A Worthy Sacrifice

"Why did you bring a maid to Elaine's birthday party? Send her back, now!" my brother, Quentin Wilde, shouted, pointing at me, who was standing behind Andreas.

I glanced down at myself—the cheap clothes I’d bought online had faded from washing, my canvas shoes were worn out, and my hands were covered in calluses from years of lab work. Compared to Elaine's elegance, I really did look more like a maid.

"Quentin, it's me," I said hoarsely.

Quentin glanced at me in shock, then his expression quickly turned to disgust. I followed behind them, tiptoeing into the house.

The last time I came home was for Mom's birthday, but she had angrily thrown away the birthday gift I'd carefully prepared. I had also been kicked out of the Wilde residence like I was nothing.

Once inside, I discovered that every corner of the house was decked out in birthday decorations, warm and inviting.

Andreas went to the study to discuss business with Dad, while Mom accompanied Elaine to her room to change clothes. Quentin, not wanting to see me for another second, slammed his bedroom door and locked it.

When I pushed open my own bedroom door, I found everything had been changed. The bed, clothes, my books, and even my completed experimental data—everything was gone.

I was frantically searching through the room when Quentin kicked the door open and stormed in. "What are you looking for? These things aren't yours to mess with!"

To make it convenient for her piano practice, they had converted my room into Elaine's music room. But I didn't care about that part.

I asked anxiously, "Where are my books and the files that were in the boxes?"

Quentin shrugged and said, "We thought you didn't want them anymore, so we gave them to Clara to sell as scrap."

When I heard those words, I felt like I'd been struck by lightning. I collapsed weakly onto the floor, closing my eyes in despair.

Those files contained nearly a year's worth of data from my round-the-clock research, and now, it was all gone. Besides, the house was massive, and they could have stored my things in the basement instead of just throwing them away when they converted my room into Elaine's music room.

George said this data could fill a gap in academic research and might even lead to the discovery of new materials for weapons manufacturing. Now, because of Elaine, everything was lost.

Quentin didn't want to deal with me anymore and turned to leave, but warned me before going, "Don't you dare dirty any of Elaine's things."

I smiled bitterly and nodded.

Half an hour later, I had composed myself and went to the kitchen to help Clara Smith prepare dinner.

At some point, Elaine appeared in the kitchen, insisting on helping with the work alongside me. She had been pampered by the Wilde family since childhood and couldn't even boil pasta properly. Whenever I was present, she always tried to humiliate me.

Clara and I tried to persuade her to leave the kitchen for a long time, but she refused. Before long, she "accidentally" spilled scalding hot water all over me. My entire upper body was soaked, and my left hand went numb from the burns.

I stood there in shock, and Clara quickly applied ice packs to help with the burns.

Mom rushed in after hearing the noise. "Elaine, what were you doing in the kitchen? Your hands are for writing papers and playing piano!"

Elaine looked like she was on the verge of tears, her voice trembling. "Mom, am I useless? I couldn't even do such a simple thing. I not only burned Isadora, but I also lost the ring Andy gave me."

Ring?

When I first came back, Grandpa had arranged for me and Andreas to be engaged. But not even a month later, he passed away.

I glanced at my finger, and for some reason, I wanted to laugh.

Mom immediately started comforting Elaine. Then, she ordered everyone to help her find the ring.

Elaine said, "I think I saw it fall right under Isadora's feet. Isadora, you don't mind getting down and helping me look for it, right?"

My wounds from back then weren't even healed yet, and now with the burn, I was already starting to lose consciousness as I leaned against the counter. Yet, Mom didn't even glance at me and ordered me to pick it up for Elaine.

I forced myself to stay conscious and said, "Okay."

This would be the last time we met, so I'd consider it repayment for their years of raising me.

Crawling on the floor, I quickly found the ring. Before I could lift my hand, Elaine's foot stomped hard on the back of my hand. However, the more I struggled to break free, the harder she pressed down. She didn't move her foot until her high heel had torn through the skin on my hand.

After that, she snatched the ring from my hand and put it on like she was showing off, asking, "Andy gave it to me. Isn't it beautiful?"

Elaine had never done any household work and had beauticians come to the house weekly for treatments, so her hands were as tender as a newborn baby's. Unlike me, with my rough hands from years of lab work.

I glanced over and noticed Andreas standing in the doorway at some point, staring directly at me. I lowered my head and said indifferently, "I wish you both the best."

Not seeing me get angry or embarrassed as she'd hoped, Elaine stomped her foot in frustration and left the kitchen. But right then, the wine glass in Andreas' hand suddenly shattered.

I looked up to see him standing in the kitchen doorway with glass shards scattered in his palm, drops of blood falling from his fingers. Just one look was enough to make anyone's heart race with alarm. Even so, Andreas seemed oblivious to the pain, letting the glass cut into his hand.

The veins in his hands had bulged, and his eyes had turned bloodshot as his gaze was fixed intensely on me.

I turned away and walked back into the kitchen.