"I did not sleep with him! The photo was probably—"
PAK!
Evelyn's words hung in the air, unfinished, as her father's hand connected with her cheek. The sharp slap echoed through the hall, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. The maids, pretending to be busy with their chores, paused to watch. Some smirked, believing Evelyn deserved it after last night's scandal. Others, especially the older staff, pitied her.
Evelyn's life had never been that of a pampered princess, contrary to the image her parents projected to the world. In reality, she was treated more like Cinderella—barely acknowledged by her father and secretly loathed by her stepmother. And now, her situation had crumbled further since that maid's shocking confession.
Six months ago, Belly, a former maid had appeared at their door with Annabelle by her side. Everyone recognized Belly instantly; she had been kicked out of the house for trying to pin her accidental pregnancy from her adulterous affairs on William. Driven by revenge, Belly claimed to have swapped the babies in the hospital, leading her daughter to live a life of luxury while she tormented the true heiress.
Belly added that her karma had caught up with her in the form of incurable cancer, prompting her to come clean after 25 damn years. As suspicious as it sounded, DNA tests confirmed her story to be true. Annabelle was indeed the real daughter of the Wright family, and Evelyn was declared fake.
"We are ashamed to even acknowledge that we have raised you all these years!" Sophia spat, her voice dripping with disappointment. Fake tears glistened in her eyes, fueling the farce. Evelyn scoffed at her words and tried to fight back her tears as her father glared at her.
"Please don't be mad at her, papa," Annabelle mumbled from the couch, her left leg in a cast and her right hand bandaged. "Maybe she was drunk, and Uncle Nicholas took advantage of her. Maybe—"
"You will marry Nicholas Blake this weekend. Prepare for the wedding," William interrupted, sending another shockwave through the room. As Evelyn looked at him, hurt evident in her eyes, he continued, "Even Elder Blake believes this is the best way to salvage our reputation."
William referred to Vincent's grandfather, Edmund Blake, who was very fond of Evelyn. While her parents claimed to still treat her as their daughter just to maintain their 'humble' reputation, Edmund believed Evelyn to be as innocent as Annabelle. He even insisted on resuming her marriage arrangements with Vincent, and somewhere Evelyn knew his firm stance was the root cause of the recent scandal, orchestrated to dig more dirt on her.
"You have caused enough chaos, Evelyn. You destroyed everything I've built over the years in just a few months," William added, referring to the scandals that erupted after her true identity was revealed. New articles accusing her of abusing employees, seducing shareholders, and plotting against her father for the CEO position circulated weekly.
"This is the least you can do for us," William continued, his tone firm, devoid of any kind of empathy.
Evelyn suppressed a bitter laugh, mocking herself for ever thinking that though he acted indifferent, he still loved her secretly as other dads did. The scandal of her true identity had indeed been a slap for all such delusions, waking her up to the reality that she had been just a cherished pawn in his business.
Before Evelyn could muster a response, a voice echoed from upstairs. "No! She won't marry that useless jerk!"
It was Elias Wright, her seventeen-year-old stepbrother and the only person who truly acted like a family. In his school uniform, backpack slung casually over one shoulder, he descended the stairs, his tousled blonde hair bouncing with each step.
"Elias, stay out of the elders' affairs," Sophia snapped, grabbing his arm to guide him toward the door. Her plans were finally falling into place, and she couldn't let her own son trample on them.
But Elias ignored his mother, effortlessly breaking free to stand beside Evelyn. If anyone had the nerve to glare at William, it was Elias, and he did so now, his deep brown eyes ablaze with rebellion.
"What else do you think is the best way to clean up her mess?" William demanded, frustration evident in his voice.
"You could clear it up by investigating the rumors properly and holding a press conference," Elias suggested, making Sophia grit her teeth. "But if you're more worried about your partnership with the Blakes," he turned to Annabelle, and added, "you could marry her off to him. She's your real daughter anyway."
Annabelle, who had been silently relishing the drama until now, shivered at her younger brother's gaze. Fear flickered across her face, lips pressed into a thin line at his remark. Marry a rotten deadbeat? No, never, even if her sponsor paid her millions!
Sophia's face twisted in anger at his words. "Elias, you don't understand—"
"Eli, wait for me in the car," Evelyn intervened, cutting off her stepmother.
"No, I—"
"Elias. Now." Evelyn's commanding tone and icy glare left Elias huffing in frustration before he stormed out of the house.
Annabelle sneered at Elias's departure, while Sophia watched with a troubled expression. Her bratty son never listened to anyone, not even his father, except Evelyn. He was like her lapdog, and that terrified her the most.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again," Evelyn's voice drew back everyone's attention. As they looked at her, she continued, "I did not sleep with him, nor did I meet him that night. Give me a day or two to find the culprit and clear this mess."
Sophia's heart raced as Evelyn locked eyes with her as if warning her to be ready for a surprise. This girl was more resilient than she had anticipated!
"But if you can't wait," Turning to Annabelle, Evelyn continued, "you can follow Eli's suggestion and marry your real daughter to him." With that, she bowed slightly to William and walked out.
Fuming with rage, William kicked the glass table in front of him, sending tea cups clattering to the floor. He pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, storming into his study.
"Oh my goodness!" Annabelle gasped as he left before bursting into laughter, dropping her innocent act. She glanced at Sophia, and teased, "Trust me, this is more entertaining than any movies I have acted in."
As Sophia glared back, Annabelle, or rather Laila, couldn't resist teasing further. "So, what's your plan B now?" Faking a gasp, she mused in a low voice, "Don't tell me, you're planning to murder her too."
Sophia gritted her teeth as Annabelle innocently blinked at her. This woman's loose tongue would ruin their plans someday!
"Go to your room!" Sophia screamed, her voice echoing through the halls and reaching even the maids hiding in the kitchen.
"Bruh, you are no fun!" Annabelle muttered, grabbing her crutch. She stood from the couch, and sarcastically added, "Yes, Mom," before pretending to hobble her way upstairs.