Chapter 3 Feeding Her Dog Food
Meanwhile, at the Sommer residence, as soon as Josephine pushed open the mansion’s door, she could hear a burst of excited shrieks emanating from the living room.
“Mom, the Jaywalker family sent over so many betrothal gifts, including the Ocean’s Heart I adore. This necklace alone cost over ten million, and they actually bought a whole set. They really are loaded!”
Josephine lifted her gaze, taking in the sight of the expansive living room filled to the brim with lavish gifts. There were over a dozen designer gowns alone, not to mention a table overflowing with exquisite jewelry. Under the dazzling lights, the opulence was almost overwhelming.
Unexpectedly, the Jaywalker family, the most affluent household in Junbert, held their promises in such high regard. The substantial betrothal gifts they had sent clearly indicated the immense importance they attached to this marriage.
However, Josephine couldn’t care less. She wasn’t marrying into the Jaywalker family after all.
The girl who had just let out a shriek was her stepsister, Winry Sommer, who was excitedly examining the betrothal gifts from every angle with a look of exhilaration on her face.
Winry was standing in front of the mirror, trying on a necklace when she caught sight of Josephine in the reflection. She froze for a moment, then called out irritably. “Mom, the fool from the countryside has arrived!”
She couldn’t be bothered to pretend since Josephine was a fool who wouldn’t understand.
Stepping out of the bedroom in her pajamas, Josephine’s stepmother, Eunice Stein, was just trying on a piece from the Chanel haute couture that was part of the betrothal gifts. Even if Caiden was not short of money, a dress that cost four hundred thousand was not something he could simply buy without a second thought.
Upon seeing Josephine, Eunice didn’t show any obvious aversion. With a pleasant expression, she asked, “Josephine, what kept you so late?”
“I-I took the wrong path.” Josephine feigned nervousness, lowering her head.
A scoffing laugh from Winry echoed. “What an idiot. She can’t even find the way.”
Eunice said, “You haven’t eaten yet, right? There’s food left for you in the kitchen.”
After she finished speaking, she turned her head to reprimand Winry in a hushed tone, “Behave yourself. You’re to replace Josephine in the arranged marriage with the Jaywalker family. Once they meet you tomorrow, the day after, this fool will be sent back to the countryside. Until then, refrain from causing her any trouble to avoid unnecessary complications.”
Winry was skeptical in her heart. How could the Jaywalker family possibly accept a fool? She shot Josephine a glare and, somewhat annoyed, went to the kitchen to serve the food.
“The bed’s all set. You can stay there tonight.” Eunice gestured toward the basement.
Josephine glanced over. The room was located underneath the living room staircase, and it used to be a dog house for keeping pet dogs.
Winry stepped out of the kitchen, her previous look of distaste completely replaced with a warm smile as she cheerfully handed over the plate. “Dinner’s ready. Come and eat quickly.”
She wore a full-faced smile, yet a glint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
The food in the plate was akin to a glob of paste, emitting an unpleasantly stale odor.
This was leftover food from yesterday, initially meant for the dogs. Winry, wanting to see Josephine make a fool of herself, directly brought it over for her to eat.
That was because she was jealous of Josephine.
After all, Josephine was blessed with great fortune. Michael’s grandmother, Gloria Hammond, had taken a liking to Josephine before she was even born. Gloria had arranged for Josephine to be married into the Jaywalker family while the latter was still in the womb.
However, Josephine was known to the public as a fool. Michael’s mother, Susan Riggs, vehemently opposed her son marrying a fool. After discussing with the Sommer family, they seized the opportunity when Gloria was hospitalized for recuperation to let Michael pick a new bride for himself the next day.
Susan planned to let the young couple get married first. She believed that once everything was set in stone, even if Gloria objected, there would be nothing she could do about it. Under no circumstances did Susan want a fool as her daughter-in-law.
Given the prestige of the Jaywalker family, bringing home a fool as a daughter-in-law would simply make them the laughingstock of the entire town.
Eunice glanced at the leftover food. Although she was aware that Josephine wasn’t as naive as she appeared on the surface, she didn’t bother to voice it out.
After all, she only needed to maintain her loving mother persona in front of Caiden. Once tomorrow passed, Josephine would be sent back to the countryside, out of sight, out of mind.
“Eat!” Winry snapped at Josephine, who remained still. “If you refuse, I’ll scratch your face!”
Josephine lowered her lashes, concealing the cold glint in her eyes. She pretended to be scared, cautiously reaching out to take the plate.
Winry took out her phone to start a live stream, aiming the camera at Josephine. She proudly said, “I’m going live to show everyone a person eating dog food—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Josephine “accidentally” lifted her hand, lightly tapping the bottom of the plate.
Clang!
The plate that Winry was holding flipped over in an instant, and all the leftovers in the plate ended up splashed all over herself.
She was drenched from head to toe, freezing on the spot. After a few seconds, she flew into a rage and let out a shrill scream. “Ah! My new dress!”
Winry was absolutely livid, her face turned ashen.
The Dior starry night dress she wore, worth one hundred and eighty thousand, was something she had pleaded with Caiden for quite some time to purchase. She had been saving it for the day when Michael would come.
Yet, the dress was now drenched in oily soup, reeking of a rancid smell.
Winry was so infuriated that she felt like crying. Almost driven to madness by her anger, she raised her hand to deliver a slap at Josephine.
Right then, a middle-aged man walked in through the door.
Suddenly, Josephine crouched down on the ground, covering her face pitifully as she sobbed, “It hurts so much. Please don’t hit me.”
She reacted with swiftness. The slap from Winry barely grazed her cheek, not even managing to touch a single strand of her hair.
When Caiden saw Josephine sitting on the ground, his expression instantly darkened. “Winry, your sister just arrived from the countryside and you’re already slapping her? Explain yourself!”
Winry immediately exclaimed, “I didn’t hit her!”
That day, Caiden had lost a project and was in a foul mood. Seeing Josephine’s face turn red, he fiercely glared at Winry and reprimanded her, “Your sister’s face is already reddened, yet you dare claim you didn’t hit her?”
Winry was taken aback. Upon looking, she noticed that half of Josephine’s face had indeed turned red. She had no idea what was going on.
Nevertheless, she was quick to react. Immediately, she wiped her tears and sobbed as she rushed to tell her side of the story first. “Dad, I was just trying to serve Josephine dinner. However, she complained about the food and deliberately knocked the plate over onto me, ruining the new dress you bought me. She slipped and fell because she stepped in the spilled soup herself.”
Winry reckoned there was no way she couldn’t outsmart a fool.
Sure enough, Caiden turned toward Josephine, angrily saying, “You’re still being picky? If you think the food at home is subpar, you don’t have to eat tonight.”
Winry stood off to the side, smugly watching as Josephine was being scolded.