Chapter 5
Even on her own grandma’s birthday, Karla was stingy with her words. But she bought a rare ceramic item to flatter some rich
distant relatives.
‘Is this really Karla?
I never would have guessed.
The girl raised by Shelby herself isn’t that great either, the guests thought.
For a moment, both Shelby and Karla blushed with embarrassment.
Henry felt embarrassed too and quickly made an excuse to take Irene and Shelby to the third floor.
This floor was the office area, quiet with few people around.
As soon as they entered the study, Henry yelled at Irene, “Irene, what’s gotten into you? That’s no way to talk to your mother!
You took the cash–now act like it, Irene. Keep your head down today.”
You
Hearing this, Irene flicked her fingers in a cool manner and said calmly, “Dad, you only called me here for Grandma’s birthday celebration. Insult from Shelby costs extra; since you didn’t pay up, I naturally had to retaliate.
you want me to be a good girl, fine–another million so I can let Shelby insult me for three minutes without saying anything back.”
Henry was furious at her words.
Shelby couldn’t help but sneer, “Irene, you’re truly insatiable!”
Turning to her husband beside her and pointing at Irene with one finger, she scolded disdainfully, “You still haven’t seen through her true colors? She’s just like your country bumpkin mother–both are money–grubbing women-
Slap!
Before she could finish, Shelby turned her head slightly; there was now a bright red handprint on her right cheek.
Covering her face in disbelief, she looked at Irene. ‘How dare you hit me? Irene! I’m your mother!”
Henry was shocked too and shouted angrily at Irene, “Irene! Are you crazy? How could you lay hands on your mother?*
Waving her burning right hand around, Irene spoke coldly. “You should be grateful for giving birth to me; otherwise, I’d have smashed your mouth today!”
Shelby was left speechless by the bloodthirsty in Irene’s eyes.
She suspected that if she pushed any further, Irene might actually pull out a knife to stab her.
‘She’s just some rural hoodlum!’ she murmured inwardly.
Henry clenched his lips tightly without uttering a word.
Finally, everything was quiet around Irene.
Casually rubbing her hand she used to slap, she warned Shelby, “That money–grubbing woman in your mouth carried your husband for ten months, almost dying during childbirth.
“She raised me up by selling herbs and farming. In this world, anyone but you can call my grandma money–grubbing.
וויי
“If I hear you badmouthing her again, I’ll give you a hundred ways to die.”
With that, Irene walked past them toward the study’s exit.
Shelby lost it after getting slapped by Irene. She couldn’t hold back and shouted at Irene’s back, “Irene, you’re just an extra!
Chapter 5
“If it weren’t for your sister having leukemia and needing umbilical cord blood for treatment, why would I have even had you?”
Hearing his wife bring up these old issues again, Henry scolded, raising his voice, “Shut up! Why do you always bring this up? What’s the point?”
“Henry, how dare you yell at me!” Shelby glared at Henry with tears in her eyes. “Our Lenora was so smart. If she were still alive, Austin wouldn’t even be considered a genius!
“Look at Irene; she’s mediocre. Look what your mom turned her intol She humiliated me in front of everyone and even hit me. What good is she to me now!
“If Lenora were still alive, would I have to suffer like this?” Thinking of their deceased eldest daughter, Shelby was heartbroken
Henry also showed signs of regret and sorrow.
The true eldest daughter of the Jackson family wasn’t Irene, but Lenora
Lenora was incredibly smart, a true genius.
At just 12 years old, while other kids were still in sixth grade, she skipped ahead to high school senior year.
Just as Shelby said, if Lenora were still alive, Austin wouldn’t be considered a genius.
But fate was cruel to Lenora; she was diagnosed with acute leukemia when she was 13.
To save Lenora, Shelby and Henry decided to have another child to use the umbilical cord blood for treatment.
As Shelby put it, Irene existed solely to save Lenora.
Eight months later, Lenora’s condition worsened.
Ignoring the doctors‘ advice, Shelby insisted on a cesarean section to save her daughter.
But baby Irene inherited Henry’s rare blood type; her umbilical cord blood didn’t match.
She was born at midnight on February 18th; at midnight that day, Lenora died.
So February 18th became both Irene’s birthday and Lenora’s memorial day.
Once this tool lost its purpose, Shelby naturally saw nothing but disgust in her.
Later on, with a twisted mind, Shelby blamed the death of her eldest daughter on Irene, seeing her as a curse or a jinx.
Driven by hate and pain, Shelby cruelly threw little Irene into a stream in the suburb of Eldraeth City, hoping she’d die there.
It was Grandma who rushed over just in time to save Irene.
From then on, Irene was taken to the countryside by Grandma.
At that time, Irene didn’t even have a name.
Grandma gave Irene this name, hoping her future would be filled with boundless hope.
Irene suddenly turned around.
She asked coldly, Just because my blood type didn’t match Lenora’s, making me useless as a tool I deserved to be thrown into the creek to fend for myself?”
Shelby shot back, “Yes! You were born the day your sister died. I feel pain just seeing you. You shouldn’t even exist in this
world!
“If it weren’t for your sister being sick, you wouldn’t have the right to be born.
“Your life’s cheaper than weeds. Be grateful you didn’t die then.
“If I could do it again, I’d still do the same. I only regret not being ruthless enough to strangle you directly, instead of just
Chapter 5
throwing you into the creek and letting that old hag save you!”
Knowing such words were pouring salt on Irene’s open wounds, Shelby still blurted them out.
It was simply because she didn’t love her.
In the previous life, such a conversation also happened.
What did Irene do? She rushed up and fought with Shelby. After the fight, everyone at the party knew she was an ungrateful daughter.
Her reputation started to deteriorate from that day.
But this time…
Irene suddenly sneered, took out her phone from her bag, and waved it at the couple. “What you just said is an outright admission of the crime you committed against me.
I’ve already recorded evidence.
AD
