Chapter 2 I Do Take It Personally
Rosalie just ignored it, keeping her gaze fixed on that girl.
Dominik’s brows furrowed instantly, and he intended to step forward to pull Rosalie back.
Just then, the Spencer family’s butler, Saul Forbes, rushed over and whispered something in his ear.
Dominik’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and joy on his face. “Is that true?”
“Yes, they’re already at the door.”
“I’m coming.” Dominik turned to Phoebe, his voice taut with urgency. “Watch her closely. Don’t let her cause a scene.”
Before Phoebe could reply, he grabbed Karen and hurried out of the banquet hall.
Meanwhile, Rosalie stood there, her cool and resplendent aura impossible to overlook.
Gone was any trace of the humility expected of a foster child, she stood instead like a queen beyond reach.
The banquet hall’s brilliant lights fell upon her, enveloping her in a spellbinding glow.
“Rosalie.” Phoebe dashed over, stepping between Rosalie and the girl. She forced an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry, my sister didn’t intend any offense. Please forgive her.”
Rosalie’s eyes stayed calm. She spared a brief glance at Phoebe, then returned her focus to the girl.
The girl flinched under that stare, a flicker of dread in her eyes.
She thought, ‘Am I really getting scared by a country girl? If this gets out, I’ll be a laughingstock.’
Her eyes flicked around. Then she noticed the crowd had thinned, most elders having followed Dominik, likely drawn by an important guest’s arrival.
Emboldened by the smaller audience, she raised her eyebrows and defiantly met Rosalie’s gaze.
“So what if I said it? Do you think I’m afraid of you? I said you used dirty tricks to weasel in. Prove me wrong then! Explain to all of us. How did a backwoods bumpkin like you become the Spencer family’s adopted daughter?”
Rosalie’s pretty eyes narrowed, and she moved her fingers as if to raise her hand. But Phoebe suddenly grabbed Rosalie’s wrist, pulling Rosalie firmly behind her.
Phoebe cut in, “Tianna, enough of that. My parents chose to adopt Rosalie, and she’s part of our family now.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping slowly across the crowd.
“From now on, anyone who talks this way won’t be my friend.” Her solemn tone silenced the room at once.
Everyone exchanged awkward glances.
Tianna Park looked at Phoebe, then at Rosalie. After a long silence, she muttered grudgingly, “Since you said so, Phoebe, I guess I have to show you some respect…”
Phoebe forced a smile. “Thanks for understanding, Tianna.”
She turned to Rosalie, adding, “Rosalie, this is Tianna, our cousin, two months older than us. If you spend more time with her, you’ll see she means well. She just… talks bluntly. Don’t take it personally.”
Most would have smoothed over the incident then, keen to avoid conflict.
But Rosalie kept her eyes fixed on Tianna. Moments later, her voice cut through the silence. “But… I do take it personally.”
Tianna froze, thinking she’d misheard. “What did you say?”
Rosalie’s exquisite eyes flickered with coldness as she repeated, “I said, I do take it personally. You should apologize.”
This time, even bystanders gaped in shock.
A newly adopted girl, hardly settled, bold enough to speak so? What gave her such nerve? Did she even realize what she was saying?
Tianna laughed in fury and lunged to shove Rosalie’s shoulder.
“Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that? Some country bumpkin who thinks she’s the Spencer family’s real daughter? I’ll have my uncle throw you out right now, just try me!”
Caught off guard, Rosalie stumbled backward two steps. She teetered on the verge of colliding with a shelf behind her, laden with fragile decorative pieces.
