Chapter 1

"Miss Hawthorne, you've occupied the position of the legitimate daughter for sixteen years. It's time to return what isn't yours."

I smiled and handed the engagement ring back to Edward Hawthorne. "Perfect timing. I didn't want this marriage anyway."

All of Kingston's high society waited to watch me get kicked out of the Hawthorne family and end up on the streets.

Three days later, the Crown Prince showed up at the Hawthorne Manor.

He draped an embroidered cloak over my shoulders with trembling hands. "My mentor told me on his deathbed that the granddaughter he lost had a red flower birthmark on her right shoulder."

The Hawthorne family stood frozen, watching the cloak settle onto me. The kind of cloak only the Crown Princess could wear.

*****

"Miss Hawthorne." Lilian Glass dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, her smile thin. "You've spent sixteen years playing the Hawthorne heiress. Don't you think it's time to give back what was never yours?"

Behind her stood a girl in a green silk robe. She was pale and slender. Her features were a softer mirror of my own, like a gardenia left out in the rain.

The main hall was packed. Lord Mike Hawthorne gripped his teacup so hard his knuckles had gone white.

Lady Elinor Hawthorne wouldn't look at me.

My "brother," Edward Hawthorne, stood by the door, staring at the girl in green, his eyes red-rimmed.

This was my family. Sixteen years, and this was how it ended.

"The midwife is here," Lilian continued, her voice like honey poured over ice. "And the doctor who delivered you. Every witness, every document is here. Isabelle is the true Hawthorne daughter."

"And you—" She let her gaze drift over my gown, my gold bracelet, my carefully arranged hair. "You're the nanny's get. A sickly baby swapped for a healthy one, all for the promise of silver."

The hall went silent. I could hear the fire crackling in the grate.

I lifted my arm. The gold bracelet slid down, revealing an old scar on my wrist. It was pale pink now, faded with time.

At twelve years old, I'd fallen from a peach tree picking blossoms for Edward. He'd carried me for one mile to the doctor, tears streaming down his face.

"So?" I said.

Lilian blinked. She hadn't expected that.

"If the evidence is sound." I stood, my skirts sweeping across the stone floor. "Then I'll leave today."

Edward moved before anyone else could. He crossed the room in three strides, jaw tight. "Father and Mother raised you for sixteen years.

"There's more between us than blood, Charlotte. Why are you so cold about this?"

I looked at him. I saw the guilt in his eyes and the relief he was trying so hard to hide.

Three days ago, he'd paced outside my courtyard for half the night. Then he'd sent a maid with a letter.

It wrote: [Charlotte, Father knows about Isabelle. There's nothing to be done. Take care of yourself.]

I'd thought he meant I should prepare. To make plans. To protect myself.

Now, I understood. He'd been saying goodbye.

"You're right, Edward." I smiled. "Sixteen years of kindness deserve repayment."

Mike finally set down his cup. "Charlotte—"

I cut him off, sliding a silver ring off my finger. On it was a brilliant diamond. Edward had put it on himself when we were thirteen, the day we were betrothed.

He said, "You're the dearest in my heart, Charlotte. When you come of age, we'll marry."

The ring shone in my hand.

"I'm not a Hawthorne by blood," I said. "That makes this engagement void." I held it out to him. "I'm returning it today. We're done."

Edward went pale as milk. He reached for the ring, his fingers brushing mine. It was ice cold. "That's not what I—"

"Then what did you mean?" I let go. The ring landed in his palm.

"I lived your sister's life for sixteen years. Held onto this engagement for sixteen years." I stepped back, putting distance between us. "The real heiress is home. It's only right that I step aside."

The girl in green, Isabelle, pressed a handkerchief to her mouth and began to cry softly, prettily. "Please don't say that, Charlotte. I never meant to take anything from you—"

"Didn't you?" I turned to face her. "Then why did you bring your witnesses here to claim your birthright the very week the Queen Mother announced the Crown Prince's bride selection?"

Her tears stopped. The hall went rigid. No one moved. No one breathed.