch out. My mom says hitting kids is domestic violence. And domestic violence never stops—it only escalates."

"As long as you and your fox of a mother stay away, my dad won't hit me anymore!" Yvonne seemed to have full faith in Damian.

I didn't argue. When I got home, I told Mira that Yvonne was now my deskmate.

Her face went pale. She grabbed my hand: "Why is she your deskmate? She transferred to your school?"

"Yeah, her mom brought her to register."

I'd even run into Yvaine, who shot me a venomous glare.

"No way. You can't be deskmates. You can't even be in the same class—or the same school!"

8.

Mira decided to transfer me, and she moved fast.

When she discussed it with Julian, he looked puzzled: "Isn't that overreacting? Makes it look like Celeste is afraid of them."

Julian didn't take Damian seriously at all. To him, crushing Damian would be like squashing an ant.

Transferring me felt like running away.

Mira buried her face in Julian's chest, her eyes red: "Celeste isn't afraid of them, but I am."

"I'm afraid Damian will try to take her from me."

It was the first time Mira had shown such vulnerability in front of Julian. It broke his heart, and he immediately forgot his earlier objections.

"Fine, fine. We'll transfer Celeste. Damian won't get within a foot of my daughter!"

The next day, Mira came with me to handle the transfer.

We ran into Damian at the school. He was alone—not looking for Yvonne.

He was looking for me.

This time, he stared at me for a long time before turning to Mira: "Mira, we were married once. No need to make things ugly and scare Celeste."

"Damian, you're in my way. Move."

Mira didn't want to talk to him. She wouldn't even spare him a glance.

Ignored, Damian's face fell.

He was never a patient man. Seeing Mira's cold shoulder, he reached out to block me: "Celeste is my daughter too. I missed her growing up. Now that we've finally met, I want to make it up to her."

"What do you mean, Damian?" Mira's voice rose.

"I want to take my daughter out to eat, to the amusement park, to buy her new clothes!"

9.

Mira was trembling with rage. I quickly patted her back to calm her down.

Then I said to Damian, "I don't need clothes. I'm bored of amusement parks. And I don't want to eat out."

"Then what do you want? Barbie dolls? Toys? Name it, and Daddy will buy it!"

Damian put on a generous act.

I had no idea what had gotten into him. Instead of doting on his other daughter Yvonne, he was fawning over me.

I shook my head: "I don't want anything. I have plenty of Barbie dolls. Toys don't interest me."

We had so many empty rooms that I had my own walk-in closet, filled with the latest clothes and dresses my parents bought me.

I even had a dedicated toy room, stocked with every toy I'd ever owned.

Damian's face darkened: "Then let's just have a meal, father and daughter."

I said flatly: "No. I have class."

"I've said all this, and you still won't come out with me!"

I nodded: "That's right. I won't."

Damian's face twisted: "You're just ashamed that I'm poorer than your new dad. Haven't you heard the saying? A dog doesn't despise a poor home!"

"You're young, but you've already learned to worship money and despise the poor—just like your mother!"

Damian's voice boomed, drawing the attention of teachers and administrators.

They all stared at Mira and me, their gossipy eyes like sharp little knives.

"Damian, you're the one who valued sons over daughters and forced my mother out with nothing. How dare you accuse us of being gold-diggers?"

"If it weren't for my father, I don't know where my mother and I would be today."

"You abandoned your wife and daughter, then tried to turn the tables. I've never met anyone more shameless!"

Since I was transferring anyway, I didn't care about airing our dirty laundry in front of the teachers.

Those who had been whispering about us now wore looks of understanding, muttering about how despicable Damian was.

Mira came to her senses and let out a cold laugh: "Celeste is right. Damian, you really are shameless."

"Mom, ignore him. Let's go."

I tugged at Mira's hand, not wanting to waste more time on Damian.

Damian turned to the teacher: "Isn't class supposed to start? How can you let Mira take my daughter out? What kind of school allows truancy?"

The homeroom teacher rolled her eyes: "Celeste has already transferred. She's no longer a student here. Mrs. Jiang can take her home whenever she wants. We have no say in it!"

"What? Mira, what do you mean? Why are you transferring my daughter?"

Damian chased after us, refusing to let it go.

Mira stopped and turned to face him, expressionless: "Because I'm her mother. And because I have the money."

Damian's face turned green: "Mira, you're ruthless. Just wait. I'll make more money than Julian someday!"

Mira looked at him calmly: "The last person who said that to me was Julian's third uncle. He's seventy now and working as a security guard."

10.

After leaving the school, I asked Mira worriedly: "Do you think Damian will actually manage something?"

His confident attitude had me concerned.

If he hadn't even made money yet and was already this arrogant, what would happen if he actually got lucky?

Mira sneered: "He's dreaming. His personality will never let him achieve anything big."

She sounded utterly certain.

But I was still uneasy. When I got home, I whispered to Julian: "Dad, can't you throw a wrench in his plans?"

Julian huffed: "Do you think I'm that kind of person? I don't play dirty tricks!"

"Then do it openly!" I urged.

"What if Damian makes some money and gets cocky? What if he comes back to fight for custody of me? Are you willing to lose the daughter you've raised for so many years?"

Mira was married to Julian now, so Damian couldn't touch her.

But with his narrow-minded personality, he might try to take me just to spite them.

I honestly believed Damian was capable of it.

Julian's face showed a flicker of concern: "No way. You're a Jiang now. You have nothing to do with Damian!"

"So, are you going to trip him up or not?"

Julian nodded: "Fine. I'll do it."

"Great. I'm counting on you, Dad."

Unfortunately, Julian never got the chance. He told me, "Damian found a college buddy to invest in a factory. But the guy's shady—he has a criminal record."

"Looks like I don't need to lift a finger. Damian's about to hit rock bottom on his own."

Well, that was... something.

11.

Relieved that Damian was no longer a threat, Julian was in high spirits. He took Mira and me on a shopping spree.

But not for clothes or jewelry.

He'd set his sights on a new villa development in the city.

Who would've thought we'd run into Damian while house-hunting?

Damian was decked out in a suit and tie, his hair slicked back with gel. He looked like a success story.

Behind him, Yvaine and Yvonne were also dressed in new clothes. Yvaine sported two chunky gold bangles on her wrist, as if she wanted everyone to know they had money.

When Yvaine saw us, she deliberately dragged Damian and Yvonne over.

"Mira, long time no see."

Mira's expression was cold: "Is there something you need?"

"I just noticed you're looking at villas too. Thought we could compare notes. Maybe we'll end up as neighbors!" Yvaine said smugly.

I was stunned. I glanced at Julian.

Hadn't he said Damian was about to hit rock bottom?

How could he afford to look at villas—especially expensive ones?

Mira laughed coldly: "Neighbors? You must still be dreaming."

"Mira, do you think only your husband can afford a villa?" Damian puffed out his chest.

"I've proven I have what it takes. Making money is easy for me."

Yvaine chimed in: "Exactly. What's so special about a villa?"

Julian nodded and ruffled my hair: "Nothing special. Just a graduation gift for my daughter."

"What, Julian? Afraid you'll go bankrupt? Giving a graduation gift to that useless girl so early?"

Damian looked at me with contempt.

Strangely, that look put me at ease. This was the real Damian—a man who despised daughters. I had no idea what had possessed him to come looking for me at school.

Julian chuckled: "College graduation is still years away. But elementary school graduation is coming up. As her father, shouldn't I prepare a gift?"

The Damians' faces turned green.

Julian smiled and turned to the real estate agent: "I'll take this villa and the one next to it. One for my daughter's graduation gift, and one for my wife and me."

The agent beamed: "Of course, Mr. Jiang. I'll take care of everything!"

Damian's face twisted with envy: "You should buy her things. Without my daughter, Julian, you wouldn't be where you are today."

"Damian, no one asked for your opinion." Mira cut him off.

"Mira, don't say that."

"You said Celeste's destiny brings wealth. Looks like that blind fortune teller was right. Julian has made a fortune thanks to my daughter."

"But I'm different. I don't need a daughter's luck. I can make my own money!"

Just then, Damian's phone rang.

He glanced at it and smirked: "See? Another opportunity. When luck strikes, you can't stop it."

He answered the call loudly: "Xiao Liang? Didn't I say I'm house-hunting today? Handle it with the deputy manager!"

Whatever the caller said made Damian's face change: "What?"

Julian squeezed my hand, signaling the show was about to start.

Damian hung up and rushed to his car.

"Damian, what's wrong? We haven't signed for the villa yet!" Yvaine hurried after him.

Damian snapped: "Something came up at the company. We'll sign another day."

12.

Damian's partner never gave him another chance to sign for the villa.

The man had cleaned out the company and fled with his wife and kids, leaving Damian with a mountain of debt and millions in bank loans.

"He took out bank loans?"

Millions weren't a small amount.

Julian nodded: "His partner must have been convincing. Damian fell for it hook, line, and sinker."

"I thought it would take a few more months for everything to fall apart. It happened sooner than I expected."

Damian had also borrowed from friends and relatives.

His college buddy had looked the part—dressed to impress—and Damian had been completely taken in.

His entrepreneurial venture was a spectacular failure.

And it left him buried in debt.

But soon, I had bigger things to worry about.

Mira was pregnant.

All our attention shifted to her.

For years, because Mira and Julian hadn't had children, the relatives never stopped gossiping.

"Celeste is pretty and smart, but she's not a Jiang by blood."

"Julian's built an empire. Is he really going to leave it all to a girl?"

They'd stopped calling my mother an old cabbage.

But not giving Julian a child still made her a target.

Some even whispered that Mira might be infertile.

When Mira got pregnant, the relatives were more excited than we were.

They patted Julian on the back: "You can finally relax, Julian. After all these years of marriage, you're having a child."

Of course, they didn't leave me out.

"Celeste, you're a big girl now. You'll be a big sister. Take good care of your little brother."

I found it hilarious: "Who says it's a brother?"

The relatives' faces twitched: "Is it a sister?"

"What's wrong with a sister?"

"Nothing. A sister is fine. You can always try for a brother. Your father is rich. He can have ten or eight kids if he wants."

Julian walked over, scowling: "Ten or eight? Do you think my wife is a sow?"

The relatives knew better than to push him.

"Haha, Julian, we're just joking."

"That's not funny."

"Don't say things like that in front of Celeste, or I'll be angry." Julian's tone was stern—a clear warning.

"Whether this child is a boy or a girl, we're not having any more."

"Half the family fortune goes to Celeste, and the other half to this child. Whoever proves more capable will take over the company."

The relatives gasped.

They didn't say a word, but their eyes screamed that Julian had lost his mind.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go."

After shooing them out, Julian scratched his head and sat me down on the couch. For the first time, he talked to me about having a sibling.

"Your mother and I never planned to have more children. This one was a surprise." His expression was cautious.

"Dad, you don't have to be so nervous." I tried to reassure him.

I believed him completely.

If he'd wanted more kids, he'd had over a decade to do it. He didn't need to wait until I was old enough to understand.

Julian sighed: "I just don't want you to feel bad. I need to be honest with you."

"Your mother wasn't trying to get pregnant. I'd been drinking around that time. I'm worried something might be wrong with the baby."

I said, "Don't scare yourself. Everything will be fine!"

Truth be told, I was happy Mira was pregnant.

I didn't mind having a younger sibling.

Julian had raised me well. He'd given me all the security I needed.

"I'll love my little brother or sister, just like I love you, Dad."

13.

When Mira was close to giving birth, Damian showed up again after a long silence.

This time, he came straight to my new school and asked to see me.

I thought it was Julian. When I saw Damian, I turned and walked away.

"Celeste, wait. I need to talk to you."

I ignored him. What could we possibly have to say to each other?

Shouldn't he be working to pay off his debts instead of bothering me at school?

"I heard your mother is pregnant again." Damian followed me, rattling on.

"And I heard it's a boy."

His voice dripped with envy when he said "boy."

He still hadn't fathered a son, and now Mira was having one.

I laughed, turning to face him in his wrinkled clothes: "What's it to you?"

"Celeste, you're too young to understand how demanding a baby can be. Once your brother is born, where will you fit in the the Celestials? Your stepfather talks a good game, but once he has his own son, do you think he'll care about you?"

"So that's it. You came to stir up trouble?"

Damian shook his head, stubbornly denying it: "I'm worried about you. I don't want you to suffer in the the Celestials."

"Worry about yourself first."

"I'm fine, but I can't stop thinking about you. Celeste, you can't rely on your mother and stepfather anymore. The Jiangs won't have room for you. Come back to me."

His eyes flickered, and he dropped a bombshell.

"What are you talking about?"

I was stunned.

Was Damian out of his mind? Where did he get the nerve to say something like that?

"Don't look at me like that, Celeste. You and Julian aren't blood-related. That will never change. A stepfather is just a stepfather!"

Damian rambled on, then asked if I agreed.

I smiled: "My stepfather bought me a house and lots of jewelry."

"You're my real father. What have you ever given me?"

Damian scoffed: "I can buy you a house and jewelry too—"

"Great. Take me shopping right now. Buy me two villas, and I'll go back to the Damians."

Damian faltered: "My money is tied up. Give me a couple of days..."

Even now, he was still pretending to be rich.

I sneered inwardly but kept my voice calm: "Can't afford it? That's fine. I'm happy in the the Celestials. I have plenty to eat and wear. My dad even gave me shares in the company. I'll inherit them when I turn eighteen."

Damian's face turned purple with rage: "I said give me a couple of days! Why are you so materialistic?"

"I learned from you. If my mother couldn't give you a son, you divorced her."

"If you can't afford a house, I won't acknowledge you."

I couldn't have been more blunt. He raised his hand to hit me: "Say that again, Celeste!"

"If you hit me, my dad will break your hand. Do you believe me?"

I even stepped closer, staring at his meaty palm.

The slap never came. Damian lowered his hand, finally dropping the act.

"Ungrateful brat! Worthless girl!"

"If I'm so worthless, why do you want me back? Damian, you believe what my mother said about my destiny, don't you? You think I'll bring you wealth."

I couldn't think of any other reason.

He was so obsessed with having a son, and we had no bond.

Before he could answer, I continued: "Give it up. I'm never coming back. Never."

14.

That day, I infuriated Damian so much that he forgot he was at a school and started cursing loudly.

His shouting drew the attention of teachers and security guards.

He was eventually dragged away.

I didn't tell my parents he'd come to see me again, because soon after, Mira gave birth.

To a healthy baby boy.

Her family was overjoyed, but they didn't neglect me.

Unlike what I'd seen on TV, the good stuff didn't all go to my brother.

My parents and grandparents always prepared gifts in duplicate—one for me, one for him.

My brother and I were close. When I had to board at high school, he clung to my leg and wailed in front of everyone.

Thanks to him, I became famous at school that day.

When Yvonne found out we were at the same school, she couldn't wait to find me.

Like Damian, she sneered: "Celeste, now that you have a brother, your good days are over!"

I learned that Yvonne had also gotten into the same high school.

Her grades weren't bad, so it wasn't surprising she'd made it into the city's best school.

"Thanks for your concern. But my brother loves me. He gave me this diamond hair clip as a welcome gift." I pointed to the accessory in my hair.

It wasn't actually a back-to-school gift. It was my birthday present.

My brother had bought it with his own allowance, behind my parents' backs.

Yvonne's face fell: "A cheap hair clip bought you off? Pathetic, Celeste."

Just then, Yvaine's voice rang out behind her: "Yvonne! I finally found you. Pack your things. We're going home."

Yvaine had gained a lot of weight over the years. She was pushing a stroller with two babies under a year old.

Yvonne's face twisted: "Mom, what are you doing here? And why did you bring them?!"

"I'm taking you home. This school is too expensive. We can't afford it. You're dropping out."

Yvaine spoke while looking at the babies in the stroller, not noticing me.

But what she said shocked me.

"I'm so young. What am I supposed to do if I don't study? It's only twenty thousand a semester!"

Yvaine looked up and poked her daughter's head: "Only twenty thousand? You have no idea how long it takes us to earn that."

"If you're not studying, you can take care of your sisters. I need to go to work."

Yvonne screamed hysterically: "I'm not doing it! They're not my daughters! Why should I?!"

I came back to my senses and looked at the two babies in the stroller.

Both were wearing little dresses.

So Damian still hadn't gotten his son. How ironic.

15.

That day, Yvonne and Yvaine had a huge fight at school. Neither backed down.

In the end, Yvonne didn't drop out.

But this school was full of top students. Yvonne had barely scraped in, and she quickly fell behind.

By the second semester of freshman year, her grades had plummeted.

She was almost always at the bottom of the grade.

So when she heard about the talent scout approaching me, she got the idea to become a star and challenged me.

Stars were glamorous and made money