bChapter /bb75 /b

Linda pulled Amber into a hug, but she squirmed free, clearly ufortable. “What do you want?”

Linda red at Amber, the ungrateful brat she could never tame, bitter resentment welling up inside her.

All these years, she hadn’t kept Amber at home so she could live in luxury. Amber was only ever meant to serve their purposes.

“Amber, I just can’t take this anymore.” Linda whimpered, thrusting her worn hands forward. “Look at my hands. After working all day, do you bhave /bany idea what I’ve been through? 1-”

Lindaunched into a lengthy tirade about all the injustices she’ll suffered that day, convinced Amber was hanging on her every word. The more she vented, the more animated she becaine.

Amber’s heart was in her throat, her nerves frayed. Sienna had already warned her about this.

Amber couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge anyone as her mother now. After hearing Sienna’s words, she realized her mistake. Linda wasn’t her mother. She couldn’t possibly call her Mom.

Sienna sat in her chair, eating fruit and watching the financial news on TV. Linda kept repeating, iming to be Amber’s mother,

Sienna must hear Linda’s words, Amber’s heart pounded with anxiety as she wondered, ‘Would Sienna think I‘

Amber hadn’t called Linda Mom again since hearing Sienna’s words. Every time she remembered using that title before, Amber was filled with bitter regret.

“Amber,e here.” Sienna’s voice cut through the tension at that moment.

Amber moved as if summoned, but just before facing Siennab, /bshe feigned annoyance, pride flickering between her brows.

“How was school today?” Sienna asked.

“What?” Amber froze, bracing herself. Isn’t Sienna about to grill me about Linda and then tear into her?‘ she wondered. ‘Ground me without dinnerb? /b

Sienna nced sideways at her adorably dazed little sister, reached out to ruffle her hair, and asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

Amber crossed her arms over her chest with a soft hmph, turned her head away, and lifted her chin defiantly. “Hey, you messed up my hair. So rude

Even as sheined, Amber couldn’t help but lean in even closer like a pampered cat, her eyes half–lidded in contentment. It was all a show of protest, but pure contentment underneath.

As Sienna withdrew her hand, Amber’s rosy lips instantly formed a petnt pout of protest.

‘So impatient, what an annoying woman, Amber grumbled inwardly. ‘Sienna has pelted Vivian for ages, but when ites to me, bit’s /bjust a quick ruffle on the head.

“The moment I say something, she pulls her hand back. Seriously, she can’t even stand the test. Imph

“I never skipped ssb. /bI attended every single one.” Amber said.

Sienna asked gently, “And were you actually paying attention?”

A flicker of guilt shed across Amber’s face as she lowered her head and was just about to exin.

“Amber, I was talking to you. How dare you just walk away?” Linda rushed over, her voice sharp with indignation.

Amber’s heart leaped into her throat again as she pried Linda’s hand off her shoulderb. /bThe grip was so tight it hurt. “Linda, you’re hurting me.”

“Amber, what did you just call me?” Linda’s eyes widened in shock, just as Jocelyn, who had juste back, overheard the exchange.

Both of them felt their hearts skip a beat. Jocelyn eximed, “Amber, what did you just call Mom? How dare you call her Linda instead of Mom?”

“This has to be Sienna poisoning Amber’s mind again,‘ Jocelyn wondered. ‘Bitch, she has gone so far.

Amber considered for a moment, then said solemnly, “She’s not my mother. My mother is gone.”

Amber’s eyes dimmed with sorrow as she spoke, and Sienna felt a quiet relief, pleased to see how quickly Amber hade to terms with it.

Linda said, “Amber, ever since I came into this family, I’ve worked my fingers to the bone raising you. I know I’m not your mom.

“If you don’t want to call me Mom, that’s fine. I can put up with that, as long as it’s truly your choiceb, /bnot because someone’s forcing you.”

2:17 PM

As she spoke, Linda shot a pointed look at Sienna, Jocelyn quickly pulled Amber aside and said, “Amber, how could you break Mom’s heart like this?

b“/bSienna, bI /bknow you have issues with me and my mom, but you can’t force Amber to turn her back on her. Sienna, Mont truly treats Amber like her daughterb, /beven more than me sometimes. And now you’re cruelly driving a wedge between them.

Amber quickly exined, “No. No one’s forcing me. It’s my choice, Jocelyn, I have a mother, so I can’t call Linda Mom anymore. She’s your mom”

bJocelyn /bbnever /bexpected Amber to be so thoroughly influenced. Clenching her fists, she demanded, “Amber, do you really not want to acknowledge us bas /bba /bfamily anymoreb?/bb” /b

Sienna let out ba /bcold, mockingugh, her eyes glinting with lethal frost.

Familyb? /bTotally nonsenseb, /bshe thought. To them, Amber was just a pushoverb, /beasy to bully, control, and mold. Keeping her close was merely a pretext to use her for their own ends.

bSienna /bremained silent, watching to see how Amber truly felt about them.

Amber shook her head, her adorable bface /btwisted in distressb, /bher eyes flickering with uncertainty. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.”

Amber wondered, ‘Sometimes Jocelyn is actually really nice to me. As long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters to her,

Sometimes Linda is really nice to me, too. Both she and Jocelyn would always tell me to just focus on my own happiness and ignore what others think.

They said, as the Hart heiress. I’m entitled to be unreasonable, spoiled, and proud, and that’s exactly how it should beb. /bAnd I can’t afford to show anyone even a hint of kindnessb. /b

Amber said, “Jocelyn, Lindab, /bI’m starving. I’m going to grab some food.”

With that, Amber dashed off. Sienna bcast /ba knowing, mocking nce at the two thwarted schemers bas /bbif /bshe were watching a pair of clowns whose bact /bhad fallen t.