Chapter 3

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard footsteps approaching outside the door.

Cara Spencer, the young maid, rushed in.

She said, "Miss, Mrs. Nicholson sent over the dowry list."

Cara handed me a sheet of paper.

I took the sheet and looked it over.

The page was packed with all sorts of stuff—gold hairpins, pendants, silk, and satin.

It seemed like a lot.

But I knew these were just the cheap ones.

All the real valuables in our family ended up with Milana.

I set the list down.

"Got it," I said.

Cara glanced at me, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she held back.

"Miss, are you really going to marry Jasper?" she finally asked. "Word is, Jasper's nothing but a cripple now..."

I looked up at her.

"So what if he's a cripple?" I replied. "He's still the Crown Prince."

Cara blinked, caught off guard.

I stood up and walked over to the window.

"Cara, tell me, who's more pitiful—a cripple or an illegitimate daughter?" I asked.

Cara stayed silent.

I let out a soft laugh.

"To everyone else, Jasper and I are just objects of pity," I said. "But what they don't realize is, it's those who are pitied that truly know how to survive."

I turned to look at Cara.

"Go and count the dowry items. Not a single thing should be missing," I told her.

Cara nodded and dashed out.

I settled back into my seat and picked up the dowry list once more.

I scanned through the list, item by item.

Then, my gaze caught the very last line.

"In addition, granted to the illegitimate daughter..."

I froze.

The list actually had "illegitimate daughter" written right there.

I gave a bitter laugh.

Hannah clearly wasn't ready to give up.

She'd left her mark on the dowry list.

If word got out, everyone would know it wasn't the true heiress marrying Jasper.

I sneered. So that was how they saw me—just an illegitimate daughter.

I tore the list to pieces.

"Cara." I called out.

Cara rushed in. "Miss?"

I handed her the torn-up pieces.

"Go tell Mrs. Nicholson I don't want this list," I said. "Have her write a new one. Make sure it's the heiress's standard, not a single thing missing."

Cara looked startled. "Miss, won't this just make Mrs. Nicholson mad?"

I looked at her. "I'd like to see her try. Right now, I'm the heiress, he one marrying the Crown Prince.

"If the dowry isn't impressive enough, it's the Nicholson family's reputation that'll be dragged through the mud.

"She wouldn't dare mess with the Nicholson family's name."

Cara hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she took the torn-up pieces and left.

Not long after, Hannah's angry yelling echoed from outside.

"You've got some nerve now, Vivienne. Think you can stand up to me?" Hannah shouted.

I sat there in my room, unfazed.

After a while, Cara hurried back in, a new list clutched in her hand.

"Miss, Mrs. Nicholson sent me to deliver this," she said.

I took the list and looked it over.

This time, every reference to "illegitimate daughter" had been replaced with "heiress."

And the dowry had increased by thirty percent compared to before.

I nodded, feeling satisfied.

"Now that's more like it," I said.

Cara finally breathed out, relieved.

I tucked the list away and began plotting my next steps.

In just three days, I'd be entering the palace.

The Nicholson family thought they could just shove me out and be done with it.

But what they didn't realize was, this was only the beginning.

Once I entered the palace, that's when the real show would start.

That evening, Milana paid me a visit.

She stood regally at the entrance to my courtyard, dressed in a dazzling gown, refusing to cross the threshold.

"Vivienne, get out here," Milana called from the doorway.

I stepped outside.

"Did you need something, sister?" I asked.

Milana gritted her teeth.

"Stop calling me your sister. I'm not," she snapped.

I smiled.

"The family records make it clear. I'm the eldest heiress, and you're just the second," I said. "By the rules, you should be calling me 'sister.'"

Milana's cheeks turned red with rage.

"Vivienne, don't get cocky," she snapped. "You really think marrying Jasper will let you turn things around?

"He's nothing but a cripple. Once you're wed, you'll spend your whole life as a living widow."

I looked at her.

"And?" I replied. "Even a Crown Princess living like a widow is still better off than the so-called heiress stuck in this household."

Milana was stunned into silence.

She glared at me, speechless for a while.

At last, she gave a bitter laugh.

"Just wait and see," she sneered.

She spun on her heel and strode off.

I watched her leave, a hint of amusement curling at my lips.

Bring it on.

I would be right here.

The three days flew by in a flash.

The bridal escort showed up at last.

The front gates of the Nicholson family were lit up with festive decorations.

Everyone came out to see me off.

Zachary, dressed in his suit, stood at the entrance, a smile on his face.