Lola Young, the notorious rebellious daughter of Lawrence Young and the late Loren Young, Lawrence’s first wife. No one knew much about her childhood, but everyone knew this: Lawrence had an affair during his marriage and fathered another daughter with his mistress, Jasmine.
So, when Loren succumbed to leukemia, Lawrence didn’t hesitate to bring his mistress and their daughter into the house.
That was when everything began.
From what people knew, Lola had changed since then. She’d beco rebellious. Her grades plumted, she started hanging out with the wrong crowd, and when Lawrence sent her to a prestigious university, rumors claid she got pregnant.
There were countless stories about her, and most weren’t kind. So said she was more like a witch than a woman, bullying her stepsister out of petty spite. That she blad lissa for her mother’s death, and that’s why she often sabotaged her. Others claid it was jealousy—after all, lissa was smart, gentle, and beautiful.
Lola, on the other hand, was the ugly duckling of the Young Family—the failure, the witch, the fatty.
But now, as everyone stared at the person standing at the entrance, they could agree on one thing:
Lola wasn’t fat anymore. But she did, indeed, look scarier than a cursed witch.
Lola smiled, her lipstick exaggerated and sared past the edges of her lips, ridiculously full—almost clown-like. Her eyelids were painted in mismatched black and blue, her eyelashes thick and fanned out like handheld fans. Her eyeliner was drawn as thick as a belt, and her spiky, unruly hair was dyed in a riot of colors like she’d tried to rainbow-fy her scalp. Her clothes were a chaotic mix of painfully bright and painfully dark tones, like it was ant to assault the eyes.
And yet, the most blinding thing couldn’t hide the large pimples dotting her face.
Everyone stared at her in pure horror. So swore they could sll her from where they sat. Derek nearly choked at the sight, while lissa—secretly—heaved a sigh of relief.
I heard she lost weight... that she started taking care of herself, lissa thought, smiling a little more confidently. When I tried to visit her last month, I heard the whispers. They were wrong.
That’s right.
How could Lola beco pretty? Her skin had always been terrible and sensitive, breaking out constantly during her teen years. Maybe she lost weight, but the effects of all the things lissa had once slipped into her skincare products? Permanent.
Pleased, lissa glanced at her father, visibly upset by the sight of his daughter. The rest of the guests were frowning too. That made her even more satisfied.
Damn! What the—how could I marry sothing like that?!
Derek clenched his teeth and looked away, disgusted. Calling off the engagent and choosing lissa had clearly been the right choice. Lola was just... an embarrassnt.
But there was one person in the room who didn’t care one bit about her appearance.
Chairman Lancaster.
His eyes lit up with joy. His face brightened at the sight of Lola.
"Lola!" the Chairman called out gleefully. Lola smiled. He waved enthusiastically and said, "Co here!"
Ignoring the stares, Lola strode toward him. She gave a polite bow, and when she straightened her back, her eyes shimred with affection.
"Co sit beside ," the Chairman said with a sharp glance at Lawrence.
Lawrence flinched, clearing his throat and turning to the maid. "Prepare another seat for Lola," he said, the words almost faltering from embarrassnt.
How could Lola show up with such ridiculous makeup!?
A servant quickly placed a seat next to the Chairman. Lola sat obediently. Chairman Lancaster cradled her hand affectionately, studying her face with warmth, completely unbothered by the "horrors" painted across it.
"Oh, Lola," he mused, "so it’s true—you’re really back, hmm?"
Lola pressed her lips into a thin line and smiled. "Grandpa, how have you been?"
"I’m fine—still strong as a cow!" he laughed, while Lola watched him fondly. Not even her exaggerated fake lashes could hide the warmth in her eyes.
This man had treated her with more kindness than her own blood. Her childhood hadn’t been completely ruined because of him. Chairman Lancaster had shielded her with all he had. She believed that her engagent to Derek had been another way he tried to protect her.
Sadly, it hadn’t been enough.
"Lola, I’ve heard so ridiculous rumors lately." The Chairman’s smile faded, bitterness hardening the wrinkles of his face. He glared at Derek and clicked his tongue. "I was told this punk is engaged to soone else! I ca to see if the rumors were true."
lissa’s breath hitched. Soone else?
He sighed deeply and looked back at Lola. "That’s not true, is it?"
The Young Family collectively frowned. lissa glanced nervously at the other Lancasters, but aside from Derek, no one looked particularly bothered by the Chairman’s statent.
What lissa didn’t realize was that every prominent mber of the Lancaster family was only here because of the Chairman. None of them cared about this engagent. And if he hadn’t co, neither would they.
Still, as they looked between lissa and Lola, one thing beca obvious.
Lola’s voice was pleasant, but her appearance? It was... visually violent.
"Grandpa, what are you talking about?!" Derek stood up in a panic. "That’s not a rumor! Didn’t you co here because you approved of my engagent with lissa?!"
"You punk!" Chairman Lancaster grabbed his cane, ready to beat the stupidity out of his grandson, when Lola softly chuckled.
"Grandpa... it’s not a rumor," she sighed, gently holding his arm.
Sadness marred her already chaotic face. Her gaze swept over her family, then the Lancasters. Then, her eyes settled on Derek.
There was a glint of sothing unspoken in her gaze, and it made Derek’s breath stop.
Why—why are you looking at like that? Don’t look at like that. It’s disturbing!
The Young Family’s faces twisted with tension. They were terrified of what she’d say next.
"Grandpa," Lola began, "I’ve been very fond of Derek since we were kids."
Derek’s face twisted.
"He’s been a good friend to . So, his happiness is mine."
The sincerity in her voice startled him a little, and the Young Family exhaled in relief.
But then—
"Besides..." Lola trailed off, biting her lower lip.
All eyes were locked on her.
Besides—what?! Their expressions scread the question—even Derek’s.
"...Besides, lissa really likes Derek," she said sweetly. "Grandpa, you see... lissa was always teased as a child, especially before she officially took on the Young na."
lissa froze as her face paled.
You dare...
"So, as her big sister," Lola continued, her tone gentle, but her words sharp as daggers, "I worry about her all the ti. But knowing Derek, I’m sure he’ll take care of her really well. After all, lissa didn’t have a lot growing up."
Lola secretly studied lissa’s reaction from the corner of her eyes, ntally smirking upon catching the look on her sister’s face.
lissa shouldn’t be angry because Lola hadn’t even started yet.
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