Chapter 4Shattered Fairytales: The Heiress Who Gave Up

Sometimes I really couldn't understand why my brother hated me so much.

When I was little, I followed his every footstep. When I grew up, I was gentle and obedient to him, but I could never warm his heart.

He was so gentle with everyone else, but to me, he was as cold as ice.

When Chloe returned, I didn't feel threatened at first. I just thought I had gained an older sister.

I saw how much my brother adored her. He bought her gifts constantly—clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, everything. Meanwhile, growing up, all I ever got from him was a single fairy tale book.

I thought he just admired her driven, career-oriented personality.

I wanted my brother to like me too.

So I told my dad I wanted to intern at the Kensington company, starting from the bottom in sales.

I wanted to work my way up and become as brilliant as Chloe.

Not for any other reason—just so my brother would look at me a little longer.

I worked so hard. I arrived early, stayed late, worked overtime every day, and learned with relentless enthusiasm.

The employees and managers knew I was the Kensington daughter. Seeing how hardworking, humble, and sweet I was, they often invited me out to their gatherings.

I thought doing this would make my brother happy.

But I never expected that when he saw me having dinner with my coworkers after a shift, he would glare at me with a dark expression and drive away.

When I got home, he was talking to my dad.

When my dad saw me, his expression changed, flashing with a sudden, sharp vigilance.

My dad was a brilliant businessman—alert, sharp, and naturally distrustful of others.

He often looked at people that way.

But he had never, ever looked at me like that.

That day, he scrutinized me with that look for a long time.

He said, "Your brother said you're doing really well at the company? Better than Chloe?"

I was completely confused but nodded. "Um, I guess it's going okay. Chloe is executive material, so naturally she doesn't need to blend in with the regular staff."

I was telling the truth. Chloe was brilliant. She was destined to manage the company alongside my brother, so of course she wouldn't be joking around and eating street food with the regular employees like I did.

My dad nodded, said nothing else, and told me to go upstairs and rest.

As I walked up the stairs, I could feel his eyes burning into my back.

But I had had a few drinks, so I didn't realize what my dad was actually thinking.

It wasn't until the next morning. I arrived at the office early and overheard my manager and an assistant whispering in the bathroom stalls: "Don't let Harper touch any of the important documents."

"Why?"

"Orders from above. Don't ask questions. Now that the true heiress is back, they obviously have to guard against the imposter trying to steal the inheritance."

Sitting in the stall, my hands suddenly turned freezing cold.

Cold all the way to my fingertips.

I waited until the manager left before opening the stall door and stepping out.

My face was covered in tears.

I wrote my resignation letter that very day and left the Kensington company.

When my brother found out, he sneered and called me a useless piece of trash that couldn't be molded into anything.

I admitted he was right.

In this world, besides geniuses like him and Chloe, there are ordinary people, and even idiots like me.

But even idiots have feelings. Even idiots get heartbroken.

I packed up my desk and walked out of the building, wandering aimlessly down the street.

When I was younger, my dad used to take me everywhere, calling me the apple of his eye.

He told me girls didn't need to study too hard, that living a simple, happy life was enough. He said he would protect me before I got married, and my husband would protect me after.

Whenever I stayed up even thirty minutes late studying for exams, he would get so upset, forbidding me from reading and telling me my only job was to be happy.

I was terrified and lost. Had the father who loved me so much vanished forever?

Had all his love transferred to Chloe, leaving absolutely nothing for me?

I was so naive back then. I didn't believe it. I didn't believe that over twenty years of love could vanish overnight.

I called my dad, still whining playfully like I always did: "Dad, you still love me, right?"

My dad hesitated for a moment before telling me in a flat, emotionless voice: "Harper, if you need money, I can give you money. When I'm gone, your brother will provide for you too. But don't covet things that aren't yours. What isn't yours will never be yours."

I froze.

I didn't understand what he was saying.

No, it wasn't that I didn't understand. I was just terrified to understand.

The harsh autumn wind pierced through my bones, chilling me to the core.

I quietly agreed and hung up the phone.

I just wanted a little bit of love. I didn't want anything else.

But who would believe me?