Chapter 3

The moment I put my phone down, the office door was flung open.

Andrew and Emily swaggered in like they owned the place.

My secretary rushed in after them, looking both anxious and guilty.

"Ms. Jameson, I'm so sorry. They just barged in, and I couldn't stop them no matter what I did."

Unbothered, I just waved her off.

"No worries, that's on me—I forgot to mention it. From now on, neither these two nor any stray dogs are allowed in this company."

Andrew had never been put down like this before. His face flushed with embarrassment. "Natalie, what the hell do you mean by that?"

I raised an eyebrow, shooting him a mocking half-smile. "Seriously? Is it really that hard to figure out what I mean?"

"You—"

Andrew was so pissed he couldn't even speak. After a long moment, he finally gritted out,

"Natalie, if you know what's good for you, hand the chairman position back to Mr. Jameson and scram from Jameson Group. And stay away from Emie, or don't blame me for getting rough."

I almost laughed out loud. My reply was ice-cold. "Andrew, get this straight—I'm the chairman of Jameson Group now.

"Any business between Jameson and your family goes through me. So who do you think you are, trying to order me around?"

I knew the Cooper family was all glitz and glamour on the surface, but behind closed doors, their fortunes had been declining for years.

This partnership with the Jameson family was probably their last chance to turn things around—Andrew wouldn't risk losing it for anything.

Emily's glare was pure poison and spite as she saw Andrew left speechless by my words.

"Drew, don't be upset because of me. As her big sister, if Natalie resents me, I guess that's just my burden to bear."

Andrew's eyes were full of pity as he murmured, "Emie, you shouldn't have to suffer like this."

I could hear his thoughts loud and clear.

[Emie's always been so good to me—she even put herself in danger to save my life. And now, I can't even keep her safe. What a useless man I am.]

I watched their pathetic, disgusting little performance with a cold stare, then didn't hesitate to tell them to get out.

Seeing I wasn't backing down, they had no choice but to slink out, tails between their legs.

After they left, I couldn't help but mull over what Andrew was really thinking.

When did Emily ever save his life?

As I recalled, Andrew had only one big accident.

Back then, the Jameson family and the Cooper family didn't even know each other. It just so happened that Andrew and I got kidnapped together.

While we were trying to escape, Andrew was so wiped out he nearly passed out. I had to risk everything, dragging him along and fighting tooth and nail just to get us both out alive.

That was the reason the Jameson family and the Cooper family ended up working so closely together.

I was the one who put my life on the line for him, but now Andrew was convinced it was Emily who saved him.

It was obvious—my biased parents must've spun some story while I was unconscious, just so Emily could play the hero and win the Cooper family's favor.

I always wondered—Emily couldn't hold a candle to me, so what did Andrew ever see in her?

Now, it all clicked.

I was almost itching to see Andrew's face when the truth finally hit him. Just imagining his reaction made me want to laugh.

The day before Vincent's birthday, I finally got the report from the private investigator.

I'd always had this gut feeling—maybe the reason my parents always put Emily first was because I wasn't even their biological child.

But the report spelled it out in black and white: I really was their biological daughter.

Still puzzled, I kept flipping through to the next report.

But what I read next totally blew my mind.

Emily had absolutely no blood ties to my parents.

It meant we were never twins—not even close. There wasn't a single drop of blood connecting us.

The next few pages spelled it out: Emily was actually the child Vincent had with his first love.

After his first love died giving birth, Vincent decided to bring Emily into the Jameson family.

But he was afraid Fiona would resent Emily for being his first love's daughter, so he secretly swapped our identities.

What Vincent never had a clue about was that his so-called first love had been cheating on him from the start—Emily wasn't even his kid.

And as for why Fiona always hated me so much, even wished I was dead?

It turned out that she spent all these years thinking I was the other woman's child, and Emily was her real daughter.

Seriously, what a freaking joke!

With Vincent's birthday just around the corner, I figured it was time to give him a birthday gift he'd never see coming.

*****

On Vincent's birthday, I went back to the Jameson Manor. But as soon as I got out of the car, I saw the place was completely empty—not a soul in sight.

The driver quizzed a passing maid and learned that Emily's sudden collapse had sent the entire Jameson family rushing to the hospital.

Hearing the name of the hospital, Riverside Medical Center, I felt like even the universe was rooting for me.

I directed the driver to head there pronto.

This place wasn't just where I was born—it was also the hospital where I cheated death after being kidnapped.

There was evidence everywhere in this hospital.

By the time I arrived at Riverside Medical Center, Andrew and my parents had just stepped out.

Emily was sitting alone on the hospital bed.