Chapter 2
Mom's face darkened. She marched over. "Lily, are you crazy?"
"Crazy? Me?" I smiled, my voice soft but loud enough for the front rows to hear. "Grandma left this bracelet to me, but now it's on Yolanda's wrist. Is it wrong for me to take back what's mine?"
Mom lowered her voice. "Don't forget what you promised."
"What did I promise? That even though I'm the Rivers family's real daughter who was lost for years, I should stand here as Yolanda's side character?
"That I should watch her wear my bracelet, take my place, and call my parents 'Mom and Dad' like she's the real daughter?" I shot back.
People around us started whispering.
"What's going on?"
"I thought this was a welcome-home party for a sponsored girl?"
"Didn't Mrs. Rivers just say Yolanda was the only princess of the family?"
Dad strode over, his face stern, his voice threatening. "Lily, go backstage."
In my previous life, he always looked at me like this, as if I were a troublesome brat.
I met his gaze and said slowly, "Dad, where do you want me to go?"
That word "Dad" made the whole room erupt.
Dad froze.
Mom sucked in a breath. "What nonsense are you saying?"
Yolanda's eyes welled with tears, her fingers twisting her dress. "I know you're upset, but don't joke about this. There are so many guests here."
That was always her move. Never fight face-to-face.
Just cry a little, and people would defend her.
As expected, William, who'd been sitting in the front row, got to his feet.
He was in a black suit, tall and striking, with that same cold, untouchable vibe.
In my past life, I'd been fooled by that face for seven years.
He walked to me and lowered his voice, like calming a tantrum child. "Lily, stop this. Today is Yolanda's big day. Whatever you want, I'll make it up to you later."
I looked at him and laughed. "Make it up to me? What could you possibly give me? An invitation to your future engagement party with Yolanda?"
His eyes widened.
In my previous life, after what happened today, he started flirting with Yolanda behind my back while sweet-talking me.
When Grandma died, he'd easily switched my engagement to Yolanda.
I'd been stupid enough not to see that he never cared about me until the very end.
William's voice turned cold. "You're talking crazy."
"Am I?" I sneered. "You know the truth."
I reached for a microphone next to the champagne tower.
The microphone carried my voice throughout the entire room. "Hello, everyone.
"Since the Riverses invited so many media outlets and business partners tonight, I'll make things clear here.
"I'm Lily Rivers. Just twenty minutes ago, I found out that even as the Rivers' real daughter, I'm not allowed to announce who I am at my welcome-home party."
Mom went pale and lunged for the microphone. "Security. Get her out of here."
I took a quick step back, dodging her hand.
"Want me to leave? Fine." I pulled a document from my purse. "But care to explain why this paternity test was stashed in the drawer of my dressing room first?"
I just found it in the bottom drawer of my vanity.
In my previous life, I died never knowing the report hadn't been lost at all. They'd locked it away.
I opened the report, and the conclusion practically screamed at everyone: Richard Rivers and Lily Rivers were biologically related, with 99.999% certainty.
Chaos broke out. Cameras flashed nonstop.
Reporters swarmed like sharks smelling blood.
"Mr. Rivers, is this true?"
"Mrs. Rivers, Lily claims she's the real daughter of the Rivers family. What's your response?"
"Then who exactly is Yolanda?"
Yolanda's face drained of color.
Dad tried to save face, forcing a calm tone. "Everyone, we will give a full explanation later. Today—"
"Today's a welcome-home party, isn't it?" I cut him off. "You should say who you're welcoming."
I turned to Yolanda, my voice softer. "You wear my bracelet, take my place, and live my life. Have you had enough yet?"
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I never wanted to take anything from you. Mom and Dad can't bear to let me go. I have no choice."
Such a helpless act.
She'd always cried like this in my previous life, wrapping cruelty in sadness and letting others clean up her mess.
I stepped forward and decisively took the bracelet off her wrist.
She cried out in pain and immediately lunged to grab it back.
I deftly slipped it onto my wrist.
The instant the cool emerald touched my skin, the suffocating resentment I'd carried for seven years finally eased a little.
"If they can't bear to let you go, keep you as their adopted daughter. But you don't touch anything that's mine."