Chapter 3

I opened the door. Lucas hurried in, clutching a metal box. "Mr. Sullivan's livid for today. They held a family meeting—they want to send you abroad for rehabilitation."

I scoffed, "Afraid I'll expose their precious impostor?"

Lucas sighed, handing me the box. "This is from Lia, your birth mother. After the accident, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan didn't let you see her, but she never forgot you."

I took it, my fingers trembling.

Inside was a faded photo.

A gentle woman stood before an old house, holding a baby, roses blooming behind her.

"She..." My voice wavered.

"She's alive, but frail," Lucas said softly. "She's living at a sanatorium out in the suburbs."

He warned in a low voice, "You need to watch your back. Ms. Rosaline Sullivan won't let this drop—and her crowd..."

"I know." My fingers tightened around the photo. "Thanks, Lucas."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but just added, "Call me if you need anything."

After seeing Lucas out, I stood by the window, staring at the city lights.

My phone, now powered back on, was bombarded with a dozen more missed calls and countless social media notifications.

The latest alert was an official statement from Lopez Group: [Regarding false online claims, we reserve legal rights to...]

I smirked.

This was just the beginning.

My fingers slid across the screen as I dialed a long-forgotten number.

"Hello, is this Mr. White? This is Willow," I said to the reporter. "Yeah, the Willow from today's wedding. I've got some juicy dirt on Rosaline and Zachary..."

*****

The grand living room of the Sullivan manor blazed with light. Lucas stood at the door, worry in his eyes. I gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

"Finally decided to show your face?" Matthew roared, his face crimson with rage, neck veins popping.

Just as I stepped through the door, a teacup shattered at my feet.

Selena sat on the sofa, dabbing at her tears, while Rosaline...

Oh, there she was, slumped in Zachary's arms, her eyes swollen from crying.

I bent down to pick up a shard, smirking, "Dad, that was a Victorian-era famille rose vase—worth at least $260,000.

"Right, that's chump change for you. You've spent fifteen years raising a fake, and that's enough to buy a truckload of antiques, don't you think?"

"You!" Matthew trembled with rage. "Apologize to Rosaline right now! You know how much your little stunt cost us? Lopez Group has suspended our South District project because of you!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Cost? Maybe you should check how much your darling Rosaline has blown through. Last year alone, she dropped six million at a casino—and patched up the deficit with company funds, didn't she?"

Rosaline jerked upright in Zachary's arms. "How could you slander me like that? I've never even been to a casino!"

"Oh, yeah?" I pulled a stack of photos from my bag and slapped them on the coffee table.

"Sands Casino VIP room, December 3rd last year—you, Miranda, and that spoiled brat from the Collins family. Need me to pull up the surveillance footage too?" I smiled.

In the photos, Rosaline was swamped by towering stacks of chips, her face twisted in a gambling frenzy.

Zachary picked up the photos, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Zachary, please listen to me," Rosaline begged, her voice trembling with panic. "These photos are photoshopped. Willow must've paid someone to fake them!"

"Enough!" Selena suddenly stood up. "Willow, you've turned to someone else. How could you frame your sister? She's so kind and delicate."

"Kind?" I let out a cold laugh. "Mom, you know why I suddenly lost my mind when I was sixteen? The 'kind' Rosaline spiked my nightly milk with hallucinogens!"

"Nonsense!" Matthew slammed the table and jumped up.

I shot back with a cold smile, "Want me to dig out the lab report? Oh, right, you tore it up and said I made it up for attention back then."

I closed in on Rosaline, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should be in Hollywood, you know? The pitiful act, the innocent facade, and the dramatic faints—"

Before I could finish, Rosaline's eyes rolled back and she went limp, collapsing straight into Zachary's arms.

"Rosaline!" Selena shrieked.

Zachary caught Rosaline and shot me a furious look. "Happy now?"

I just stood there, watching the farce without a flicker of emotion.

I'd seen Rosaline's "fake fainting act" far too many times.

That was her go-to move whenever her lies were about to blow up.

"Call a doctor! Now!" Matthew yelled, mashing the call button.

I strolled to the grand piano in the corner and sat down.