The party began, and the Collins villa was brightly lit, bustling with guests.
Violet looked stunning in her outfit.
She linked her arm with Ethan, flashing a gracious, poised smile, as if nothing had happened.
But I could sense the coldness in her gaze whenever she looked at me.
Halfway through the party, it was time for the cake–cutting ceremony.
The large cake was wheeled out, the lights dimmed, and everyone gathered around.
Just as I was about to cut the cake, Violet suddenly stepped forward.
She picked up the spare microphone and spoke sweetly, “Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me a moment to say a few words.”
Everyone turned to look at her. Ethan tried to pull her back, but she dodged his hand.
Martin and Carol frowned.
Violet smiled, but her eyes narrowed as she scanned me.
“Today is our dear Amelia’s graduation party, and I’m truly so happy for her.”
Her tone suddenly became a bit strange.
“As everyone knows, Amelia is a foster daughter of the Collins family, and her status is, well,
special.”
“For all these years, the Collins family has treated her as their own, even better than their own
children. This kindness knows no bounds.”
There were murmurs among the guests.
“But,” she abruptly changed the topic, “As girls grow up, they have to leave home eventually.”
“She can’t just stay forever, even developing inappropriate thoughts, bringing humiliation and tarnishing the reputation of the Collins family, right?”
Her gaze shifted between Ethan and me, suggesting something with obvious insinuation.
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“So today, I would like to say something to Amelia.”
She looked at me, her smile growing more venomous.
“Please, stop clinging to your brother. Go find a good man to marry!”
“The Collins family has treated you with utmost kindness, and it’s time you understood your place. Stop dreaming of being a child bride!”
“Violet! Shut up!” Ethan’s face turned pale with anger as he snapped.
A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd!
All eyes were on me–surprised, curious, contemptuous, sympathetic.
A mix of expressions filled the room.
Martin’s face turned ashen with rage, while Carol tightly clenched her hands.
Violet looked at me with a victorious smile, as if to say, “See? I told you I’d make it happen.”
In the midst of the stunned silence and awkwardness, I suddenly burst out laughing.
I grabbed the other microphone from the emcee.
My voice was clear, laced with just the right amount of feigned confusion and helplessness.
“Miss Parker, I’m really curious.”
“You came to my home for the first time and called me Ethan’s child bride.”
“For the past few months, you’ve hinted countless times, both directly and indirectly, that I’m an outsider and that I’ll be married off sooner or later.”
I looked at the guests in the crowd, all of whom were now watching in confusion, and spoke calmly, “Many of the guests here have watched me grow up and know my background.”
“My parents passed away when I was young. It was Martin and Carol who took pity on me, adopted me, and treated me as their own daughter, giving me a family.”
“I have always been grateful for their kindness.”
“I have always regarded Ethan as my older brother and have never had any inappropriate
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thoughts.”
“I don’t understand, Miss Parker, why you keep clinging to this absurd idea of me being a child bride. Why do you constantly slander me, even during my graduation party? Why do you feel the need to ruin this important moment for me?”
My voice quivered slightly, a hint of grievance slipping through.
“Is it because Ethan treats me well as his sister, and that makes
you uncomfortable?”
“Or do you think that if you drive me out of the Collins family, you’ll be able to rest easy?”
“But Miss Parker,” I said, my gaze turning sharp as I looked at her pale face. “This is the Collins family, not a place where you can spread rumors at will! Whether or not I’m a member of this family is not for you to decide!”
The room fell into stunned silence.
The guests‘ looks shifted from sympathy for me to disdain for Violet.
“So that’s what happened.”
“This woman’s gone crazy. What does she have against the beloved daughter in her own family?”
“That’s so malicious! How could she say such things at someone’s graduation party?”
“How could the Collins family consider her as a daughter–in–law?”
Ethan looked at me, his expression filled with shock and guilt.
He abruptly pulled his hand away from Violet, as if touching something filthy.
Violet panicked. She pointed at me, shouting, “You’re lying! You’re making things up! It was
you!”
“Enough!” Martin’s voice rang out sharply, cutting her off.
He walked up to the stage, took the microphone, and his face was grim and serious.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the embarrassment this has caused.”
He turned his icy gaze toward Violet.
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“Miss Parker, it seems you didn’t take our last warning to heart.”
“I’m afraid this pond is too small for a big fish like you. As for your relationship with Ethan, it
ends here.”
“Now, please leave.”
“Martin! It’s not like this! Please, let me explain!”
Violet was completely flustered, trying to grab onto Ethan, but he pulled away.
“Violet.”
Ethan looked at her, his expression complex, filled with disappointment. “You’ve really let me
down.”
“No! Ethan! It’s because I love you so much! I’m afraid of losing you!”
Violet cried out, “It’s all her fault! It’s Amelia, that bitch! She set me up! She’s been plotting this
from the start!”
At that moment, Daniel appeared from behind the guests, leading someone with a timid
expression.
It was a middle–aged woman, who had once worked for the Collins family.
Violet’s face turned deathly pale when she saw her, like she’d seen a ghost.
The woman dared not look at Violet and bowed to Martin and Ethan.
“Sir. Martin, Mr. Collins, I’m sorry, but Miss Parker paid me.
“She asked me to spread rumors that Miss Collins was a child bride fostered by the Collins family, and that she had bad intentions, clinging to her brother.”
Boom!
The crowd erupted once again!
The truth was finally revealed.
Turned out, those vicious rumors were all fabricated and spread by Violet herself.
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Ethan stared at Violet in disbelief. The last trace of affection in his eyes completely vanished,
leaving only disgust.
“Get out.”
He pointed to the door, his voice as cold as ice.
Violet completely broke down, collapsing to the floor in tears, losing all composure as the security dragged her out.
The farce finally came to an end.
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