Chapter 3
As I watched the necklace flash on screen, a sharp pain hit my chest.
What a coincidence. I had one just like it.
With everyone watching, I took my time and pulled another necklace out from beneath my collar.
It looked just like Willa's, except that mine had a cheap glass stone instead of a diamond, and the chain was just dull metal.
In the spotlight, it seemed downright sad, even laughable.
The host paused, clearly caught off guard. "Evie, what's with that necklace?"
I gently ran my fingers over the fake diamond, my voice soft but clear for the mic. "Oh, you mean this?
"It's the only thing my mom left me when she left me behind.
"I was only three, so I don't remember much. I just held on to this necklace, thinking it was all I had of her.
"When I got older, I realized it was worthless, just a few bucks from a street vendor."
I glanced at Gracie and Willa, their faces as pale as ghosts. "Funny how my mom went back and got my 'sister' an identical necklace, except that hers actually has real diamonds.
"Looks like not all motherly love is the same.
"One is worth a few bucks, and the other is worth millions."
I forced a smile, but my eyes held no warmth. "What great motherly love, right?"
The room fell completely silent.
The cameras caught the moment as Gracie's and Willa's faces drained of color.
Holden gripped his fists tightly under the table.
The live chat froze for three seconds and then erupted.
[Holy shit. What a shocker!]
[So Gracie bought her real daughter a cheap knockoff and splurged on a diamond necklace for the adopted one? What was she thinking?]
[This is so gross. I thought their mother-daughter bond was real, but now it feels totally fake.]
[Poor Evie. She clung to that cheap necklace for eighteen years, believing it was her mom's love, only to discover it was just a cruel joke.]
[Gracie's not even human, and Willa's no better. How can she feel okay wearing someone else's cherished keepsake?]
Willa started to shake, instinctively reaching to take off her necklace.
Gracie grabbed her hand, trying to stay composed as she spoke to the camera. "No, everyone has it wrong.
"I-I just missed Evie so much, so I had someone make a copy to be a reminder of her.
She herself wouldn't believe a word she had just said.
I let out a cold laugh. "A reminder of me?
"It's funny. You stand here with me, but I don't see you getting all emotional.
"Maybe seeing Willa wearing the same necklace hits differently for you, huh?
"Gracie, you might fool everyone else, but do you really think you can fool me?"
"For eighteen years, did you ever call me or write to me?
"You never did.
"You just kept living your perfect life with your 'daughter,' while I was left to rot where you couldn't even see me."
Holden finally snapped. He jumped to his feet, pointing at me. "Evie, shut up!
"Stop spouting nonsense and ruining the show!"
I met his glare, completely unbothered. "Me? Talking nonsense?
"Then maybe you can explain, Mr. Sargent, why the daughter you say was 'lost' is listed as 'abandoned' in the family records?"
"It was your signature, right?"
Holden flinched, his eyes wide with shock.
He clearly didn't expect me to know all this.
Of course, the first thing I did after reuniting with the Sargent family was check my own records.
It was all right there in black and white.
I, Evie Sargent, was abandoned.
I was not the poor kid they always claimed that they lost by accident.
That revelation hit hard, blowing up the live stream all over again.
The whole internet went wild.
*****
The Sargent family's PR team was in a frenzy, barely holding it together.
The word "abandoned" had become a permanent stain on their reputation.
No matter how many posts they deleted or how many paid promoters they brought in, they couldn't stop the wave of public outrage.
The Sargent family's stock price plummeted immediately.
Holden was so furious that he shattered an entire set of coffee supplies in his study.
The way he glared at me made it seem like he wanted to tear me apart.
Yet, they still didn't dare to cancel the contract.
Doing so would feel like running away from guilt.
So, they had no choice but to tough it out and keep up the façade.
As for me, I was more than happy to play along.
The next part of the show was all about showcasing the family's "skills and achievements."
This was the Sargent family's grand comeback.
They aimed to transform Marcel into the perfect business prodigy to save their tarnished reputation.
Marcel walked onto the stage in a perfectly fitted suit, looking slick and overconfident, holding a presentation.
"This is the 'Soaring Plan' I've created for the Sargent Group's next five years," he announced.
He spoke with confidence, tossing around business terms as if he were born for this moment.
In the audience, Gracie and Holden beamed, clearly proud of him.
Willa looked at Marcel with admiration, completely impressed.
The live chat started buzzing with a different energy.
[Mr. and Mrs. Sargent might be terrible, but their son is genuinely impressive.]
[This plan is incredible! For someone so young to think so big, it's clear why he's the heir to a wealthy family.]
[Honestly, Marcel's got talent. I can't deny it.]