"Oh, hello, my dear cousin. I'm glad you made it."
The beautiful woman, none other than Leah Dela Cruz, smiled charmingly as she approached Eunice.
However, her mom grabbed her by the elbow before Leah could extend her arms to hug Eunice.
"What is the meaning of this, Leah?" Miranda asked her daughter. It appeared Leah knew Eunice was coming home.
Leah looked at her mom and winked.
Miranda was unhappy with what her daughter had done. She pulled her daughter into the corner to question her.
Leah smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. The facade of being the sweet lady she put on in front of her fiancé had disappeared and was replaced with contempt.
"I asked Granny to invite my dear cousin to my wedding, and the crazy lady jumped for joy."
"Are you out of your mind?" Miranda's eyes wanted to pop out of their sockets. Hearing her daughter's reasoning almost caused her to pass out. It took them so long to kick Eunice out of the family, but her excellent daughter invited the bastard.
"Leah!" She stared at her daughter in shock, unable to utter another word. She loved her daughter very much, so she could not scold her.
"It's okay, Mom." Leah tapped her mother's hand and said, "Trust me."
Miranda was still unconvinced; hence, Leah reminded her mom what Eunice owed them.
Eunice is Mirasol's favorite grandchild. Ever since their grandmother learned that her beloved daughter Eliza gave birth to a child out of wedlock, she still accepted it and loved her granddaughter more than her other grandchildren did.
Leah could still remember how her grandmother left during her 12th birthday party because Eunice had a fever and was on a drip.
There should be a family photo. But Eunice ruined what was supposed to be a merry birthday party.
~ FLASHBACK ~
"Mama, it's Leah's birthday. How dare you abandon your granddaughter's party?"
"Miranda, your niece no longer has a mother and a father, so she needs us!"
"So what? Haven't you paid someone to take care of her? Why do you still need to go, Ma?"
"Miranda!? How come you could say that to your niece? What if you were in her shoes and lost your parents and grandparents at such a young age? I am her grandmother. I will take care of her!"
"No! That bastard shouldn't ever, ever step into this house!"
Mirasol was divided between her first and second children. How many times did she beg them to understand? She didn't want to mistreat each of them, but she worked hard to meet their demands.
But her children are such heartless people for not letting her bring Eunice home.
Therefore, one day, Mirasol surprised everyone after she announced she had purchased a new house.
The house is not a regular residential one but a mansion with several expansive bedrooms and an infinity pool in the backyard.
"Grandma, are we truly moving into this house?" Leah couldn't contain the delight resurfacing in her chest. Finally, she could flaunt to her classmates that her house was five times bigger than theirs.
Mirasol smiled at her granddaughter, praying everything would be alright from here. "Do you like it?"
"I do, Granny! Can you show me my bedroom?"
"Of course."
Her grandmother took her to a massive princess-style bedroom on the third floor. However, the bedroom was not empty. Someone has already occupied it.
"Hello." A beautiful ten-year-old girl shyly greeted Leah. The latter didn't return the greetings but shot a dagger and looked at her.
"Granny, what is the meaning of this? Why is she here in my bedroom?" Leah screamed. She couldn't believe her grandma would betray her by letting her share a bedroom with a bastard.
Leah, two years older, didn't hide her jealousy. She eyed Eunice with hate.
How come her cousin Eunice had already shown ethereal beauty at such a young age?
Eunice has fair and smooth skin. Her cheeks were naturally pinkish compared to hers, which looked dull and pale.
"Leah, I want you to be nice to Eunice. The two of you should think of each other like sisters… you—"
"No! I don't like her!" Leah cut off her grandma halfway. She stomped her feet on the floor and cried, "Mommy! Mommy!"
"What happened?"
Touring the first floor, Miranda dashed upstairs and hurried to her daughter's side.
"Leah, why did you cry?" She comforted her daughter. Then she looked around and was shocked to see another child in the bedroom. "Mama, what is that bastard doing here?"
Miranda was screaming, which scared Eunice. She ran toward her grandmother and hid behind her.
Mirasol felt a pang in her chest to see the panic in Eunice's eyes. She rubbed her back to console her, and then she glared at Miranda.
"Watch your mouth, Miranda. Look at your daughter. You didn't discipline her, but let her inherit your foul mouth!"
"Mama, how could you insult the way I raised my daughter? Do you expect me only to watch you bully her?"
"What are you saying? When did I bully my granddaughter?" Mirasol was exasperated at her elder daughter's accusation. She held her arm, placing her palm on her chest and casually kneading against it. "All I want is for her to have good manners! But she complained a lot like you!"
"Of course, Ma! It's all because you are unfair to your grandchildren!"
"When did I become unfair? Your children receive more allowance from me, whereas Eunice never complains if she doesn't have many things! This house… I purchased it for everyone! If you don't like the idea of Eunice living here, you are free to leave at this instant."
"Are you kidding, Ma?" Miranda widened her eyes in shock. She shot an intense dagger at Eunice, then firmly turned her gaze towards her mother.
She opposes not moving into the mansion because she has already shown it off, posting selfies of their new house on her social media.
If she left now, what face could she show the upper-class families?
She had already invited the socialite's wives to a tea party!
"Alright! I'll allow that bastard to live under the same roof as us. But Leah would not share this room with her! She must have her own room in the servant's quarter!"
"Miranda!" Mirasol slapped her daughter.
Miranda glared at her mother with such contempt. Eventually, she couldn't do anything but ensure she was transparent about her dislike of Eunice living with them.
She pitied her daughter Leah, who had to endure living in the mansion like Eunice, and Mirasol showed unfairness in treating the grandchildren.
She paid more attention to Eunice, pampering and spoiling her because she never met her father, and her mother, Eliza, died when she was eight.
So, this made Leah feel ironic about the unequal treatment because her parents were alive. Her grandmother couldn't blame her for harboring hatred for her and Eunice.
~END OF FLASHBACK~
"Leah, I need to know what you're planning. You must share your plans with me so we can ensure everything is in order. I need to know what's going on!"
Leah returned to the present upon hearing her mom's inquiry. She pursed her lips and said,
"Well, mom. I want to slap Eunice in the face and say that even though she had all Granny's love, my life is much better than hers by marrying the man from the country's most influential family, the Lopez Clan."
Leah glanced at her fiancé with such affection before her gaze moved to Eunice. She looked at her sternly.
Her face immediately darkened as she noticed Eunice's tender gaze on Jullian.
"Eunice!"
Leah marched toward Eunice and pushed her by the shoulder, which almost caused the latter to tumble. She didn't like the way Eunice stared at Jullian. Thus, she snapped.
Eunice didn't like how Leah was so rude to her. She glared at her and posed a question. "What is your problem, Leah?"
"Why are you looking at my fiancé in such a manner? Are you planning to covet him like your mother had a relationship with a married man?"
Eunice's fury burned after Leah accused her and insulted her deceased mother.
However, she didn't let her emotions show in her face. Instead, she beamed and winked at Leah.
"What's wrong if I stare at my soon-to-be cousin-in-law? He is gorgeous and so fine."