Chapter 26 - Birthday Celebration (1)

Ayami looked at the invitation card that was on her table as she tapped on it continuously thinking whether she should attend or not.

Ayami didn't feel the need to attend this birthday party, in short, she was feeling lazy.

It was a birthday celebration of the CEO of a well-known oil company, also one of her family's business partners. The event would happen on Wednesday evening.

Even if she didn't attend, parents and sister would be there.

'Should I attend or nah?'

If she did, she would have to go back home and make some preparations like preparing her dress. She would also have to smile all day while also entertaining the other guests.

Ayami didn't want to do something tiring as socializing.

'But that couple would also be there. Isn't this a chance to destroy their reputation little by little?'

Even if the negative impact on their reputation is small, if it accumulated over time, it would have a large impact.

If she could successfully embarrass those two, then maybe it would be worth it to waste her time. Even if she failed to do that, there were still many chances where she could ruin their reputation.

Ayami contemplated for a while before finally deciding to attend.

There was nothing to lose anyway.

✹✹✹

On Wednesday, luckily Ayami had no afternoon classes so she was free to go home early and had time to prepare for the celebration.

She went back to her home as soon as she finished her classes.

"Oh, you're back." Her father, Dennis, smiled at her warmly. While her stepmother, Elsa, had a sour look on her face. "Hmph! Good to see that you still remember that you have a home."

"…Yes, I'm home." Ayami flashed a tender smile on her face as she hugged both her father and mother, making the two stunned as they looked at her, bewildered.

"What's wrong Ayami? Is someone bullying you?" Dennis worriedly asked as he thought his daughter was acting weird. Even Elsa was worried about her.

Sure, Ayami would hug her father, but even her, a stranger who just barged into their lives?

"Did something happen? You can tell us. Anything that worries you, we'll make sure to solve them." Elsa said.

Ayami laughed it off while shrugging her shoulders. "Come on, can't I hug my family?"

"By the way, did you guys have lunch yet? I'm hungry~ Let's eat together, please~" Ayami acted like a spoiled child as she pouted her lips.

Her parents were speechless.

Who am I? Where am I?

"…D-Did you do something wrong?" Dennis asked. He often heard from his friends who were also parents, that their child would act like this when they did something wrong.

"Huh? What are you talking about? If you already ate, just say so. I'm hungry, so I'll eat." Ayami reverted back to her original attitude.

She broke free from the hug and stood there with no expression on her face, like she never did any cutesy act.

Welp, it didn't work.

Maybe it was too sudden for them. They looked like they were about to make an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Ayami went to the dining room and left her parents who were still shocked. She ate her lunch alone and afterwards went to her room to choose what dress she would wear.

There were hundreds of her dresses hanging inside her walk-in-closet, all of them were the latest.

In the end, after an hour of picking, she finally decided what dress she would wear. Then onto the next one, her shoes. She would have to choose what shoes can be partnered in her dress. She spent another hour picking.

This is why she hated going to the parties, she had to prepare and waste a lot of time thinking about what to wear.

After she finished picking what to wear, Ayami took a long, essential bath. After taking a bath, she had her maids dry her and her hair.

Ayami was beginning to feel lazy to do anything.

Afterwards, Ayami wore the clothes she picked earlier.

Ayami just wore a cream colored one-shoulder dress and a black stiletto. Then she tied her hair into a neat bun with braids. She applied light make-up on her face.

After she finished preparing herself she walked out of her room, at the same time she bumped into Allina, who just came back from the academy.

"Sister, you're already back~?" Allina asked cutesily, different from how she acted when they were in the academy.

Keep doing your role, pretentious brat!

"Yes, my cute little sister~ I'm back!" Ayami pretended like she was a kind older sister who came back home because she missed her family.

Allina's face contorted in disgust, but only for a second, which made Ayami think that she saw wrong.

"Sis~" Allina opened her arms and hugged her. Then she leaned to her ears and whispered. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Sis, is it just me or you look even more beautiful than usual?" Allina flattered her, along with her signature fake smile.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I just wanted to get along with my cute little sister of mine~" A smile bloomed on Ayami's face, which looked like a mocking smile from Allina's perspective. "No, no! My little sister is the most beautiful and cute sister in the world!"

"What nonsense! My sister is the best and most amazing person in the world." Allina's hug tightened around her as she spoke. "And since you are the best and most amazing, could you please go to my room and help me choose what to wear?"

Allina was basically telling her to go to her room and have a talk.

With eyes pressuring her not to say no, Ayami chuckled slightly. "Of course, if it is a request from my cute little sister, how could I say no?"

They broke away from their hugs and went to Allina's room.

The servants on the side smiled warmly as they watched the sisters, who didn't get along well before, now on good terms.