Once upon a time, she was one of them.
She tried her best to prove her worth.
But in the end, she was just a sacrificial pawn, tossed aside when she wasn't needed.
At least they had their mother to protect them, but she didn't even have that.
Pathetic. Just plain sad.
Coco Shen lowered her gaze, not responding.
After finishing their conversation, the girls fell silent, a bit embarrassed.
Coco Shen took her time finishing breakfast before finally saying, "I haven't met you all before, so I don't really know your stories."
As soon as Coco Shen spoke, the girls perked up and listened carefully.
"Still, I'm your big sister, so I gotta look out for you." Coco Shen stirred her milk, talking slow. "Too bad I'm just the lady's assistant, so this school chance is all I could get. You're all my little brothers and sisters, so I can't play favorites. In the end, who gets the spot? That's up to you and how you do."
"Honestly, it's all about your standing in Father's eyes." Coco Shen glanced at the anxious girls, her tone sharp. "You all know only those who are useful to this family get Father's attention. So don't bother showing off in front of me—make sure Father sees your value, and whether you can actually contribute to the Shen Family."
After finishing her milk, Coco Shen stood up and turned to Mia Dou. "Wanna go for a walk?"
"Sure!" Mia Dou popped up right away, giving the girls a meaningful look. "Think about what Coco said. I want to see your answers tomorrow morning. We don't have all the time in the world—our break is short, and I can't wait around forever. The school's pushing us too—it's a fancy academy, so we need to order uniforms and set up dorms ahead of time."
Mia Dou and Coco Shen left the Shen Residence together, heading outside for a walk.
Inside the Shen Residence, the girls looked at each other, sparks flying in their eyes.
They were all competitors now.
If you wanted to stand out and win the spot, you'd have to knock out your own siblings!
Except for Coco Shen and Jason Shen, every illegitimate child had to step up.
At eight in the morning, Fourth suddenly screamed, kicked open Third's door, and lunged at her. "You're so ruthless! You drugged my daughter! What are you up to—think I don't know?"
Third froze, then snapped back and charged at Fourth. "What nonsense are you spouting? I didn't do anything!"