
When Average Meets Ambition
Chapter 3
No Right to Judge
For a moment, the atmosphere turned still. Then, the crowd around me abruptly burst into laughter.
"Did I hear her right? Did she actually lie and claim that she is the president's daughter?" Vivian asked the onlookers before shifting her attention back to me. "Do you know how rich the president of Sullivan Group is? Low-born folks like you will never be able to claim ties with him in a million years."
Marcus, on the other hand, arched his eyebrow, walked over to Vivian, and gestured for her to release me after hearing my statement. "Noelle, I know you're used to lying, but you should know when to draw the line. Even if your last name is Sullivan, that doesn't mean you are related to the president."
I clutched my skirt's hem tightly and retorted coldly, "I am my dad's daughter. It's the truth. I don't need to lie."
"It's fine if you want to lie to others. Still, you should be careful not to get too carried away and end up looking delusional." Marcus' eyes darkened as he pointed at Vivian and asked me, "Alright. Since you claim to be the president's daughter, do you recognize Vivian?"
Since I had no idea what they were up to, I replied truthfully, "You guys are my high school classmates."
Marcus' face immediately donned a look of relief. "Ha! How bold of you to claim to be the daughter of the Sullivans when you don't even know your own maternal cousin! Next time, do some research before you lie to somebody."
His words took me aback. How would I have a maternal cousin when my mom was an only child?
A realization instantly hit me when I saw the elusiveness in Vivian's eyes.
Vivian feigned composure as she took Marcus' hand and said, "Marcus, don't listen to her nonsense. Have you forgotten that her mom is just a cleaner? We both saw it with our own eyes."
I noticed that Vivian kept insisting that my mom was a cleaner. So, I asked in confusion, "Why are you so sure that I am a cleaner's daughter?"
Vivian snorted and returned to her initial arrogant demeanor. "During our eleventh-grade summer break, Marcus and I saw you helping your mom sweep the streets. She kept calling your name so fondly. She even worried about you getting tired and kept refusing your help. Who else would treat you so nicely other than your mom?"
Eleventh grade?
Oh, I understood the situation now. That year, since I was already in high school, my mom told me I could participate in some company events.
Every year, my mom would carry out various charitable activities such as caring for the lonely elderly, funding the schooling of unattended children, and providing free meals to some street cleaners in the company's name.
The weather was very windy that day. So, the cleaning lady struggled to sweep away all the fallen leaves. Since I knew that she hadn't eaten yet, I asked her to rest and eat before continuing with her task.
However, she was worried about the street cleaning task and refused to eat, no matter how much I persuaded her.
Thus, I picked up the broom and swept the floor. I asked her to eat first while I swept the streets for her.
She felt rather sheepish. So, she wolfed down her food in an attempt to finish everything quickly and take the broom in my hand. At the same time, she said to me with concern, "Noelle, just leave it. I'll sweep the leaves once I'm done. Or else, your clothes will get dirty later."
Apparently, that scene must be what Vivian and Marcus had witnessed at that time. That was why they firmly believed that I was a cleaner's daughter.
Once I had that epiphany, I laughed in anger and questioned them, "So what if I am a cleaner's daughter? Does that give you the right to assault me physically?"
Then, I looked Marcus sharply in the eye and continued, "Is this how the director of Sullivan Group should behave? As a director, you think you can look down upon the poor and bully the poor at will?"
Although he clearly felt somewhat guilt-stricken, he immediately reacted and screeched in fury, "You're just a cleaner's daughter! What right do you have to teach me a lesson?"
Meanwhile, Vivian took out an eyebrow razor. "You dare to lecture my husband? Today, I will teach you some manners. My husband is an outstanding man. He deserves to be worshiped by the likes of you!"
Then, she winked at the delinquent girls, signaling them to take action. They wasted no time coming forward and pinning me down like some rabid animal.
"First, I will slash your bag to pieces. Then, I will slash your face so badly that you will be too ashamed to go out into the public for the rest of your life."
As I was being pinned down, I could only watch in panic as she slowly closed in on me with the eyebrow razor.