Chapter 2

This name held more sway in the Reed family than even Richard himself.

A man in a black suit walked in from outside, his expression steely and cold, carrying the kind of icy edge you only get from fighting your way through the business world.

His gaze swept across the living room and quickly landed on Evelyn.

Evelyn stood in the center of the crowd, still holding her old suitcase. She should have been the most vulnerable one there, but somehow, she stood her ground better than anyone else.

Andrew fixed his gaze on her for a couple of seconds, then said, "So this is my sister?"

In the next moment, with everyone stunned, he strode right up to Evelyn and took her old suitcase from her hands.

He lifted his gaze and shot a look at Charlotte. "Who gave you permission to assign Evelyn to the side courtyard?"

Charlotte's face turned pale. "Andrew, I only..."

Andrew cut her off, his voice icy cold. "You only forgot what your status is.

"An adopted daughter like you doesn't have the right to arrange a room for Evelyn."

The whole room went dead silent.

Andrew gripped Evelyn's suitcase, his eyes icy as he swept his gaze over everyone.

Then he dropped his words like a bombshell. "From today on, there's only one heiress living in the main building. That's Evelyn."

Everyone's expression changed instantly.

Charlotte was hit the hardest.

She stood there, frozen, as if that phrase "adopted daughter" had pinned her in place. She was so stunned and even forgot to cry.

All these years, even though everyone outside knew she wasn't their real daughter, no one in the Reed family had ever been so ruthless about it.

Everyone assumed that even if she wasn't blood, she was still part of the family.

But now, with a few words from Andrew, he'd yanked her right off her pedestal.

Mary was the first to snap out of it. She quickly jumped in, "Andrew, Charlotte meant well. She was worried Evelyn wouldn't be used to things yet."

Andrew scoffed, his voice icy. "Not used to it?

"So the real daughter of the Reed family comes home and has to stay in the side courtyard, while the one who stole her identity for eighteen years gets to enjoy the main building without a care in the world?"

Mary was left speechless.

Richard frowned, his voice low and serious. "Andrew, watch your words."

"Are my words the issue, or is it your actions?" Andrew shot back, his tone icy.

Andrew stood right next to Evelyn, his long fingers resting on the handle of her old suitcase. The air was so heavy, nobody dared meet his eyes.

Andrew said coldly, "You didn't bring her back just to treat her like an outsider.

"She's the real heiress of the Reed family, not some pitiful charity case you toss scraps to."

As soon as he said that, even the relatives who'd been throwing shade earlier all lowered their heads, suddenly too scared to say a word.

Charlotte bit down hard on her lip, and her tears fell with a sharp, audible drop.

She sobbed, "Andrew, I never wanted to take Evelyn's place. I couldn't let go of Mom and Dad, and I was scared Evelyn wouldn't like me."

Charlotte was crying so hard her shoulders trembled.

If this had happened before, Mary would have already pulled her into her arms, heart aching for her.

But right now, even Mary didn't dare to speak up.

Andrew didn't even spare Charlotte a glance. He turned to the butler.

"Clear out and prepare the biggest room on the east side of the main building." he ordered.

The butler hesitated. "Andrew, that room..."

"It's for Evelyn." Andrew said coolly. "And move everything from Charlotte's old room to the rear courtyard within half an hour."

Charlotte's head snapped up, her face going ghostly pale. "Andrew."

That room had been her home for over a decade.

It was the sunniest room with the best view in the whole main building.

And now Andrew wanted her to move out today.

"What's the matter?" Andrew finally glanced at her, his eyes icy and terrifying. "You've been in Evelyn's place for so long, you actually think it's yours now?"

Charlotte felt a chill run down her spine at that look. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.

She finally realized Andrew wasn't defending Evelyn.

He was clearing the way for her and reclaiming everything Charlotte had assumed was hers all these years.

Mary finally couldn't stand it anymore and tried to reason with him in a low voice. "Andrew, maybe we should take it slow? Charlotte has lived here for so many years. It's not easy for her to adjust all at once."

"Take it slow?" Andrew cut her off, his voice eerily calm, almost cruel. "Mom, Evelyn's already been kept waiting for eighteen years. How much longer do you want her to wait?"

Those words hit Mary like a knife, stabbing straight into her heart.

Her face went ghostly pale, and she couldn't say another word.

Richard was silent for a few seconds, then finally spoke in a low, firm voice, "Do as Andrew says."

Charlotte swayed on her feet, almost losing her balance.

Even Richard had gone along with it.

Everything Charlotte had worked so hard to build over eighteen years in the Reed family was ripped apart in an instant, just a single word from Evelyn, and Andrew's attitude, tore a hole right through it.

But the worst was still to come.

As dinner began, the servant, out of habit, pulled out the chair next to the head of the table for Charlotte to sit down.

After all, that spot had belonged to her for years.

But the moment the servant's hand touched the chair, Andrew cut in, his voice icy and sharp. "Who's that chair for?"

The servant jolted, instantly dropping her gaze, terrified.

Andrew reached out and pulled the chair out himself, his eyes fixed on Evelyn.

"Sit here, Evelyn." he said, his voice calm but commanding.

The whole table went dead silent.