Chapter 2

The young man with dyed hair, Jaxton Curtis, stepped out of the car. He was decked out in trendy brands with a thick gold chain around his neck.

He looked me up and down with disdain in his eyes. "Probably you are just a housekeeper hired by one of the owners. Hey, old lady, you got the wrong place."

I couldn't be bothered to respond and was about to get inside when the gate opened.

Colton and Kenzie walked out, followed by a few curious onlookers.

"What's going on?" Colton asked with a frown.

Jaxton quickly put on a grin and jogged over. "Mr. Thomas, this woman was sneaking around your gate, and I was worried she might have bad intentions, so I was about to drive her away."

Colton's gaze landed on me.

In that instant, all color drained from his face.

His pupils constricted sharply, and his lips pressed tightly together. His arm slipped from Kenzie's waist.

Kenzie clearly recognized me, too. Her face turned ashen instantly. Her fingers instinctively tightened around Colton's arm. They exchanged an anxious glance for a short moment.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Everyone watched us.

I stared at Colton and asked, "Colton, aren't you going to explain?"

Colton took a deep breath.

I saw his Adam's apple bob, and his eyes flickered as if he was quickly strategizing.

After a few seconds, he wrapped his arm around Kenzie's waist again and turned to Jaxton, saying, "I don't know her."

He was not loud, but his voice was clearly heard by everyone present.

I couldn't help but laugh at his words and nod. "Alright. Let's pretend we don't know each other."

Jaxton blocked my path. "Did you hear? Mr. Thomas says he doesn't know you. Get out of here."

He shoved me impatiently, and I stumbled back, falling to the ground suddenly.

My knee hit the curb, and the pain made me gasp. I looked down to see blood already seeping from my leg.

Colton watched me coldly, unmoving.

Kenzie gave a smile before quickly feigning fear. "Honey, she won't try to scam us, will she?"

Jaxton crouched down and patted my face. "Old lady, that's not how you stage an accident. Who is Mr. Thomas? Would he be interested in you? Get lost before you embarrass yourself."

Several guests around us laughed.

"Exactly. She is dressed like a cleaning lady. She's worlds apart from Kenzie."

"She should take a look in the mirror. No one would even take her in from the street. How can he try to scam Mr. Thomas?"

"Mr. Thomas, shall we call security?"

Colton took a deep breath and tightened his hold on Kenzie. "Forget it. Don't bother with her. Kenzie, let's go back and continue celebrating."

The two of them were about to leave.

I gritted my teeth against the pain and got up from the ground.

My eyes fixed on them, and the pain in my knee was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I watched Colton's back and said, "Colton, you're really guarding her well. Are you afraid that I'll make a move on her?"

Colton halted for a moment.

Kenzie quickly pulled him. "Honey, don't pay any attention to that lunatic. Let's go inside."

Colton clenched his jaw and turned back. "I don't know what you're talking about. You've got the wrong person."

With that, he hurried into the villa.

Before Jaxton followed them inside, he took out a banknote and threw it in my face. He sneered with contempt, "I've seen plenty of women like you. Someone with your looks isn't even fit to shine our shoes in our circle. Get lost!"

The gate slammed shut with a bang.

I stood outside, stared at the closed gate, and suddenly laughed.

Well, that was interesting.

Did they really think shutting me out would keep me away?

I walked to the side of the villa and pressed a decorative brick.

With a click, a hidden door leading inside opened.

I walked straight in.

The lively atmosphere in the living room vanished the moment I appeared.

The music played on, and the champagne tower still sparkled, but everyone seemed frozen, staring at me, the uninvited guest.

I stood in the center of the living room, and my gaze slowly scanned the room.

My blood boiled with anger instantly. I understood why I found the decor pleasing now. Every valuable item had come from my own collection.

The crystal cups in the cabinet were heirlooms from my grandmother, a set of six, each one unique.

Last year, Kenzie's father told me that he accidentally broke one of them and cried to me. Out of respect for his years of service, I let it go. But I never expected to see them there.

The painting on the wall was a private commission my grandfather arranged through a friend. After he passed, I stored it away to avoid the memories of him.

Now they shamelessly displayed it there.

Even the ashtray on the coffee table was an art piece I had acquired years ago. It seems they didn't want to spend a single penny of their own.

"How did you get in here?!" A sharp voice shattered the silence.

Kenzie was the first to rush over. Her eyes nearly popped out at the sight of me standing in the living room.

Colton was right behind her, his face turned livid with anger.

Jaxton and the other guests crowded in, blocking the doorway completely.

"Security. Where's security?" Jaxton shouted, "How did this woman get in? Did she climb the wall?"

I ignored them. I walked straight to the cabinet and opened the glass door to pick up a crystal cup.

The cup caught the light, shining brilliantly as it always had. It was the same as before.

"This is my grandmother's private collection. How did it end up in your home?" I tilted my head and smiled at Kenzie. "Oh, right. Your father is a cleaner, and it must have been easy for him to sneak things out of my villa."