Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Stepping Stone-1

Ashton looked at her with a cold expression. “I used to think you were kinder.”

Lana immediately cut him off, her patience snapping.

“I’m not in the mood to listen to any of your bullshit.”

For a brief moment, Ashton was rendered speechless. Lana didn’t give him the chance to recover.

“I’m still kind, whether you call me kind or not. And just because I refuse to play the villain or act miserable for others, it doesn’t make me unkind.”

Her lips curved into a sharp smile.

“If you think you can gaslight me, then at least have the capital or the brains to do it. Unfortunately for you, you have neither.”

She took a small step closer, her voice dropping into something colder.

“So it would be better if you take your sorry ass and go somewhere else.”

Ashton stood there, completely stunned, staring at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. He lifted a trembling finger toward her, muttering,

“You’re going too far.”

Lana smiled, her eyes filled with unmistakable contempt.

“I already went too far by wasting my time talking to you,” she replied lightly, “even though I know you’re nothing more than a dog.”

Ashton stared at Lana, a trace of barely concealed hatred flickering in his eyes.

“You’ve completely changed,” he snapped, his tone sharp and accusatory.

Lana let out a soft chuckle, the sound light yet edged with irony.

“If that’s the case,” she replied calmly, “then I can say the same about you.”

With that, she brushed past him without another glance and walked away.

The moment she turned her back, an old memory surfaced uninvited, and a faint bitterness rose from the depths of her heart, spreading slowly, leaving a dull ache behind.

At the same time, Mr. Crowe was struck by another vision.

This time, he found himself standing inside a grand ballroom.

Crystal chandeliers glowed overhead, scattering warm light across polished marble floors.

At the center of the room stood Lana, surrounded by people.

She was dressed in a blue, sleeveless, square-neck, knee-length dress that shimmered gently, as if starlight itself had been woven into the fabric.

Her black hair was neatly tied into a bun, exposing the graceful line of her neck, where a delicate necklace rested. She looked every bit like a princess, radiant and composed.

As she chatted softly with those around her, the doors of the ballroom suddenly opened.

Garrison walked in, accompanied by Brenda. The instant Garrison’s eyes landed on Lana, his brows furrowed slightly before he looked away, his expression filled with unmistakable displeasure.

Lana had long known that Garrison disliked her, so she didn’t take it to heart.

Turning toward Brenda instead, she offered a bright smile and spoke in a strangely tense tone,

“Did you touch your makeup?”

Brenda met her gaze with a calm smile.

“I did,” she replied lightly, “even though someone tried to ruin my face with it once!”

Lana frowned, confusion flashing across her face. “That wasn’t me…”

Before she could finish, Garrison cut her off, his voice cold and unforgiving.

“I already told you that you’re only an adopted daughter of the Almond family now. Yet you still haven’t stopped your tricks. Trying to harm Brenda at a time like this is truly too much.”

Lana froze, shock rippling through her. She turned to Brenda, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain calm.

“I only left a small note. Was it really necessary to make such a big scene?”

Brenda laughed softly, her tone dripping with mockery.

“I would have believed your acting even if I weren’t the one getting trapped. Who would have thought the fake daughter of the Almond family could put on such a performance?”

Lana’s lips parted as she tried to defend herself, but before she could utter another word, Ashton walked in.

Taking in the scene and the surrounding murmurs, he strode toward Lana with an expression of clear displeasure. Grabbing her wrist, he spoke coldly,

“I’ve seen plenty of drama, but I never imagined I’d meet someone as malicious as those villains in real life.”

He tugged at her hand sharply. “Apologize to Brenda.”

Lana shook her head, her voice tight with disbelief. “I didn’t do it.”

But no one listened. Mr. Crow watched as Lana insisted for several minutes, her voice growing hoarse, until she suddenly changed her approach.

She lifted her chin and looked directly at Brenda.

“If that’s the case, then let’s just call the police.”

Mr. Crow understood her clearly. Lana had never been someone who begged or depended on others to survive.

However, in this life, she still held onto fragile hope for her so-called brothers, which was why she proposed it at all. The very next second, Brenda laughed coolly.

“Have you already bribed the police? Otherwise, why are you so confident?”

Lana shook her head. “I haven’t…”

Her words were cut short by a sharp slap. The sound echoed through the ballroom.

Lana froze, her head snapping to the side as pain exploded across her cheek. Ashton stared at her, venom burning in his eyes.

“You’re truly a vicious bitch.”

Lana stood there, stunned, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

She watched blankly as Ashton, Garrison, and Brenda turned and walked away together.

The crowd that had once surrounded her quickly shifted, flocking toward Brenda and the others instead.

Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Almond arrived with the second young master, basking in the attention and sympathy, while Lana was left standing alone at the edge of the room.

Her fingers slowly curled into a fist. Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Outside, she sank onto the cold stone steps. To avoid being seen, she deliberately chose a shadowed corner, hidden from the main path.

The chill seeped through her clothes as she hugged her arms around herself, her mind spinning. ’Where did I go wrong?’

Just then, laughter drifted over, followed by hushed conversation.

As she listened closely, her heart sank. It was her first crush.

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