Both Princess and Queen

Serenitia City, The Smith Mansion, second floor.

Clara Smith, rocking a simple white princess dress, checked out her pretty face in a compact mirror she always carried.

She clutched her handkerchief tight, teeth gritted, glaring at Catherine Smith, the girl she'd hated since forever, and spat out, "I'm the real Smith daughter. You're just a fake!"

Last month, the Smiths did a full family medical check-up and found out Catherine wasn't Oliver Smith and Celeste Brown's kid!

Clara held up the paternity test report with Celeste, eyes gleaming with pride.

'I grew up with Catherine, so why am I just the maid's kid while she's the Smith family's daughter? Now, things are back where they belong, and everything's finally mine!' Clara thought.

Behind Clara, Oliver and Celeste stared at Catherine.

Seeing Catherine's gaze, Celeste wiped away imaginary tears and said, "Catherine, no one expected Clara to be our real daughter. We hate to part with you, but we have to send you back. I can't stand seeing you separated from your real parents. It's too cruel."

Oliver, on the other hand, didn't mind raising two daughters.

But Celeste said Clara had been bullied by Catherine since they were kids, so it wouldn't be fair to Clara if they kept living together.

As for Catherine, as soon as Oliver spread the news, he got a call from Tranquil County looking for their kid.

The accent was so thick, Oliver could barely understand a word.

'Tranquil County, a poor rural area where most folks farm to get by!' Oliver thought, then said, "Catherine, don't worry. Even if your parents are farmers, it's okay. When I was on the phone, I heard chickens clucking. At least when you're hungry, you can still eat roast chicken."

Clara couldn't help but laugh out loud.

'What a dump! They even raise chickens!' Clara thought.

"Oliver, you don't get it. In places that poor, chickens are more precious than people. They can't just eat them whenever they want."

Clara's face was full of smugness.

Catherine had already figured them out.

'The so-called family medical check-up is just because I've grown up, and the marriage deal with the Johnson family needs to be sorted. The Johnsons want to get engaged early, so they're rushing to kick me out of the Smith family to make way for the real daughter raised as a maid's kid.'

Catherine looked at them with disdain, speaking without any attachment, "I was gonna leave anyway. No need for your act. Before I go, give me back my computer."

Her expression was calm, eyes shimmering, and every move oozed a noble elegance Clara could never mimic.

'Damn it! What a show!' Clara thought, then said, "Catherine, your computer is five years old. I wouldn't even want it. Did you lose it by accident?"

The maids, cooks, and drivers behind them chimed in.

"Yeah, only Catherine would think a five-year-old computer is worth something."

"Stop it. Catherine's about to go back to the countryside, where people probably don't even know what a computer is," Clara said, her face full of pride.

Catherine, looking at Clara calmly, pulled out her phone and tapped to show a clear surveillance video.

It was Clara sneaking into Catherine's room last night and taking her computer. In the video, Clara was holding the computer, her face twisted with rage. "Why does Elodie only care about you! I'm the real Smith daughter!"

Clara was speechless. 'Is Catherine nuts? She installed surveillance in her own room and even caught me cursing my grandmother, Elodie Smith, on camera.'

Celeste pulled Clara behind her like Catherine was about to eat her.

"Catherine, you're so reckless. This is your home too. How could you set up surveillance here? We've got business secrets. What if they get leaked?" Celeste's words made Oliver's face turn serious.

"Catherine, hand over your phone. I need to check if you've got surveillance elsewhere."

Catherine was speechless. 'I couldn't care less about the Smith family's business.'

Right in front of Oliver, Catherine formatted her phone, wiping all files and restoring it to factory settings.

Oliver felt a bit awkward and chuckled, "I wasn't doubting you."

Catherine shot back coldly, "Watch your words. You're not my father anymore. Give me back my computer, and I'll be out of here."

Oliver, looking embarrassed, turned to Clara and asked her to find Catherine's computer.

Clara muttered, "You can't even let go of this old computer. Tranquil County might not even have internet access."

'This busted computer probably won't even start now, but Catherine, who's about to live a tough life, treats it like gold,' Clara thought.

Catherine gave her a faint look.

This computer was a gift from Elodie. She had modified it herself later. Although it was indeed precious, it wasn't irreplaceable.

'I could rebuild the computer, and I could also do without these so-called family members! But this computer holds a different meaning for me,' Catherine thought.

The entire Smith family, from top to bottom, favored Clara. Only Elodie had loved her since she was a child, giving her warmth that she cherished for a lifetime.

However, Elodie had passed away not long ago, making the Smith family even less important to her.

Catherine turned and walked towards the door without any hesitation.

At this moment, Celeste, who was about to say something sentimental, felt quite embarrassed, so she said, "What kind of attitude is that? An elder is speaking to you nicely, and you act like this. You and Clara grew up together, but your character and morals are worlds apart!"

From Oliver, Celeste also knew that Catherine's biological parents were not well off.

'It was said that the family is very poor, living in one of the most backward and impoverished areas in the country, where the village doesn't even have a proper road. Catherine's parents are farmers, with older brothers and sisters and grandparents also in poor health. In such a poor and backward family, Catherine would surely have a tough life if she goes there. She might have to support the family at a young age, working like a horse!' Celeste thought.

Clara's years of feeling inferior under Catherine's shadow had turned into strong confidence. She got up and followed Catherine, "Catherine, I'll see you off."

Oliver glanced disapprovingly at Celeste.

"Enough! Catherine took care of you and Elodie when you were sick."

Celeste glared at him.

"Take care? We provided her with good food and drink. She should know her place. I'm just afraid she covets Clara's marriage. Only our biological daughter would marry into the Johnson family!"

'Lucas and the Smith family have a marriage agreement, so naturally, it should be for the Smith family's real daughter, not Catherine! Moreover, Clara has been close to Lucas since childhood and has a good relationship with him. Compared to Catherine, Clara, the real daughter, is truly considerate and sensible.' Clara's identity was finally restored, making Celeste feel much better.

Thinking about her marriage, Clara also fawned over, squeezing her handkerchief and smiling joyfully.

Clara had loved to compete since she was a child, especially enjoying taking Catherine's things, from small items like jewelry, food, and clothes to the affection of Oliver and Celeste.

Because she didn't care, Catherine never took it to heart, just thinking that Clara had been an imposter since childhood and that the Smith family couldn't see people clearly.

As for Lucas Johnson, if Clara hadn't mentioned him, Catherine would have almost forgotten he existed.

"Clara, you really want every man, don't you?" Catherine sneered.