"Miss Iris, here is the land you asked for, along with the one million from the Sherwood family. If there are no issues, sign it," an arrogant and cold voice rang out.
In the luxurious private dining room, the butler stood beside Old Mr. Sherwood. He placed the land transfer agreement and a bank card on the table, looking at the indifferent young girl before him with inexplicable distaste. He thought that this was just how poor people were—ruthlessly clawing their way to the top the moment an opportunity presented itself. Not only was she deeply calculating by putting on airs even after taking the benefits, but her sheer greed was utterly despicable.
Old Mr. Sherwood narrowed his eyes, rotating a pair of jade balls in his hand. A shrewd, calculating gleam hid in his gaze. Simon Sherwood and Leona Vaughn were impeccably and opulently dressed. The Sherwoods remained silent, their eyes fixed on the girl. The eldest son, Tristan Sherwood, wore a dark expression. A layer of gloom clouded his handsome features as he glared at the girl, looking as though he wanted to burn a hole right through her.
The butler coughed dryly and continued, "You should know your place. As a helpless orphan, the Sherwood family's willingness to take you in and let you act as a stand-in for the eldest lady is the blessing of a lifetime.
"The eldest daughter of the Sherwood family is the premier socialite in Stellan's elite circles, and the second daughter is a top-tier celebrity. Then look at yourself, tsk, tsk..."
The implication was obvious: the gap between them was insurmountable.
The young girl, having just finished half a plate of spicy diced chicken, drew in a breath, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and finally looked up. Everyone stared at her face. It was an absolutely exquisite face. She had extremely fair skin, a high, straight nose, and bright, clear eyes. The outer corners of her eyes tilted upward slightly, giving her an incredibly beautiful, gentle, and charming allure.
Tristan scrutinized her, the irritable gloom in his heart deepening. This face looked far too much like the Sherwoods. If he didn't know that the family had spent money to hire a stand-in, he would have truly believed the girl before him was his biological sister!
Old Mr. Sherwood furrowed his brow, looking at the girl with an indecipherable gaze. He pushed the bank card on the table forward, his eyes turning benevolent. "Iris, the Sherwood family will not mistreat you. We will treat you equally, just like our other children. Your two older sisters are very outstanding, so you should also go to school and test into a decent university. A daughter of the Sherwood family cannot be uneducated."
Buying a stand-in with money wouldn't sound good if word got out. After all, the Sherwood family was a wealthy and prominent household that cared deeply about its reputation. Therefore, they announced to the public that their biological daughter, who had been lost for eighteen years, was finally found, and that she was the legitimate third daughter of the Sherwood family. They claimed they would make up for the eighteen years of regret and shower her with affection in the future. This way, no one would be suspicious.
Old Mr. Sherwood observed the girl's face, feeling more satisfied the longer he looked. Her delicate features were striking and stunningly beautiful. Her moist, radiant eyes seemed to be misted over, making her look exceptionally endearing and pitiable. She really did look like a member of the Sherwood family. The middleman was quite reliable; the tens of millions hadn't been spent in vain.
The girl raised her eyes and swept her gaze across everyone's faces. Her beautiful eyes sparkled. The blend of delicate softness and unruliness in her features carried a somewhat bewitching aura. She silently reviewed the contents of the agreement, hooking a strand of hair with her fair, slender fingers. "Once I sign this agreement, I become a daughter of the Sherwood family. Are you sure you won't regret it?" she asked, pausing before her tone turned intrigued. "From now on, whatever I do will be in the name of the Sherwood family."
Tristan wanted to speak but was stopped by a sharp look from Old Mr. Sherwood, who stated with absolute certainty, "The Sherwood family has always kept its promises."
The girl stared at him for a moment before picking up the pen and signing the agreement. Her strokes were sharp, vigorous, and powerful. She wrote down two words: Iris Dalton.
A flash of relief crossed Old Mr. Sherwood's face. The Sherwoods exchanged a glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The heavy stone weighing on their hearts had finally dropped.
"Oh, by the way, I'm still young. My living environment must be comfortable, and I absolutely refuse to suffer any grievances when it comes to food, clothing, housing, or transportation," Iris said. She pulled out another tissue and carefully wiped her mouth. Having just eaten chili peppers, her lips were rosy and moist, as if coated in a brilliant glaze. "Also, that fiancé you found for me—even if it's just a temporary arrangement, he must be extremely handsome. I absolutely won't accept an ugly man."
The girl's voice was soft, bright, and incredibly pleasing to the ear. However, her words were grating. The Sherwoods felt a sour taste in their mouths. Seeing her unruly yet perfectly composed demeanor, they didn't even know how to judge her. They figured she simply didn't understand the immensity of the world. Never mind. They would just have to discipline her properly in the future.
Old Mr. Sherwood, on the other hand, remained remarkably calm and unaffected. His tense expression relaxed significantly as he turned to Simon, signaling him to speak.
Simon Sherwood was in his fifties but maintained himself exceptionally well. Not a single hair was out of place, and his crisp, tailored suit made him look elegant and handsome, giving him the appearance of a man barely in his early forties. He adjusted his expression, trying his best to appear calm and tenderly affectionate. "Iris, the Sherwood family has strict requirements for our children. I am a board member at Lumin-Umbra High School, and I've already made the arrangements. When the semester starts, you will join the senior year experimental class.
"We'll also hire a private tutor for you to study etiquette properly, and have your brother take you to high-end venues to broaden your horizons. In short, you must become a well-bred daughter of a wealthy family. Do not disgrace the Sherwood family."
Simon's voice was mild and resonant, and a trace of sincerity shone in his eyes, making him look just like a loving, gently guiding father. Even if it was just an act, it was an impeccable performance. They couldn't allow outsiders to see any flaws. They only needed to hold on for two years. Once the time was up, the young girl would face death in the Sherwood family's place, and their family's crisis would be completely resolved.
"That's right. From today onward, I am your mother. Whatever you need, just tell me," Mrs. Sherwood, Leona Vaughn, said with a smile.
Leona came from a good background, perfectly matching Simon in social status. Having been a wealthy socialite for years, she relied entirely on her husband and children. She had no real opinions of her own and obeyed her husband's arrangements in everything. However, she favored her own biological children and felt somewhat repulsed by this outsider daughter. Seeing that Iris's features somewhat resembled her own, a stifling sense of conflicted emotions rose in her heart.
If her biological daughter looked like her, she would have been overjoyed. But for a stranger to resemble her—and to be even more stunningly beautiful than she was in her youth—made her feel deeply unsettled. Still, Leona had long cultivated an impeccably composed temperament. Her facial expression remained gentle, exuding the refined air of a well-bred society lady. The gaze she directed at Iris was loving and soft. It was as if she were looking at her own flesh and blood.
After signing the agreement, Iris stood up, offered a brief excuse, and left the room to go to the restroom.
Two bodyguards in black suits stood guard outside the door. The fierce, intimidating aura they radiated deterred anyone from approaching the private dining room. Upon seeing Iris step out, their eyes lit up. They nodded at her respectfully. "Third Miss!"
The Sherwood family had finally retrieved their third daughter, and the whole family placed immense importance on her—perhaps even more than on the eldest daughter. And to be honest, the Third Miss's appearance was incredibly outstanding, even a few notches more beautiful than the eldest daughter. In the future, she would undoubtedly be the most favored daughter of the Sherwood family! They knew they had to leave a good impression on her.
Iris gave a slight nod and turned to walk through the restaurant lobby.
The bright, dazzling sunlight slanted through the glass windows and cascaded over her, casting soft, dappled specks of light. Her slender, delicate figure and waist-length hair were rimmed with a brilliant, glowing golden halo from the sun.
A young man in a pink shirt was lounging on a sofa in the lobby. He narrowed his peach-blossom eyes slightly, openly studying the girl as she walked past. He couldn't help but let out a low whistle.
"A lotus rising from clear waters, boasting absolute perfection," the man said into his phone with a grinning chuckle. "Taking care of Iris, huh? That's genuinely something to look forward to."
His handmade silk shirt and the million-dollar watch on his wrist, paired with his lazy yet flamboyant smile, all screamed of his noble and wealthy status. Yet, woven into that nobility was a distinct trace of wildness and cynicism. And a sharply exposed, aggressive edge.
Having eaten quite a bit of spicy diced chicken earlier, Iris felt thirsty. She went to a vending machine to buy a bottle of iced fruit juice, taking a sip to soothe the heat. It was already past mealtime, leaving the luxurious restaurant empty and quiet. She found an unoccupied room, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number.
"Ryan, the Sherwood family matter is settled. I even got an extra one million in pocket money," she said in a cheerful tone, sounding incredibly excited. There was not a hint of anything unusual in her voice, but in reality... she was fishing for praise.
"I got the land, so I can start planting medicinal herbs very soon." When there was no response from the other end, she pursed her lips and continued. Planting the herbs meant she could cure Tiana of her poison. Plus, Ryan and Aaron both needed her medicine... She was the absolute best at growing herbs! Shouldn't he praise her for that?
The person on the other end remained silent, but his breathing grew sluggish, seemingly laden with a trace of endurance and heartache. Seconds ticked by, one after another.
"Ryan? Are you listening?" The girl lowered her head and averted her gaze. Her long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly as her fair fingers gripped the beverage can, slowly tightening her hold. She felt a stifling sense of disappointment and grievance.
Holding the phone, the man on the other end could easily picture exactly how the little girl looked right now. She would be wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her slender arms resting by her sides as she stood all alone in a vast, empty room. Her little head would be bowed, making her look fragile and utterly helpless.
After a long pause, the person on the phone seemed to deliberate before a clear, highly magnetic voice came through. "I'm not at ease with you being at the Sherwood family. I've already sent someone to Stellan to take care of you. You must stay happy and absolutely never allow yourself to be wronged... You're the best. You are the most amazing little girl in the whole world!"