Qin Man became even angrier. “Didn’t you get along with Young Master Yang? Now that he’s been snatched away by that country bumpkin, are you satisfied?”

“Ever since you were young, we made sure that you have everything you need. You study at the best schools in the area. I enrolled you in all these different classes, yet look at you!” she spat out.

“You couldn’t even compete with that brat in the Math Olympiad! Your academic scores aren’t even as good as hers. What’s the use of raising someone like you?”

Qin Man clenched her jaw.

Yao Ran grabbed the bedsheet under her as her eyes pooled with bitterness. She lowered her head, refusing to look her mother in the eye.

“Grandma was the one who had discussed it with Young Master Yang. She’s the one who revealed the truth. I had no other choice.”

Grandma Yao?!

That old woman?!

That bitch was already in such poor health, and she’s still meddling with the affairs of her grandchildren. She’s even doing it behind their backs!

How could that woman do this?

It seemed that Grandma Yao was already intent on making Yao Tang his fiancée a long time ago.

To think that she was even willing to introduce CEO Zhang, the leader of the big real estate business to Yao Tang.

Qin Man thought that she had won, that Grandma Yao had moved on from her fixation on the Yang Family. But it seemed she already had other plans.

How could she be played by that old hag?

“Damn that old hag,” she murmured under her breath. “Why couldn’t you just die in your sleep?”

However, her voice was merely a whisper, as she was afraid that Grandma Yao would hear her. She clenched her fists, trembling.

Yao Ran, who was sitting right beside her, cocked her head. “Mom, what did you say?”

Only then did the older woman come back to her senses. “Nothing. So, what happened to your foot? Did Yao Tang hurt you?”

“No, I’m the one who sprained my own foot,” she quickly said. “Don’t blame her. She probably didn’t expect it to turn out like this…”

Hearing this, Qin Man became even angrier.

“So she did hurt you! After she has taken your place, you’re still covering up for her? Are you really that naive?”

Yao Ran shook her head as the tears ran down her cheeks.

She looked like a weak rag doll trying to hold herself together.

Qin Man narrowed her eyes.

Suddenly, she glanced at the clothes that Yao Ran was wearing. It wasn’t the dress that she had worn when she went out today. In fact, it was a dress she had never seen before.

Where did she get it?

“What’s with the new dress? You weren’t wearing this when you headed out earlier? Did you change?”

“Oh…” Yao Ran’s eyes flashed as if she was trying to hide something. She lowered her head. “I accidentally spilled some wine on my dress so I changed out of it. That’s all.”

Her words were vague and hesitant.

“You accidentally spilled some wine?”

Qin Man frowned in disbelief.

Ever since she was young, Yao Ran had always been taught to be the best of the best. She was not only polite but also elegant—like a princess.

She would’ve never gotten her dress dirty on accident, especially in such a large banquet like this one.

That was until today.

But how could such a thing happen to her?

Someone must’ve done it on purpose!

Among the people present at the banquet, they were the only ones who knew each other. And it was obvious that the pair had bad blood.

If someone were to intentionally mess up her clothes, it would be none other than Yao Tang.

When Qin Man thought of this, she slammed the bedside table. “You don’t have to cover up for that bitch! She must’ve spilled that wine on your dress on purpose to embarrass you. She’s the one who wronged you!”

“Other than that brat, no one would’ve done such a thing!”

Yao Ran hesitated for a moment before saying, “No, it has nothing to do with her. It was all my fault. Please don’t misunderstand her.”