Chapter 2

"From now on, you're the rightful daughter of the Nicholson family," Zachary said in a low, steady voice.

I stared at the family record, the one that now carried my name.

My gaze lingered on the name that marked my place in the Nicholson family.

A smile tugged at my lips.

"Father, you'd better think carefully before you make that mark," I said.

I lifted my chin and looked straight at Zachary.

I said, "Once the family record is changed, I'm the rightful daughter. Everything that belongs to the rightful daughter will be mine.

"So when the time comes, don't say I don't know how to play by the rules."

"As long as you're willing to marry, everything else is negotiable," he said through clenched teeth.

I nodded. "Okay."

I walked up to the family record and looked at my name inscribed there.

Starting today, I was the rightful daughter of the Nicholson family.

I turned to face Milana.

Milana was still on her knees, her eyes wide and her face frozen in shock.

"Looks like you'll have to treat me like your elder sister from now on," I said, a smile playing on my lips.

Milana looked like she'd seen a ghost, her face drained of all color.

"No, no way. How could you—" Milana blurted out, completely stunned.

Hannah's face turned ashen.

But she was too stunned to speak because the family record was already altered.

Now, I was the rightful daughter.

The servant who brought the imperial decree was clearly enjoying the drama unfolding before him.

"Since the Nicholson family has made its choice, guess I'll head back to the palace and let them know," he said, still grinning.

He shot me a sly grin.

"Miss Nicholson, someone from the palace will pick you up in three days," he added.

I gave a respectful bow.

"Thank you," I said.

The servant took his leave.

The doors of the Nicholson mansion swung shut behind him.

Now, the only ones left in the grand hall were us—the Nicholson family.

Hannah glared at me, her eyes burning with hatred.

"Don't think that just because the family record's been changed, you're really the rightful daughter," she spat. "In my eyes, you'll always be just an illegitimate daughter."

I looked at her and said, "You're right, Hannah.

"But according to the King's edict, and in the eyes of everyone, I'm the rightful daughter of the Nicholson family. I'm the Nicholson girl chosen to marry Jasper."

I paused for a moment and then continued, "So, Hannah, which do you think the King will trust—your word, or the family record?"

Hannah trembled all over, barely able to contain her fury.

Milana was still on her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried helplessly.

"Father, Mother, you can't do this. You can't let her overshadow me—" Milana sobbed.

Zachary waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough," he snapped. "What's done is done. There's nothing left to say."

Zachary fixed his gaze on me.

"You'll be entering the palace in three days. Get yourself ready," he said.

I nodded. "Alright, I'll be going now."

I turned and walked out.

As I reached the doorway, I glanced back over my shoulder.

Hannah was holding Milana, the two of them hugging each other, crying their eyes out.

Zachary stood off to the side, his face dark and stormy.

I smiled.

They thought sending me off as a substitute bride would somehow protect the reputation of their precious, rightful daughter.

They thought Jasper was nothing but a cripple, and that marrying him meant I would be stuck as a lonely widow for the rest of my life.

They thought I should be grateful for the so-called status of a rightful daughter they had handed me.

But there was one thing they never realized.

The only thing Jasper lost was his ability to father children.

But that was never what I was after.

I made my way back to my own courtyard.

It was the most secluded spot in the entire Nicholson mansion, so out of the way that not even a proper maid could be found here.

All I had was an old woman and a little girl for company.

I pushed open the door to my room.

Inside, it was as bare as ever.

There was just a bed, a table, and a few pieces of old, worn-out furniture.

This was the place I'd called home for fifteen years.

I sat on the edge of the bed and began sorting through my belongings.

There really wasn't much to go through—just a few worn-out clothes, a couple of old books, and a wooden box my mother left behind for me.

I opened the wooden box.

Inside were some of my mother's old jewelry.

They weren't valuable at all, but they were all I owned in this world.

I picked up a silver hairpin and studied it in my palm, quietly taking in its simple beauty.

Mom used to tell me that, back when she was young, she was the daughter of a well-respected family.

But then everything changed. Her family lost their fortune, and both her parents passed away.

She wandered alone for years until Zachary found her and brought her back to the mansion.

She was never given any official status in the family.

Hannah refused to let her set foot inside the main house.

So she was forced to live in the outer courtyard, nothing more than a nameless mistress, hidden away from everyone.

After my mother gave birth to me, her health went downhill fast.

She knew she wouldn't live much longer, so she hid away all her jewelry, telling me they'd be my dowry one day.

"Vivienne, remember this. There's only one person you can truly rely on in this world, and that's yourself. Don't ever expect anything from anyone else," she said.

Those were the last words my mother ever said to me before she died.

I placed the silver hairpin back into the wooden box, letting my fingers linger for a moment. This was all I had left of her.

Mom was right.

In this world, no one would ever truly care about me.

So I had to rely on myself. That was the only way forward.