Sadie glanced at Esther, and Mandy responded with a warm smile. “I’ve just returned from overseas and don’t
have many local friends yet. Besides, my brother thought it’d be good for me to bond with my future sister-in-law.”
Eager to keep things smooth with Mandy, Esther invited, “Sure, come on over. Let’s hang out together.”
“Sounds great.”
The nearby hot spring villas were decked out in festive decorations. After dinner, the three women relaxed before
heading to the outdoor thermal baths.
Wearing a swimsuit that accentuated her figure, Mandy stretched out beside Esther. However, Esther’s gaze fixated
on a small, almost-healed scar under Mandy’s arm.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Mandy, did you injure yourself there?” Esther asked.
Instead of revealing the scar’s true origin—a remnant from her plastic surgery transformation from Liliane to
Mandy—she deflected, “Don’t you have one?”
Neither Esther nor Sadie had any such scars.
“Maybe it’s more noticeable because of my extremely fair skin?” Mandy casually suggested.
Sitting beside Esther, Sadie looked at Mandy in the thermal water and softly asked, “Are you fairer than Esther?”
Mandy reluctantly replied, “No.”
Deep inside, she knew her fair complexion was the result of skin-whitening injections. On the other hand, Esther’s
fair complexion was natural, radiant, and glowing.
As Liliane, standing beside Esther always made her feel like an ugly duckling, regardless of how well she dressed.
Even as the transformed, stunning Mandy, that sense of inferiority lingered whenever she found herself next to
Esther.
Mandy’s phone buzzed, capturing her attention. Seeing it was a text from X, she smiled coyly at Esther, pretending
it was from Bradley. “Excuse me, I have to take this.”
Watching Mandy’s mix of excitement and shyness, Esther felt like a jar of spilled vinegar, both bitter and sour.
Sadie merely observed and couldn’t understand why Bradley would choose to marry Mandy. However, she
supported it as long as Esther was spared.
‘Bradley can mess up anyone’s life, as long as it’s not my beloved Esther,’ Sadie thought.
Amidst the warm mist, Esther’s eyes followed Mandy to the fireplace, where she took her call. Her thoughts drifted
back to her fleeting happy moments with Bradley.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThese happy moments were disappointingly few throughout their relationship. She often felt like a lone traveler
navigating a path riddled with emotional landmines.
Mandy was aware of Esther’s gaze and was also watching her. When she received further instructions from X, she
gasped in confusion. “Why? I don’t understand the purpose of this.”
X’s cold, robotic voice echoed in her ear. “You don’t need to understand. Just do as I say.”
After a brief hesitation, Mandy whispered, “Understood. I’ll get it done.”
Whatever X demanded, Mandy would willingly carry out. He had saved her, earning her loyalty. Esther and Bradley
were her enemies, deserving her vengeance. For Mandy, the lines between gratitude and vengeance were starkly
drawn.