Jilted Heiress Strikes Back

That comment instantly charged the atmosphere, and people's impressions of Raina shifted.

Rumor had it she'd given up after being disfigured, becoming meek. But clearly, that wasn't true.

Mireille hadn't expected Raina to come back so strong. She had no comeback and quickly changed the subject.

"Sis, how's your face healing? I've always worried people abroad would discriminate against you because of your looks."

Sounds like concern, but really it was a jab calling Raina ugly.

Raina stayed silent. Mireille grew bolder, "Sis, it's been years. Aren't you going to take off the mask and let me see?"

The crowd, sensing a spectacle, started chanting:

"Take off the mask! Take off the mask!"

Mireille smirked, feeling even more confident now - once Raina's face was exposed, she'd have her completely underfoot.

Raina raised an eyebrow slightly, voice calm, "You sure you want me to take off my mask... in front of everyone?"

Mireille kept up the act, cooing, "Sis, don't worry, no matter how ugly you are, you're still my sister. I'd never turn my back on you..."

But before she could finish, her voice suddenly cut off.

Not just her - everyone there froze, whispering stopped dead.

Raina lifted her hand and took off the mask.

What came into view wasn't the ugly face everyone expected.

It was a face so stunning, it was impossible to look away.

Despite her casual outfit, her flawless skin and natural beauty shone through - lips red, teeth white, complexion like creamy porcelain.

Plus, her cool, ethereal vibe made her look like a goddess walking among mortals.

Looking at Mireille, who was perfectly made up but nowhere near as striking, it was like night and day.

Just one appearance and Mireille was already losing.

The woman who came expecting to watch Raina's downfall suddenly looked like she'd been struck by lightning, frozen in place.

Then jealousy and fury surged through her.

"This woman was supposed to be disfigured. I remember her ugly face clearly. How is she even more beautiful than before, after all these years?"

"Mireille, is that really Raina? Wasn't she disfigured? Maybe it's a fake..." a provocatively dressed girl nearby whispered.

That was Odessa, Mireille's distant cousin.

A poisonous look flashed in Mireille's eyes, but she kept her usual poise, softly saying, "Odessa, don't talk nonsense. My sister's been recovering abroad and rarely appears, but she's still my only sister - I wouldn't mistake her."

Odessa rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "Recovering? Mireille, you're too kind. Raina got disfigured and got pregnant out of wedlock. If it weren't for your mercy giving her a way out, she'd be dead by now."

She turned to Raina. "Hey, Raina, don't think looking pretty now means you can mess with Mireille. I'm warning you: stop going after Jasper and Mireille. They're the perfect couple! This is their engagement party - if you cause trouble, I'll be the first to come after you!"

The crowd suddenly remembered the family scandal and looked at Raina with amusement.

Raina ignored it all - she wasn't interested in any engagement party. If it weren't for Mireille dangling her mother's company as bait, she wouldn't even be here.

"You deaf or what? Didn't you hear me talking to you?" Odessa snapped as Raina stayed silent.

Angry now, Odessa raised her hand and slapped Raina.

She'd been riding Mireille's coattails these years and never took Raina seriously.

But before her palm hit Raina's face, Raina caught it.

Next second - smack - like thunder breaking the silence.

Raina returned the slap hard, sending Odessa sprawling.

"Ah! Odessa, you okay? Someone call a doctor!" Mireille rushed over, panicking.

No one expected the seemingly delicate Raina to strike like lightning - one slap and Odessa was down.

Odessa was dazed, stunned for a long moment, shame flooding her face.

Then, bloodshot eyes blazing, she lunged at Raina and grabbed her neck with both hands.

"How dare you hit me... Die, Raina! Just die!" Odessa hissed, eyes wild.

Mireille stood right there but only made a half-hearted move to stop her, then froze with a terrified look - no real help.

"Die, Raina."

After Raina disappeared following the birth of her child, Mireille was the happiest.

In just five years, she completely replaced Raina - top socialite, rich fiancé, medical genius title - all hers now.

She'd never let Raina take any of it back.

"Ahhh-!"

A scream like a pig being slaughtered pierced the air, hanging over the party.

Guests nearby who hadn't noticed the fight hurried over.

In moments, the entrance became the center of attention.

Odessa was half-kneeling, while Raina casually held her throat with one hand.

A chilling cold crept up Odessa's spine, making her scalp tingle.

"Y-you b*tch, let me go... I said, let me go..." Odessa spat, eyes a mix of fear and humiliation.

Raina looked down at her with a faint smile, "Why should I?"

Odessa trembled, teeth chattering, "What do you mean why? You're attacking someone in front of all these people! You're truly vicious. No wonder Uncle Carrington abandoned you, and your own mother destroyed your face... You're a curse!"

She didn't care about what people thought.

But her mother disfiguring her was a line Raina would never let anyone cross.

Raina's eyes darkened, colder like a frozen lake, and without a word, she tightened her grip.

Odessa's pupils shrank and she let out a hoarse scream, "H-Help...!"

"Sis, you have to let Odessa go! She's just confused, you can't really kill her over a few words... Sis, stop!" Mireille cried out, clearly terrified of Raina - as if she was a monster.

Her simple words shifted the blame onto Raina.

Those just arriving, unaware of the full story, all thought Raina had gone too far.

Raina didn't loosen her grip. Instead, she turned to Mireille and said coldly, "Stop? When she was hitting me, why didn't you say stop then?"

Mireille hesitated, "I... I thought Odessa was just joking..."

Raina smirked, "Joking? If I hadn't reacted so fast, the one with a hand around their throat right now would be me. Second Miss Carrington, do you really think you won't feel pain unless I slap you across the face?"

Second Miss Carrington.

Those words struck Mireille like a venomous snake, squeezing her heart tightly.

It was a cruel reminder that she would always be the Carrington family's shameful second daughter.

***