After Frederick left, Arabella stood politely to the side. Daniel brought over a new racket and a stray ball, showing her how to grip, swing, and bounce the ball on the strings. She picked it up remarkably fast.

"Daniel, come on! We're starting the match!" Daisy called out.

Daniel was itching to play and looked hesitantly at Arabella. "Aerona, why don't you practice here for a bit? I'll play one set and come right back to teach you more."

"Sure, go ahead!" Arabella chirped.

The doubles match was intense, each player showing high skill. Arabella bounced the ball on her racket with laser focus, the neon-green sphere never touching the ground. Once the set ended, Daniel remembered his student, but Daisy blocked him with her racket. "Why don't you play another round? I'll go teach Aerona. We should take turns; it's not fair for you to be the only coach."

"Oh... thanks, Daisy! You're the best!" Daniel said.

Daisy walked over to Arabella with a practiced smile. Arabella caught the ball and gave Daisy a sweet, genuine grin. She was so polite she even apologized for staring earlier: "I didn't mean to stare, you're just so pretty! Your hair looks like shimmering golden silk!"

Daisy arched an eyebrow—such praise was white noise to her—but she offered a polite thanks. "Thank you. Your hair is quite nice too, it looks like... mmm..." Daisy frowned, sizing her up.

Arabella looked at her expectantly, eyes shimmering. Frederick had praised her hair before, saying it looked like a cup of hot chocolate or tiger's eye stone in the autumn sun.

"It looks just like my family's Teddy dog! It's the same yellow-brown color!"

Arabella's heart sank slightly. Her hair wasn't yellow-brown... it was chocolate. However, she was quick to comfort herself—dogs were cute, after all, and the fur on Black and Peach was incredibly soft. "Thank you," she smiled. "Your dog must be adorable."

Daisy chuckled and pointed at the racket. "You have a good feel for the ball. It looks like you've played before. Why did you tell Fritz you didn't know how?"

"I don't know..." Arabella said honestly.

"You don't know?"

Arabella bit her lip. "I don't remember much of anything, so I don't remember if I can play tennis or not".

Daisy froze, her gaze shifting from confusion to suspicion, and finally to realization. "No wonder he keeps you around. So, you're using the 'amnesia' trick to cling to Fritz?"

"It's not like that," Arabella explained earnestly. "I really don't remember. Fritz said I hit my head. It's not a trick; I don't want to be like this".

Daisy threw up her hands. "People actually lose their memory these days? I thought that was only in Gossip Girl. Then again, Fritz is handsome and rich; women will do anything to get his attention. Your move is clever, Little Hick—much smarter than the idiot who tried to slip an aphrodisiac into his drink".

Her tone was anything but friendly. Arabella finally confirmed that her senses hadn't failed her: this girl was a mean girl.

"I'm not a 'Little Hick.' Why would you call me that?" Arabella countered.

Daisy crossed her arms. "Stop pretending, sweetheart. Fritz isn't here."

"Pretending what?" Arabella truly didn't understand.

Daisy rolled her eyes. Talking to such a "peasant" was exhausting. "I heard you moved into Herheid Palace. How is it? Do you like it?"

Arabella was getting annoyed but answered politely. "You mean Fritz's home? It's huge and very beautiful. I like it, but it's a bit inconvenient; you have to walk so far just to get to the dining room".

Daisy sneered, leaning in close. "There are sixty-three guest rooms there—more luxurious than many imperial palaces. Do you really think you deserve to eat in a place like that?"

This person is so hateful! Arabella glared at her. "Is sixty-three rooms a lot? My house has over five hundred! I have a palace too!" She was certain of this. She often dreamed of a magnificent, brightly lit palace, and it felt like it truly belonged to her. She had even boasted to Frederick that she would invite him there once she remembered where it was.

Daisy burst into laughter at the "delusion." "Little Hick, you really do have a brain problem. You should stop watching Cinderella movies. Fritz is the heir to House Herheid. He would never marry an Asian girl—especially one of unknown origin who has nothing and is mentally unstable".

"Oh, I forgot to mention. I'm only at this family gathering to discuss our engagement. Both our families approve and expect us to be married next year".

Married.

Frederick was going to marry someone else... Arabella stiffened, her fingers tightening around the racket. It felt like the day he had left her at the club all over again, watching his helicopter fly away while she stood abandoned. Frederick was her Daddy and her Mommy; they had already kissed. How could he marry someone else? Would he throw her away a second time?

Seeing Arabella's distress, Daisy felt a wave of satisfaction, though a shred of pity remained. She considered herself a "charitable" socialite who fed organic snacks to strays. If Aerona ended up destitute after Frederick tired of her, Daisy was prepared to help.

"I don't want to make things hard for you," Daisy smiled elegantly. "It's best for everyone if you leave on your own. If you have trouble in the future, I'm willing to help—"

"Zip your lip!" Arabella interrupted.

Daisy blinked in disbelief. "Oh my god, you are so crude!"

Arabella wanted to be the "Little Lady" Frederick described, but she was about to explode with rage. She straightened her back, radiating defiance. "I may be crude, but you are disgusting. I actually thought you were pretty, like a Barbie doll. Barbie would never roll her eyes like you do. I hate you! And your hair doesn't look like silk—I lied! It looks like rotten egg yolk!"

Daisy, who had never expected this timid girl to fight back, turned pale with anger. "What are you talking about? You're just a classless hick! How could Frederick ever look at someone like you?"

"People who try to steal someone else's Daddy are the real hicks!" Arabella snapped like a fierce little beast.

Daisy covered her nose in disgust. "Disgusting. Who would want to steal your 'Daddy'? Some balding, middle-aged Asian man? You're delusional".

Arabella mirrored the gesture and stepped back. "Close your big, stinking mouth. Neither my biological father nor my Daddy is balding or 'soft.' Frederick is my Daddy! And he is super hard! If you don't believe me, go feel him yourself—wait, no! I won't let you touch him. In your dreams!"

Arabella was on a roll: "He said he would only be my Daddy. He called me his sweetheart, and we've already kissed. I will never agree to him marrying you!"

Daddy?

Daisy's face turned all red.