Chapter 2The Secret Inheritance: My Family Can Hear My Thoughts

Ava sniffled.

“Please don’t be mad, Uncle Richard. It’s my fault. I grew up in an orphanage and I’ve never seen a room so lovely…”

Seeing her act like this, I felt my own resentment bubble up.

[Dad is going to get mad again. Fine, she can have it. But Dad specially designed that room for me!]

My dad looked at me, a flicker of pain in his eyes.

He’d had that room remodeled for my thirteenth birthday.

The company was just starting out then, and things were tough; he was constantly stressed.

I’d tried to cheer him up by secretly baking him a cake. It looked like he remembered that moment.

“You’re an outsider. Why should you get my daughter’s suite? That room is Chloe’s.”

My dad said coldly.

He then instructed the estate manager to clear out the storage room in the basement.

Ava froze. She clearly hadn't expected this outcome.

She bit her lip, and tears instantly flooded her eyes.

Orphanage? Please.

I sneered internally.

The moment my mom got the first major investment return from my dad’s company, she bought Ava a closet full of luxury goods.

My mom’s old flame was facing legal trouble, which is why she rushed Ava here.

Her goal was to systematically push all of us out.

She claimed she wanted to find me a ‘sister’ to keep me company because I was ‘too introverted.’

In reality, it was a meticulous plot to get rid of my family and take over the Carrington Group.

My dad was a workaholic, constantly focused on expanding the company.

Thankfully, my mom’s plans were being foiled.

My mom looked anxious and immediately grabbed my dad’s arm.

“Honey, Ava’s never had anything nice. It’s natural she wants a nice room. Why are you so angry?”

Then he heard my thoughts again.

[Mom’s old lover has a lot of connections in the city. Confronting her now wouldn’t be smart. What if they get desperate? If Dad could just find concrete evidence of that guy's illegal activities, we'd be safe.]

My dad suppressed his rage, turned, and pulled me out of the room.

My mom tried to say more but held her tongue.

After all, my dad was rarely home due to work. She needed Ava to win him over, and this was their chance.

But my dad was already too suspicious.

My mom and Ava exchanged confused glances, probably wondering why my usually easygoing dad was suddenly so observant.

Once we were in the study, my dad pulled me close and asked seriously, “Chloe, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?” I feigned confusion, but internally I thought:

[Dad couldn’t possibly believe them, could he? Well, he was fooled by them in the last life, which ultimately led to the Carrington family’s ruin.]

His face got even darker. This time, there was a definite look of aggression in his eyes.

He stood up as if to go confront my mom, but I quickly grabbed his hand.

I opened my mouth, saying nothing, but my mind was racing.

[No! We can't let Dad and Mom openly fight yet. If they corner themselves, who knows what they'll do? If Dad could just find concrete proof of that guy's illegal activities, we’d be completely safe.]

My dad paused.

He looked at me intently, patted my shoulder, and left.

Just like in the past life, Ava acted exceptionally sweet and sensible once she arrived.

She volunteered for everything.

She quickly won over the household staff.

She stood politely next to my mom and told my dad with feigned envy:

“Sister Chloe is so lucky. Unlike me, all I know how to do is fetch tea and pour water.”

My hand, holding my coffee cup, twitched. I pulled it back as if burned, lowering my head.

[Oh, it’s my fault. But if I start doing the housekeeper's job, why are we paying them?]

I bit my lip and said aloud:

“I’m sorry, sister. It’s my fault. I won’t drink this coffee.”