After her rebirth

Back in the day, if her brothers even hinted at something, Katniss would freak out and do whatever they said.

But this time? Nah, she wasn't having it. No matter what her brothers threw at her, Katniss stood her ground. Nobody knew what had changed.

Oliver stormed over, yelling at Katniss, "Look at Clara, she's got her act together, and here you are, getting people to mess with her. Katniss, you're a disgrace to the Manners family!" Everyone looked at Katniss like she couldn't even breathe right.

Hearing all this crap, Katniss felt a pang in her chest.

She used to crave family warmth, but what did she get in return?

The Manners family hurt her the most.

Katniss lowered her eyes and said, "I'm not apologizing for something I didn't do."

Oliver was about to blow a gasket.

The once obedient Katniss had turned into this? He was totally lost.

"Dad, I'm fine. Katniss is my sister, I won't hold it against her," Clara said, then turned to Katniss, "Come on, apologize to Dad, cook a nice meal, and this will all blow over." Clara kept defending Katniss, acting like she'd rather suffer herself than let Katniss be embarrassed.

She tried so hard to get Katniss to back down, it was almost impossible to say no.

Katniss sneered, "Clara, tell me, what did I do wrong? If you can say it, I'll apologize."

Katniss used to think Clara was a rare gem. Every time the Manners family criticized her, Clara would be the first to stand up for her, always looking out for her.

But after dying in her past life, Katniss had changed. She saw Clara's true colors and wasn't falling for it anymore.

Clara was caught off guard, her expression turning venomous, tears welling up in her eyes.

She just wanted to give Katniss a way out, but Katniss wasn't playing along, leaving Clara speechless.

In the past, whenever Katniss got criticized by her brothers, Clara would stand up for her, which seemed totally normal.

But now, not only did Katniss not appreciate it, she even mocked Clara, like she was a whole new person.

"Katniss, I just want the family to get along. Isn't that the best?" Clara explained helplessly, tears streaming down.

Desmond couldn't take it anymore, pulling out the marriage contract and throwing it at Katniss, yelling, "A woman, who'd betray herself to hurt her sister like you, disgusts me. I'm calling off the engagement, right now!" Nobody could stop him.

Katniss was hit by the contract, looking coldly at Desmond and agreeing, "Fine!"

"Desmond, you..." Clara pretended to speak up for Katniss.

"Clara, stop defending Katniss. You're too kind, that's why she bullies you," Desmond interrupted.

Clara looked at Katniss helplessly, tears welling up.

A trace of coldness flashed in Katniss's eyes as she mercilessly tore up the marriage contract Desmond had thrown on the ground, making the paper scraps fall like snow. "Desmond, since you like Clara, you two be together. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Katniss's voice was cold and resolute.

Desmond was fuming, a ruthless glint in his eyes as he shouted, "Katniss, you bitch!"

Clara watched, her heart aching like a knife, fists clenched. "Katniss, how can you do this?"

But Katniss didn't flinch, a mocking smile on her lips. "Clara, aren't you the saint? Go comfort your Desmond."

Desmond had been itching to ditch this engagement, but he never thought the once meek Katniss would dare to defy him. His anger hit the roof. "Katniss, you'll regret this!"

Katniss let out a cold laugh, turned, and walked away, leaving behind a mess of paper scraps. Yet, she felt oddly relieved and pleased.

Oliver was about to blow a fuse. "Katniss, what kind of attitude is this? This marriage was arranged by your grandfather. How dare you call it off just like that?"

Katniss was getting more and more out of hand, not even respecting him as an elder. Oliver's temper soared.

"Katniss, why are you doing this? Clara just got out of the hospital today, and you're being so unreasonable? Learn from Clara and make things easier for us," Elodie said bluntly as she came down the stairs. Seeing Clara's swollen eyes, Elodie hugged her heartbrokenly, comforting her, "Don't be sad, your health is more important."

Elodie's disdain for Katniss was at its peak; she wished Katniss would disappear from her life.

Every time Katniss came home, it felt like doom followed, making the whole family uneasy. Elodie grew to hate her own daughter, finding Katniss's presence intolerable. And Katniss equally loathed Elodie as a mother. She couldn't understand why a mother would be so cold to her own daughter, even wishing her daughter would leave this world. "Katniss, you useless thing, every time you come home, you bring trouble!" Elodie angrily scolded Katniss.

Katniss let out a cold laugh, "You think I want to come to your house?"

Looking at Elodie, Katniss felt an indescribable anger. She tried her best to control her emotions, not letting the tears show, but the disappointment in her heart grew deeper. "Katniss, what do you mean by this?" Lucas said disdainfully, "If you were half as sensible as Clara, things wouldn't have gotten this bad."

Nathan added sarcastically, "Katniss, what right do you have to compare with Clara? You're not even worth a strand of her hair."

Desmond looked at Katniss with a complicated expression. She was different now. Facing her family's criticism, she remained calm and composed, not even trying to please them. Suddenly, she had become tough, and no one knew what Katniss was thinking. Desmond couldn't read any emotions from Katniss's eyes, which made him inexplicably irritated. "Katniss, you're going too far!" Oliver was furious, yelling, "We need to clear this up today."

Katniss shook her head wearily, feeling exhausted. "Yes, you're right. Clara is the best, the most sensible, and I'm the freak. Is that enough? I won't disturb your family reunion anymore, I'm leaving." Katniss stood at the door, eyes filled with determination and defiance, ready to leave this suffocating home.