chapter 4

"Felicia, you really understand and see the bigger picture. Make sure to come back often—we'll miss you," someone said.

Felicia sat there quietly sobbing, and when I looked at her, her eyes were a mix of malice and triumph.

It seemed that while I wasn't around, she had publicly played the victim, crafting an image of herself as someone noble and considerate of the bigger picture.

I let out a cold laugh and sat down on a nearby chair.

Immediately, someone spoke up in indignation. "What's her problem? She's got the advantage and still acts all virtuous!"

"She should be the one going to Entogow for the marriage alliance! She's the older sister, the firstborn. How can she make her younger sister go in her place?"

I ignored the gossipers and stood up abruptly, ready to leave.

Just as I stepped outside, I heard Felicia's voice calling after me. "Nicole!"

She ran up to me, holding her gown. "I see you're upset, Nicole. Is it because of the marriage alliance abroad? But you volunteered to take my place, remember?

"This was supposed to fall on me. I was the one meant to handle it, but you insisted on stealing the spotlight. Once you leave, the responsibility of taking care of Dad will fall entirely on me…"

I couldn't listen any longer.

Grabbing her by the chin, I asked, "Are you sure I volunteered for this?

"You're nothing but an illegitimate daughter with no status, always resorting to low tricks. Do you really think the Austin family is that easy to fool?

"As for taking care of Keith, weren't you proud because he gave you a huge sum of money? Then this is exactly what you should do. After all, nothing in this world comes for free."

Her face immediately flushed with anger.

The next second, she suddenly grabbed my back and tried to pull me into the water lily pond.

With a loud splash, we both fell into the water together.

The tiles at the edge of the pond scraped my calf, and blood immediately stained the clear water around us.

"Nicole, I'm weak and always get cold easily—why did you push me when I wasn't paying attention?"

As she spoke, she suddenly closed her eyes and collapsed into the pond.

"Felicia!"

A familiar figure dashed over.

With a splash, the pond water rippled violently.

Eric dove in, cutting through the water with effort as he swam toward Felicia.

Unable to swim, I struggled to stay afloat.

I shouted, "Eric… my leg hurts so much…"

But he acted like a deaf man, completely ignoring me, and carried Felicia straight out of the pond.

I thrashed in the water for what felt like forever, and by the time the pond had turned completely red with blood, the arriving bodyguards finally pulled me out.

Felicia lay there with her eyes tightly shut, as if she were dead.

Eric took off his suit jacket and draped it over her, his eyes burning with fury as they met mine. "Nicole, you're insane! What good does this do for you?

"If something had happened to Felicia, do you realize you'd be the one forced into the marriage alliance in her place?"

I held my bleeding leg. "Eric, I didn't—"

"Enough! Stop making excuses!" Eric gritted his teeth.

"Nicole, I really don't understand how you've become so cruel. You'd even attack your own sister!"

Just like my previous life, the moment the name "Felicia" was mentioned, tension flared between us, and neither of us would yield.

"Smack!" I slapped Eric hard across the face.

The force of the blow seemed to drain all my strength.

Suddenly, my vision went dark, and I staggered, collapsing to the ground.

The next second, a strong pair of arms lifted me.