Chapter 1

Octavia's POV

Under the crystal chandelier, the crisp sound of champagne glasses clinking echoed throughout the luxurious hall. I stood in the corner, gripping my wine glass so tightly I thought it might shatter.

"Let's raise our glasses to our family's pride—Delphine, celebrating her graduation from Harvard Medical School with highest honors!" Father's voice boomed across the room, ensuring every guest could hear.

Applause erupted like a tidal wave. I watched Delphine standing at the center of the hall—my stepsister, radiant in her white dress with that perfect smile, looking every inch the princess.

Meanwhile, I—the actual Whitmore bloodline—was forgotten in the corner like an outsider.

"Octavia's accomplished too!" Wren, my only friend, whispered defensively beside me. "Didn't you just say the company's promoting you to department head?"

I took a deep breath and mustered the courage to walk toward the crowd. "Dad, actually I have good news to share too—"

"Oh? What news?" Cassius glanced at me dismissively.

"I've been promoted to Marketing Director, with a salary of—"

"That's nice." He immediately turned to other guests. "Everyone, Delphine says she's planning to pursue her PhD and become a top surgeon!"

Another round of enthusiastic applause.

My words were completely drowned out. My heart felt like someone was squeezing it mercilessly—I could barely breathe.

My husband Zephyr approached and patted my shoulder. "Don't be like this. Today is Delphine's day."

"When is my day?" I asked in a low voice.

"What's there to compete about? Delphine just graduated—of course we should encourage her." Zephyr's tone carried impatience. "You've been working for years. Do you really need this kind of validation?"

Validation?

I almost laughed. So in their eyes, all my efforts were just seeking validation.

"Octavia, I'll grab some dessert." Wren, sensing my mood, tried to change the subject. She walked to the buffet table with her champagne glass and took a sip.

Seconds later, her face went deathly pale.

"Octavia..." Wren's voice trembled. "Something's... wrong..."

She clutched her stomach, her body beginning to shake violently.

"Wren! What's happening?" I rushed to support her.

Her complexion grew paler by the second, blood beginning to seep from the corner of her mouth. My heart nearly stopped—this was definitely not a simple illness!

"Help! Someone help!" I shouted.

Wren convulsed in my arms, her eyes losing focus.

The music stopped, and everyone turned to stare. But no one stepped forward to help—only curious whispers and stares.

"What's going on?" My brother Lysander frowned as he approached.

"Wren's been poisoned! Call an ambulance! We need to get her to a hospital!" Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Poisoned?" Cassius's face darkened. "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Dad, she needs immediate medical attention!"

"Today is Delphine's graduation celebration!" Cassius's voice rose an octave. "Don't ruin such an important day over some outsider!"

Outsider?

I stared at my father in disbelief. Wren was my only friend, the person who stayed by my side during my loneliest moments, and to him she was just an "outsider"?

"Zephyr! Help me get her to the hospital!" I turned to my husband desperately.

Zephyr looked coldly at Wren in my arms. "She probably just had too much to drink. Don't overreact."

"She's coughing up blood! Are you blind?!"

"Octavia, watch your tone." Zephyr's expression grew even colder.

Just then, Delphine glided over with a "concerned" expression. "Oh my, what happened to Wren? Maybe... maybe we should call an ambulance?"

Her words sounded considerate, but she quickly added, "But today is really important... with so many guests here..."

The implication was clear: don't ruin my celebration.

I looked at my family members gathered around, each face expressing the same sentiment—today was Delphine's day and couldn't be disrupted.

Even my dying friend mattered less than a party to them.

Wren grew weaker in my arms. I could feel her life slipping away.

"Are you all insane? She's dying!" I completely lost it.

"Octavia, calm down." Cassius's tone carried a threat. "Don't embarrass us in front of our guests."

Finally, I understood. In this family, I would always be the expendable one. My feelings didn't matter, my friend's life didn't matter. Only Delphine mattered, only the so-called "family reputation."

I held Wren tighter and stood up shakily.

"Since none of you will help, I'll take her to the hospital myself!"

I struggled to lift the semi-conscious Wren and rushed toward the exit.

"Octavia! Get back here!" Cassius roared behind me.

I didn't look back.

As I burst out of the hall, I heard Delphine's gentle voice behind me: "Dear guests, I'm so sorry..."

It was drizzling outside. I stumbled toward the parking lot with Wren in my arms, her weight nearly crushing me, but I didn't dare stop.

"Wren, hang on! I'm getting you to the hospital!"

She murmured something weakly, but her voice was too faint to understand.

Tears streamed down my face as I drove.

Not just from fear for Wren's life, but from my own complete despair.

This was my family. This was the husband I loved deeply. When it mattered most, they chose indifference, chose appearances, chose that outsider "daughter."

And I—the actual bloodline—had become dispensable.

After tonight, everything would be different.

For the first time, I felt a deep chill toward this family. That coldness seeped from my very bones, making me realize—

Maybe it was time to reconsider the system's mission.