Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 1

Summer blazed hot, with waves of heat rolling through the air.

At Haven's Rest Convent on the outskirts of Azure Peak City, Ruby Bennett stuck out like a sore thumb. Clad in a bright red cocktail dress and caked in heavy makeup, she scanned the simple courtyard with unhidden disgust. She slammed her designer handbag onto a wooden table and plopped down on a chair.

Her fake eyelashes fluttered—thick and clumpy, like fly legs ready to fall off. She lifted her gaze, sizing up the girl in front of her.

The girl wore a plain white linen top and navy linen pants. No makeup touched her oval face, but her misty eyes and glossy ponytail gave her an ethereal, effortless beauty. She looked pure and striking, even without any frills.

Just one look sent panic through Ruby. If Silas Thorne saw a woman this gorgeous, would he still agree to end the engagement?

"Stella," Ruby started, forcing a sweet smile, "it's not that your father and I are cruel. You've always brought bad luck to the family. That's why we sent you here to pray. We never let you go hungry when you were young. Now that you're grown, it's time to pay us back."

Stella Shaw didn't even lift her eyes. "Get to the point."

Ruby's smile faded. She hated Stella's attitude, and she had no desire to linger in this dump.

"Do you remember your engagement to the Thorne family?"

Stella finally glanced up. Her eyes were sharp, as if she could see right through Ruby's schemes.

Ruby's heart skipped a beat. How could a girl who'd grown up alone in a convent have such an intimidating presence?

"The engagement was between Arthur Thorne and your mother," Ruby rushed on, "but Arthur won't accept a convent-raised girl as his grandson's wife. So you need to tell Arthur you know you're not good enough for his grandson. Say you're ending the engagement voluntarily."

A faint, mocking smile tugged at Stella's lips.

They'd abandoned her here for fifteen years, ignoring her completely. Now they'd finally shown up—all for this.

Ruby sneered at the girl, "As compensation, your father and I will donate a hundred roof tiles to the convent in your name."

Stella let out a cold laugh. "A hundred glazed tiles?"

"Clay tiles," Ruby mumbled, suddenly feeling guilty.

Stella didn't hide her amusement. "So you're buying off my fiancé, whom I've never met, for 1,500 dollars? Turns out he's cheaper than I thought."

Ruby was left tongue-tied.

Stella stood up and walked away, leaving Ruby red-faced with embarrassment.

Enraged, Ruby chased after her. "Pack your things. You're coming back to Azure Peak City with me."

"I don't share cars with homewreckers," Stella said flatly.

The word "homewrecker" turned Ruby's face scarlet with rage. "Who are you calling that? At least I have a marriage certificate. Did your mother ever get one?"

Stella's brows furrowed. She stared at Ruby coldly. "What does that mean?"

Ruby felt a chill under Stella's gaze. She took two steps back, suddenly regretting her impulsive words—remembering her husband's warning.

"A car will pick you up tomorrow," she snapped.

Clutching her high heels, Ruby stumbled away. She waved frantically for a porter to carry her bags, fleeing the convent in a hurry.

Stella's brows stayed furrowed. Her mother hadn't been married to her father?

She recalled when she'd wanted to change her last name from Harlow to Shaw at seven. Julian Voss' assistant had mentioned she was an undocumented child. Julian had cursed Derek Harlow a b*stard and finally helped her get legal papers.

Stella kicked herself mentally. She'd been too young back then to question it.

She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her clear eyes were icy cold.

At five years old, she'd come home from kindergarten to find the house in chaos. Her mother lay in a pool of blood.

She'd dropped her backpack and rushed to the phone, sobbing as she dialed 911.

When she turned back, her mother was spitting up blood. Her bloodied hand reached out to her.

Stella had crouched down, grasping her mother's hand and crying. "Mommy, don't be scared. The doctors will be here soon. I'll blow on your wounds. It won't hurt."

Her mother struggled to speak, "Run... survive... Shaw... I'm Shaw..."

Before she could finish, her eyes closed. Her fingers traced the first stroke of "Shaw" in Stella's palm before going limp. Her breathing stopped forever.

Stella had held her mother tightly, trying to keep her warm, until paramedics arrived.

She'd huddled in a corner, watching through tears as they tried to save her mother. It wasn't until the doctors asked for family that Derek finally rushed home.

When they said they'd done everything they could, Stella had broken down completely.

Back then, Derek had told her a thief had broken in. He'd been tempted by her mother's beauty and attacked her...

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