Vanessa sneered. "Without me, neither you nor your mother would even be standing here today. Is this how the Goodwin family treats the person who saved their lives?"


    "Vanessa, you were more thanpensated for what you did, so stop your nonsense. And I still haven''t settled the score with you for approaching my family with ulterior motives back then," Serena said, her face turning cold.


    "Didn''t you ruin my performance? The fact that I''ve ended up in this situation is all thanks to you, Miss Goodwin," Vanessa shot back, her eyes filled with anger.


    "Was I wrong to report you? To me, being an artist is sacred. You aren''t worthy of the title," Serena retorted acidly.


    Vanessa gritted her teeth in frustration. "If you weren''t born into a good family, with your brains, I doubt you could even support yourself. And you have the nerve to criticize others?"


    "What can I say? I guess I was just born lucky. That''s something you''ll never have, no matter how much you envy it," Serena said with a smug, raised eyebrow.


    She''d always been good at getting under people''s skin.


    As expected, Vanessa''s chest heaved slightly. She let out a coldugh. "So what if you''re lucky? Does Xavier give you a second look? In his eyes, you''re not even worth a single strand of Eleanor''s hair."


    Serena gave her a cold smile. "Do you think I''m still that stupid? You think I can''t see your malicious intent? If you''re trying to drive a wedge between me and Ellie, don''t waste your breath."


    Vanessa scoffed. "Am I not telling the truth? A man as exceptional as Xavier ispletely out of your league."


    "Vanessa, I can''t be bothered to


    argue with you. I''m warning you onest time: stay away from my brother, stay away from Eleanor, and stay away from Evelyn. If you dare to try any of your crooked schemes again, don''t me me for what happens, Serena said, then added. "I might not be some powerhouse, but I can still make sure your name is mud in this city."


    At that moment, from behind a pir just a few feet away, a small head peeked out. Evelyn had gotten tired of riding and hade up to find her aunt, only to see her with Mrs. Shannon.


    She was about to go over and say hello, but she saw the fury on her aunt''s face and realized they were arguing.


    Stunned, she hid behind the pir to watch.


    Just then, Vanessa''s lips twitched with rage. She mmed her hand on the table and stood up. "Serena, have you forgotten we were once on the same team? You think I''m vicious? You''re no better. And think about how I used to be so good to your little niece!"


    The mention of this sent a fresh wave of anger through Serena. "How dare you im you were genuinely


    good to Evelyn? You were just using


    her to get to Ellie, weren''t you? Teaching her piano, buying he gifts was all to make Ellie misunderstand. You think anyone believes you have a kind bone in your body?"


    Vanessa dropped the act, her eyes glinting with pure malice. "That''s right! Did you really think I''d like a child born to Eleanor? I can''t stand e children, especially not one from the woman I despise most. If it wasn''t to please your brother, I wouldn''t have even looked at her."


    Vanessa''s voice was sharp and cruel. Behind the pir, Evelyn''s eyes widened in shock. Miss Vanessa hated her that much? And she hated her mommy too?


    Evelyn thought back to all the times Vanessa had bought her dolls, candy, and pretty dresses. She had thought Miss Vanessa liked her. Was it all a lie?