Chapter 3: A Rural Village Girl Like This

After getting off the car, Chloe Collins arrived at the Collinses' residence.

The servant who opened the door saw her and exclaimed in shock, "Yo-Young Miss?"

She glanced at him and walked straight in.

As she passed by, whispers immediately arose—

"What the hell, why did the Young Miss come back now, and wasn't she arranged to live with the Fosters by her former stepmother?"

"I heard from a friend who works there that Young Miss stole something last night! So she was kicked out overnight!"

"Really? That's so embarrassing, does coming from a prominent family make her a thief? If Mr. Collins knew about it, he would definitely go mad!"

"What's so strange about that, don't forget, Young Miss was sent to the mountain to live when she was a child and hardly came back. She must have learned all the bad habits there, thievery is just a minor issue, there are many other bad habits!"

"Well, if you don't know her, you'd think she's a noble lady, but if you know her, she's just a village girl without any knowledge or ability, she wants to take anything good she sees, no wonder she was kicked out by the Fosters."

"Speaking of which, the Young Miss is really pitiful, it's bad enough that she couldn't be raised at home when she was a child, and now she has to call her own aunt 'stepmother' and let her cousin enjoy her resources. Such bad luck!"

"Who let the new Madam conceive Mr. Collins's child? The former Madam has been bedridden for years and can't have any more children. Mr. Collins is just a normal man, and the new Madam gradually developed feelings for him under the guise of taking care of her sister."

"In my opinion, there aren't many good-hearted stepmothers. If the Young Miss comes back to live here, the Collinses' won't have any peace!"

"Shh — the Madam and Young Miss are back!"

A mother and daughter entered the doorway, and the gossipers dispersed at once.

Rosalind Taylor was best at reading people's faces and knew something was wrong at a glance.

"What happened?"

Servant: "Madam, Young Miss has returned...she went to the former Madam's room."

Rosalind's face changed suddenly.

The girl beside her also became nervous and whispered to her, "Mom, I heard that Cousin was kicked out by the Fosters last night. She is not going to move back here, is she?"

Her tone was full of disdain.

She had just started living a good life and couldn't let Chloe Collins ruin it. She was the only Young Miss in this house!

Rosalind's eyes showed her thoughts, and she patted her daughter's hand and said, "Don't panic, I'll check it out first."

Mother and daughter headed for the staircase entrance together.

Just at that moment, they met Chloe Collins coming down the stairs.

Chloe had her hands in her loose pockets, looking down condescendingly at Rosalind, "Where are my mother's things?"

Rosalind hid her disdain and showed a friendly smile, "Chlo-Chlo, why didn't you tell your aunt beforehand that you're coming back? I would have had someone prepare a meal."

Chloe's eyes were unfocused, but her voice was still calm, "Can't you understand what I'm saying?"

Rosalind's face changed slightly, and she finally said, "As you know, I'm pregnant with your father's child. The baby will be born in a few months, and it's best if the baby's room is closer to ours. So, I asked someone to clear your mother's room. Otherwise, it would be a waste to leave it empty."

Raine Nolan looked at Chloe Collins's shabby clothes and sneered sarcastically, "Exactly, Cousin, my mom is now married to dad and is the mistress of the Collinses. She has the right to make decisions about small matters like this. Besides, your mother is dead, she doesn't need a room anymore."

Heh.

Chloe Collins smiled, but her beautiful eyes overflowed with a chilling coldness, "I'll ask one last time, where have the things been moved to?"

Rosalind didn't know what she was up to but was inexplicably shuddering under her gaze. She only said, "The storage room, but those things..."

Before she could finish, Chloe Collins had already left.

Rosalind's eyes turned dark, and she cursed in her heart what an unlucky thing Chloe was.Raine Nolan was puzzled, "Mom, didn't you say Auntie's stuff carried bad energy and you threw them away ages ago?"

Rosalind Taylor's face darkened slightly, "It's your dad's reluctance, making me keep them in the storeroom."

Raine was immediately worried, "So, Dad still has feelings for Auntie?"

"He spent more than a year pursuing my sister back then, so of course there are feelings. But, now that she's dead and can't threaten me, there's no need to worry."

"Will he bring Cousin back to live with us then?"

Rosalind sneered, "Rest assured, if he wanted to, he would have done so long ago, why wait until now? Your dad despises her; he won't bring her back."

"Why does he despise her?"

"Stop asking so many questions; she certainly won't threaten your position."

Rosalind's eyes and brows lifted with pride, "Although you're a stepdaughter, you excel in all aspects, bringing glory to the Collinses. Chloe Collins may be a child of the Collins family, but she was sent to the mountain as a child and grew up with the habits and temperament of a mountain dweller. In plain words, she's just a country bumpkin, far from your level."

Raine breathed a slight sigh of relief, thankfully.

She didn't want to return to the days of being looked down upon!

Her biological father had once been quite wealthy but went bankrupt suddenly, and their family fell into decline. Fortunately, her mother divorced and took her out, and now she remarried into the top of the pyramid - the wealthy Collins family. She couldn't let anyone steal her current glory!

Giving a thought, she laughed and picked up two bags in her hands, asking Rosalind, "Mom, which outfit should I wear? I'm attending a very big auction tonight, attended by all the important people. I can't lose face in my outfit."

Her voice was much louder than before, clearly audible both inside and outside the house.

Rosalind laughed, "My daughter looks good in anything she wears, any outfit would steal the show."

At that moment, Chloe Collins came out with an extra backpack in her hand than before.

Without a glance at the mother and daughter, she stepped forward gracefully with her long legs.

"Chlo-Chlo, do you want to stay for dinner?" Rosalind asked, pretending to be sincere.

Raine couldn't help but lift her chin proudly, her eyes filled with arrogance, "That's right, Cousin, my award-winning piece will be auctioned off, and the money raised will be donated to charity. Dad was very happy when he heard and praised me for being capable."

"I remember you used to love to blend fragrances too, but Auntie didn't let you learn, what a pity. We both enjoy blending fragrances, and I won an award; you must be happy for me too, right?" She shouted these words to Chloe Collins' receding figure.

Chloe walked to the doorway without responding from beginning to end.

Raine was secretly delighted, thinking that Chloe must have been too ashamed or upset to stop and listen.

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and her face tightened, "What did she take away? Could it be something valuable? Mom, go check quickly."

Rosalind waved her hand, "What valuable things could be in the storeroom? Just some old items; she can take whatever she wants. But... it's strange that she's been so good, not making a fuss."

She headed for the staircase entrance, "No good, I have to go up and check."

Raine quickly followed her-

As soon as they opened the door to the newly refurbished room, both were scared into screaming.

The once lovely and spacious nursery was splattered with blood-like liquid, like a crime scene!

A few bloody handprints on the wall spelled out the words: House of Death!

This implied that whoever lived there would die.

Rosalind's legs went weak, and her lips trembled with anger, "My carefully arranged... all ruined!"

At the same time, Chloe Collins, who had reached the doorway, nonchalantly flung the backpack onto her shoulder with a smirk and rebellious eyes.

She wouldn't let two pieces of trash benefit from what she didn't want.