The Betrayed Heiress's Second Comeback-Chapter 26: Ch : Rose’s fears

__________Rose’s pov

"Karl, keep your back straight and give the camera a smile. You cannot be caught lacking when you are standing beside me. You have already caused enough trouble with the situation at our last party."

I hissed as I grabbed my fiancé’s arm to pull him along.

This was our first public appearance after the public had started questioning me, and I did not want to give them any more room to gossip.

But Karl was a nervous mess. His eyes kept looking around, and even if I had put drops in his eyes to clear them out, there was no hiding his intoxicated state.

’This fool-! How many times did I warn him not to drink before our big day? And he still drank enough to black out the night before? How did Jenna handle him? If only he was not her fiancé... I wouldn’t have chosen to be with Karl.’

Of course she always made chaos look effortless, as if the universe rearranged itself for her.

I felt frustrated as I stood beside this fool. Karl was not my first choice, or even my second, when it came to my partners.

But my mother had insisted that if I wanted to take my rightful place in the family and this world, I needed to push Jenna aside. That was the only way I would shine.

Shine above her. Outdo her. Prove that I deserved everything she used to have.

And to do that, I needed to take everything away from her—her partners, her reputation, and even her fiancé. And mother had been right.

Once I saw how I was able to take everything away from Jenna, I felt waves of satisfaction hitting me. Watching her crumble was the only time people finally looked at me first.

I still recalled the thrill of getting father to give me the birthday gift he had bought for Jenna. It had felt so good and rewarding that I wanted to do that again... and again... and again, until Jenna had nothing left.

Nothing left to gloat about, nothing left to be praised for, nothing left to make her "special."

The more I took, the harder Jenna worked to show results. Perhaps she hoped that showing results would make father and others turn toward her. But she was wrong.

The way to keep everyone happy was to give them what they wanted, no matter how twisted it was. In my father’s case, it was his guilt over his first wife’s death.

All I had to do was find out what she was like and act in a similar manner.

I even had an advantage of being sickly, just like his wife, so I could act even better and make fake evidence against Jenna.

After that, all I had to do was ’beg’ father not to confront Jenna because it would hurt her feelings.

Just doing this a few times was enough, and father was in my grasp, not even paying attention to Jenna anymore.

Finally—finally—he looked at me first instead of her.

Karl was even easier. Since he already felt sorry for me, all I had to do was appear like someone who needed help.

Karl was incompetent for the most part and felt jealous of Jenna’s hard work and success. It fueled his desire to be useful to at least someone. So all I had to do was pretend that I was that ’someone’ who needed his help.

And he had folded so easily, doing what I asked without question or even bothering to look at the situation.

He betrayed her for me. Proof that even the person closest to her preferred me instead.

It had all been so easy... until that damned Damian Black decided to try and encroach on our business and everything we owned.

He started as soon as Jenna was gone, almost as if he was waiting for that moment. And no matter what I tried, I was not able to get rid of Damian.

Many people who supported me and my advancement also decided to either pull back or be careful about associating with me once they realized I was making an enemy out of Damian.

And now he had caused me a direct blow by bringing an actress who looked and acted just like Jenna did.

As if the world itself was mocking me—trying to resurrect her, trying to shove her back in my shadow.

’But that’s fine. If Damian Black wants a fight, he can get one. And if he wants to use my sister, then I will let him. Sooner or later, even he will realize that I am a better choice to take the hand of compared to the copy of my sister. And then, I will be able to ditch Karl and be with someone who is of my standard.’

Someone who will choose me over her willingly. Someone who will finally prove that I won.

I confirmed in my mind as I entered the venue.

The reporters kept snapping photos of me, but I pretended I had not noticed them until one of the reporters decided to get in my face to ask his question.

"Excuse me, miss. But I do need to ask you something. Have you heard about the previous attack on Mr. Black and his fiancé? What do you have to say about that?"

The reporter asked and I felt annoyed by his constant questioning.

I rubbed my forehead before I gave the man a blank look.

"What do you mean? Why would I have anything to do with that attack... or Damian Black in general? We both might be bitter rivals, but we also have a healthy respect for each other."

I told the reporter with my usual smile. But inside my head, I felt jealousy and anger spiking. Of course they only want to talk about her. Even gone, she steals the spotlight from me.

The reporters zoned in on me, almost as if they could sense that I had a lot to hide.

"So you mean that you have nothing to do with any of this? Are you sure, ma’am? Because some evidence say—"

"Reporters, please do not forget where we are and whom you are talking to. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a few things I need to take care of. The charity party is about to start."

I told the reporters, and Karl tugged me inside at my cue. The reporters looked at my back suspiciously, their minds already forming ideas about what I was hiding.

’Tsk, these fools. I will have to ask someone to take care of them before they cause a mess and make my reputation tank. Sometimes, I wish I could get rid of them just as I got rid of Jenna.’

Because life was perfect only when she wasn’t in it.