I was fiercely independent and couldn’t sit still from a young age.
My family, on the other hand, was painfully reserved, always shying away from any kind of commotion.
I’d pulled another all-nighter, crafting a handmade birthday gift for Julian, my brother.
He flinched when the butterflies fluttered out of the box, and his face instantly darkened.
The very next day, I found myself dropped off at Mrs. Davies’ etiquette academy.
Julian’s brow was furrowed:
“Mrs. Davies, my sister’s temperament will make her a laughingstock among the other socialites. There’s no other choice; I have to ask you to teach her proper manners.”
“In return, consider your daughter’s future handled by the Millers.”
We met again three years later.
Julian looked at me, elegant and poised, and nodded with satisfaction, ready to take me home.
But I tilted my head, utterly bewildered:
“Who are you?”
Julian froze for a split second, then his face clouded over as he reached for me again:
“What are you playing at? You don’t recognize your own brother?”
“Mom and Dad are back from their world tour tonight. Come home with me, let’s give them a surprise.”
His tone was harsh, and I instinctively recoiled two steps.
Then, a pair of hands from behind me gave me a ruthless shove:
“Mia, hurry and go home with your brother!”
I glanced back at Mrs. Davies, who had spoken.
Meeting her sharp, warning gaze, I instinctively flinched.
Mrs. Davies was my etiquette teacher.
She was elegant and poised, always wearing a gentle smile.
But beneath that smile, a subtle, chilling threat lurked in her eyes.
“Remember to behave yourself when you get back, don’t get sent here again!”
My knuckles whitened as I clenched my fists in anxiety, then someone took my hand.
Julian looked down at me:
“Why are you sweating so much? Is it hot?”
I felt Mrs. Davies’ dangerous gaze and quickly shook my head:
“N-not hot.”
Julian nodded, then smiled politely at Mrs. Davies:
“Chloe’s enjoying her stay so much, it looks like she might be with us for a few more days.”
Hearing Julian mention her daughter, Mrs. Davies’ eyes immediately lit up.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all, she can stay as long as she likes, even a lifetime!”
“You’ve not only secured her a place in a top school but also laid out her future path to study abroad these past few years. We can’t thank you enough!”
Julian gave a slight nod:
“You’ve taught Mia very well. This is only right.”
With that, he led me to the car waiting to take us home.
All the way, I sat quietly, a little distance from Julian.
My hands were clasped in my lap, my back straight, not daring to speak.
Julian’s gaze on me was incredibly gentle:
“Excellent. You finally look like a true Miller heiress.”
“Perhaps we should double Mrs. Davies’ compensation.”
Soon, the car pulled up to a sprawling villa estate.
Julian got out first, then thoughtfully walked around the car, opening my door and extending a hand to me.
I remembered all these etiquette lessons.
My left hand slightly lifted, gently resting in his palm.
I stepped out, my foot firm on the ground, descending from the car slowly and gracefully.
The smile in Julian’s eyes deepened, a look of proud admiration on his face:
“Mia is very well-behaved.”
But the very next second, my hand in his suddenly tightened!
The villa before me felt strange, unsettlingly familiar, and my heart clenched in an icy grip.
Julian frowned:
“What’s wrong?”
My skin prickled with goosebumps, but I forced myself to maintain my poised demeanor, quickly shaking my head.
“N-nothing.”
Julian released my hand,
“Let’s go home then. I have a gift for you.”
I followed behind him. The closer we got to the villa, the worse my headache became.
We stepped through the door, and Julian handed me a beautiful gift box.
“Mia, welcome home.”
He opened the box, revealing a delicate butterfly charm bracelet inside.
My face went bone-white, and my head throbbed as if it would split open.
The butterflies on the bracelet seemed to flutter to life, their wings beating, soaring straight for my face.
My vision blurred, and I seemed to hear a sharp, grating voice:
“So you stayed up all night just to plan a prank? Mia Miller, it’s my birthday! Can you *please* act your age for once?!”
I’d always been the ‘unpopular’ one, mostly because I was too loud, too boisterous.
The Millers upheld strict decorum. My brother, Julian, was born with an innate grace, reserved and elegant, earning him constant praise from our parents.
But I was different.
I was a whirlwind of energy, impulsive and carefree, always bouncing off the walls like I had a perpetual sugar rush. I was nothing like a ‘proper’ Miller child.
Before I turned fifteen, Mom and Dad had me take several DNA tests.
Each time, they’d just shake their heads in resignation after seeing the results.
“Mia’s so vivacious, completely unlike any other heiress in our circle.”
“Honey, is she really our child? It’s a complete disaster!”
“Oh, Mia is supposed to take over the family empire with Julian one day. If she’s always so ill-mannered, how can she possibly…”
They never bothered to whisper when they said these things, but I never took it to heart.
Usually, I’d flash a sly grin, tug on Mom’s arm, and whine playfully:
“What, you two don’t want me anymore? Did you forget who played peacemaker last time you and Dad had a fight?”
“Would you have made up so quickly without me?”
Mom would sigh, tapping my forehead playfully.
“You’re impossible.”
And so, my life before fifteen, though my family often ‘disapproved’ of me, wasn’t too bad.
Until I got into a fight with the daughter of one of Dad’s oldest business partners over a dress.
My parents gave me the cold shoulder all night, then quietly discussed with Julian:
“With a personality like that, she’ll be a joke when she’s supposed to run the company. Julian, find a good etiquette teacher for her, someone to teach her proper manners.”
Julian simply nodded, “After my birthday.”
That night, I pulled an all-nighter, preparing a butterfly-themed kaleidoscope as Julian’s birthday gift.
The next morning, still yawning, I shoved the gift into his arms:
“Happy birthday.”
A flicker of something crossed his brow as he looked at my bloodshot eyes, and a small smile touched his lips.
But when he opened it, he used a bit too much force.
The butterflies were supposed to float out one by one, beautifully.
With his clumsy snap, they exploded outwards in a chaotic rush.
Two wings grazed past Julian’s eyes, almost taking out his eye.
His face instantly went rigid with fury.
For the first time, his composure finally snapped, giving way to a furious outburst. He slammed the box to the ground right there.
“So you stayed up all night just to plan a prank? Mia Miller, it’s my birthday! Can you *please* act your age for once?!”
I tried to explain, but he wouldn’t listen to a word, turning and storming off.
The very next day, I was sent to Mrs. Davies’ academy.
These memories used to be crystal clear in my mind.
But now, I could only recall fragments: a harsh, dismissive scolding from Julian.
The rest? Utterly forgotten.
My head was pounding harder with each second. I couldn’t help but lift my hand, pressing my fingers to my throbbing temples.
Julian watched me, puzzled, the gift box still patiently held out.
Until a girl ran over and snatched the box from him.
“Wow, this bracelet is so pretty, Julian! Can I have it?”
“But it’s Mia’s gift…”
Julian, seemingly unable to refuse, frowned and looked at me.
A sudden memory flashed in my mind: fighting over a dress when I was little, and Mom and Dad scolding me for not sharing.
I quickly forced a smile:
“Sure, you can have it. Here, let me help you put it on.”
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