Chapter 3

I never imagined my parents would defend Sophia to this extent, even going so far as to swap our identities. Just how much do they love Sophia?

Mason couldn't believe what he'd just heard—the truth left him gaping, completely at a loss for words.

The crowd started to speak up, voices rising one after another.

"Mr. Wynn is telling the truth. Sophia is the one who grew up in the Wynn family, while Lillian only showed up not too long ago," one of them chimed in.

"I can back that up too. We watched Sophia grow up from a little girl. She really feels more like the real daughter of the Wynn family," another voice joined in.

Just like that, I was no longer the real daughter of the Wynn family, but merely their adopted one. And it was my own parents who made it official.

I bit down hard on my lip, the taste of blood snapping me back to my senses.

This wasn't the time to fall apart. They weren't even worth my tears. I needed to stay focused on why I came here.

I lifted my head and met my parents' evasive gaze. "Fine. From today on, I'm cutting all ties with you, Mr. and Mrs. Wynn. Whatever happens to me is no longer your concern. Everyone here can be my witness."

"What did you just say?" my parents exclaimed in shock.

"I am disowning you both," I declared coldly, my voice icy and resolute.

"I won't allow it," my father snapped, flicking his sleeve in frustration, looking disappointed in me.

I really couldn't figure them out. They were so quick to insist I was just an old friend's daughter, an adopted child. Now that I was actually giving them what they wanted and cutting ties for good, they were suddenly not okay with it?

"I'm just the daughter of an old friend, not your real child. Why insist on keeping me by your side?" I said, my voice steady.

"Where will you go if you leave us? Sweetheart, it's just how things turned out today. We'll take good care of you. We won't let you, our adopted daughter, suffer," my mother pleaded earnestly, her eyes filled with tears.

Then, to my surprise, Henry spoke up, "You're alone in Riverston with no one to turn to. Why not just stay with the Wynn family? But if you're dead set on having me, then wait.

"Once Sophia is pregnant and gives me a son, I'll take you as my concubine. Sophia is generous. She won't make things difficult for you."

Sophia gave me a look full of wounded jealousy.

Unbelievable, Henry was shameless. He still hadn't paid for what he did to my child and me in my previous life, and now he wanted me as his concubine? In his dreams!

"I'd rather marry a beggar than become some rich man's concubine," I spat out through gritted teeth.

Henry's face turned dark, and he glared at me with a mix of anger and disappointment.

Just as the standoff dragged on, a nonchalant voice broke the tension. "If you want to cut ties, you don't have to make a big fuss and go through all that formal signing."

I looked up and locked eyes with Charles Goodwin, the heir of Lord Goodwin. He gave me a playful smirk. "Just go get married and be done with it. You won't be a Wynn again."

Honestly, I'd considered marriage before, but after Henry betrayed me in my previous life, marriage just felt meaningless to me now.

While I was still hesitating, Charles chimed in, "I'm short a good wife and you seem alright. Why not just marry me?"

I was taken aback by how serious Charles suddenly looked.

Everyone knew Charles was a notorious womanizer, always hanging out with girls. He was already twenty-eight, but no respectable lady would ever want to marry him.

I just wanted to refuse.

But my father was all smiles, practically falling over himself to agree. "Your Highness, what an honor for my daughter. Why not set a time to come over for a chat?"

"I wasn't asking you. I'm asking her," Charles shot back, as cocky as ever. He didn't even bother to look at my father, pointing at me.

"No way. I'm not marrying you," I shot back before I could even think.