Chapter 9 As he said this , he couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly . These so - called guests Serena had invited were freeloading , and to top it all off , they had the nerve to badmouth Yvette . How utterly outrageous ! Clifford let out a low laugh , his voice a deliberate drawl that carried an impending fury . " I see . A sign of respect to me ... " His expression darkened instantly . " Alright then . Rena , invite your guests to leave . " This was , without a doubt , the most awkward moment of Serena's life . Nearly thirty boys and girls were swiftly ushered out of the Duckworth's villa . Many called their family chauffeurs , but since they were asked out so suddenly , their only option was to wait outside in the biting early spring chill . The girls , clad in flimsy evening gowns , shivered uncontrollably . The boys , playing the gallant role , offered up their suit jackets , leaving themselves in little more than thin dress shirts . While trying to maintain a gentlemanly composure , they soon , too , were shuddering from the cold . Janelle , always the fiery - tempered one , crossed her arms and fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Serena , who was futilely trying to soothe everyone . " You call yourself the apple of the Duckworth family's eye ? " Janelle snapped . " What's the deal with that girl from earlier ? " " What do you think ? She lied . Everyone knows about the daughter of the Duckworth family . OK ? Now that the real daughter's back , of course , she's nothing ! " Sheryl Hoover , one of the rich girls , immediately chimed in , finally remembering Yvette , the long - absent true heiress of the family . When Yvette was a little girl , she had been the brightest star in Ravenbrook's upper - class circle , the object of universal amazement and admiration . Every parent envied the Duckworth family for having such a prodigious daughter But luck had never been on her side . First , Roxanne was diagnosed with cancer . Yvette receded from the public eye to care for her , eventually dropping out of school entirely . 06:41 Chapter 9 288 Vouchers Then , Roxanne passed away . At the funeral , overwhelmed by grief , Yvette collapsed and was rushed to the hospital . There , she was diagnosed with blood cancer . She wasn't even fifteen years old . Thus began three grueling years of treatment , and she vanished from society completely . Everyone assumed she had died . It was the only logical explanation for why the Duckworth family would take Serena in - she was a replacement , filling the unimaginable void left by Yvette . But after today , that assumption lay shattered . The Yvette who had returned was gaunt and bore the marks of illness , but she was clearly not on the verge of death . Yvette was very much alive . And yet , here was Serena , throwing a lavish birthday party for herself as if Yvette were already a memory . Did she truly believe Yvette was a pushover ? Finding the Duckworth family affairs a huge mess , Sheryl thought less of Serena , and she was no longer keen on being friends with Serena . Serena pursed her lips , tears welling up in her eyes . " Sheryl , I didn't lie . Mr. Duckworth w .. going to adopt me as his foster daughter . That's how the rumors started . But I've always known the truth . I know I'm not Yvie ... and I know I could never replace her . " Janelle had been furious with Serena for disrespecting her , but the sight of Serena's red- rimmed eyes instantly shifted her anger toward Sheryl's aggressiveness . She snapped , " You saw how much the Duckworth family dotes on Rena . A replacement ? That's nonsense . The fact that Mr. Duckworth is adopting her proves how much he adores her . Once the legal paperwork is done , she is a daughter of the Duckworth family . And soon , she'll be the only one . You got a problem with that ? " Sheryl let out a cold snort , not bothering to argue with Janelle . Just then , their chauffeurs arrived in time , and they all retreated into their cars , fuming with humiliation and rage . After seeing everyone off , Serena pulled a long face . It hadn't occurred to her that Yvette would go so far as to make such a public scene . Being exposed was a humiliation and a devastating blow to her reputation . But Yvette hadn't won either . What kind of behavior was that for the daughter of the esteemed Duckworth family ? Simply driving guests out of her own home out of sheer jealousy - how utterly 06:41 Chapter 9 122 % classless and rude ! After today's farce , Alfredo would be forced to spend tomorrow making apologies to every household . So , in the end , who would truly be left embarrassed ? 06:41