"Aunt, how can I accept this…" Meera was terrified as she glanced at Ananya.
Ananya sat down on the couch calmly. "It's very late today. You should go back first."
Meera's face turned pale as she bit her lip in a pitiful manner. "Ananya, you're still angry with me. I'll call Raj now and ask him not to care about me in the future." Her fingers trembled as she dialed the number.
Seema frowned disapprovingly. "Ananya, you and Meera grew up in the same orphanage. You've known each other for so many years. Don't you know her? Meera has always had a weak constitution. Don't talk to her like that—you'll scare her."
Ananya and Meera grew up in the same orphanage. The two of them were as close as sisters. On Ananya's seventh birthday, Meera—who was two years younger than her—somehow got some money to buy a small cake for Ananya. The cake was made of the cheapest butter cream, and some of it was even smudged when she brought it out. Back then, the two of them cried while looking at the cake and made a wish—they would buy many cakes and celebrate every birthday seriously when they have money in the future.
When the Sharma family found her at the age of 10, Ananya begged them to take Meera too. They even went to school together. Although the two of them were not in the same class, they were still inseparable. However… innocence only blooms in poverty. After having a taste of the good life, Meera changed into a completely different person.
"Aunt…" Meera's face was filled with guilt and she was about to cry.
As Ananya recalled the used condoms in Raj's car and the lipstick that Meera had deliberately left there, she inadvertently blurted out, "Mom, since you like Meera so much, why don't you just acknowledge her as your daughter?"
Ananya said it out of anger, but Seema began to consider it in earnest. Ananya felt a stab of unprecedented humiliation in that instant. Her nails dug into her palms. How could she have forgotten that the most popular person in this house was not her, but Meera? Even the servants in the house were proud when they talked about Meera. Ananya herself was chummy before she found out about her affair with Raj. Meera was duplicitous and adept at fooling people with her feigned fragility.
"I'll give you three days to move out of that villa." Ananya gritted her teeth until her mouth was filled with the taste of blood. She was undoubtedly the biggest joke in the world. She had always felt that she owed her parents for begging them to take in Meera. Hence, she worked her butt off and did her best at everything. But all the awards and trophies she received could not hold a candle to Meera's sweet words. In the end, Ananya—the biological daughter—was sidelined.
When Meera heard Ananya's words, she sneered silently. That villa was given to her by Raj. What right has Ananya got to make her move out? However—no matter how haughty she secretly was—she still portrayed herself to look aggrieved. "Ananya, don't be angry. I'll listen to you."
Unaware of things, Seema hugged Meera and comforted her. At the same time, she chided Ananya, "Ananya, what's wrong with you today? Why are you treating Meera like this?"
Meera said, "Aunt, it's all my fault. I didn't have a place to stay previously, so I stayed at Raj's villa in the suburbs for two days. Ananya might have misunderstood."
Seema looked at Ananya in disappointment. "Raj has so many properties. It's not a big deal to lend a villa to Meera. He treats your friend well is akin to treating you well. Isn't it?"
"Mom," Ananya said coldly, "Since Raj treats Meera so well, why don't you let the two of them get married?"
"You!" Seema trembled with anger. "Ananya, why are you getting more and more imprudent?!"
Ananya's heart ached. She had been obedient for so many years, but yet, the Sharma family had become increasingly stricter with her and did not allow her to make any mistakes. On the other hand, Meera—who had always been clumsy and had the worst grades—was doted on by them. They felt that she was an innocent and guileless girl who needed to be protected.
Ananya said, "Yes, I'm imprudent. Why don't you ask what she did? Ask her too, how many times has she slept with Raj?!"
Seema immediately slapped her. Ananya was dumbstruck—she did not expect this at all.
Ananya touched her burning cheek. Not only did her face hurt, but her heart hurt also. It was so excruciating that her entire body clenched in agony.