Elaine may have led a life as if she was above the rules, but beneath that tough exterior lay crippling insecurities and a horrific inferiority complex.

She was always afraid of being belittled—but more than that, of being ostracized and betrayed.

Over the years, the greatest source of her complexes could all be traced back to Matilda.

After all, Matilda had been a star back in their school days. Because Elaine was a close friend of hers, many boys would get chummy with Elaine, but only because they were interested in Matilda.

Being from a poor farmer's family, Elaine had been scorned plenty and therefore felt exceedingly inferior around Matilda.

It was from that sense of inferiority that Elaine had inadvertently developed a one-sided rivalry against Matilda, and she believed her greatest triumph over Matilda in this life was the moment she had stolen Jacob from her.

However, while Elaine presumed that she could hold that victory over Matilda's head, Lady Wilson had soured that v