Chapter 2

Margaret Sutton stepped in front of Emily protectively, glaring at me.

Margaret was Richard's mother.

She had never liked me. I didn't want children, and she used that excuse to pick fights with me every chance she got.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't see any manners in her at all," I said, pointing straight at Emily as I looked at Margaret.

If Margaret hadn't given her the green light, would Emily have dared to impersonate me in front of everyone?

"You hit me and dare to call me rude? Just wait. I'll have you fired the moment this ends." Emily clutched her chest, pale with anger.

She really thought she had the authority to fire me? What a joke.

I snapped, "Are you done pretending you run the place? Or did that champagne not snap you out of it?"

I honestly didn't understand how she still had the nerve to act tough.

Why was Margaret siding with her?

What exactly gave her this confidence?

Then a deep voice came from behind me. "Honey, who upset you? I'm sorry I'm late."

My body froze. That was my husband—the man I hadn't seen in three years.

Three years ago, he told me to go build our business overseas, then completely disappeared from my life.

He only messaged me occasionally to check the numbers, never anything personal.

My father had been furious when he first found out, ready to step in and help me.

But I wanted to prove myself, so I cut off contact with him and fought my way through a foreign market alone.

Now, after everything, I didn't even know if Richard felt familiar or just distant.

I watched him walk right past me without even a glance. He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over Emily's shoulders instead.

"Honey, are you okay?" His voice was soft—gentle in a way I hadn't heard directed at me in years.

"They questioned who I am. They even pushed me to speak Eldorian," Emily said as she leaned into him, looking oh-so-fragile. "You know my throat's been hurting. I can barely talk."

Richard pulled her closer, his jaw tight with irritation—but not at her.

"I gave you one year. One. And you took three," he snapped at me. "Completely useless. I honestly thought you'd never make it back. Now apologize to her. Right now."

He spoke to me like I was some intern who had ruined a meeting.

"You're calling her your wife?" I asked quietly.

Watching him defend Emily so fiercely made me feel like the punchline to a very cruel joke.

"If not her, then who? You?" He shot me a bored look. "Stop dreaming."

Emily held onto his sleeve, smiling smugly like she'd already won.

"Richard, she spent three years abroad alone. Feeling resentful is understandable," she said sweetly. "It's our big day today. Don't let her ruin it. And I'm your wife. I can't be petty."

People around us whispered nonstop.

"Some people must be crazy. How could both Mr. Lane's mother and Mr. Lane mistake someone else for their own family?"

"I heard she left with a hundred million dollars when she moved overseas. And after the Lanes trusted her that much... unbelievable."

"Mrs. Lane really has a kind heart. Anyone else would've snapped back."

I looked at the two of them wrapped in each other's arms and smiled.

"Richard married the daughter of the Carter family," I said calmly. "You all know Mr. Carter, don't you?"

I hadn't appeared in public much since marrying Richard, but my father certainly had.

Everyone in this room had seen him at one event or another. They would recognize him.

"Who doesn't know Mr. Carter? We've all worked with the Carter family in some way," several people said.

"In that case," I continued, "let's wait for Mr. Carter to get here and see who his real daughter is."

I let my eyes sweep over the crowd—and over Emily and Richard. "I hope some of you can stay just as confident when the truth comes out."

Richard's face went pale in an instant.

I pulled out my phone to call my father, but no one picked up after several tries.

"A little secretary like you thinks she can call Mr. Carter? Know your place," Emily sneered. "You really think you're someone he'd pick up for? You're a pretty good actress, though."

When Richard saw the call wasn't going through, he snatched my phone and threw it to the floor.

"Exactly. Mr. Carter visits Mrs. Lane all the time. I've seen him several times myself," Grace Taylor added proudly. "And that emerald necklace on Mrs. Lane? Mr. Carter gave it to her."

Grace pointed at the green gemstone around Emily's neck.

"I remember that piece. Mr. Carter paid a fortune for it at an auction. He said it was a birthday gift for his daughter," someone chimed in. "So she really is Mrs. Lane? Then what's this woman acting all high and mighty for?"

I looked at the necklace sitting perfectly on Emily's collarbone.

I rarely wore jewelry and kept everything locked in the safe in our bedroom.

Only one person besides me had access to it—my husband. And he'd taken my things to dress up another woman.

"Not only did she steal my identity, but she even stole my jewelry. Guess being a thief is just her thing," I said coldly.

"Bitch, who are you calling a thief?" Emily snapped.

She ordered the security guards to grab me and raised her hand to slap me.

"You try it," I warned sharply. "Take one swing and see what happens. You clearly have no idea who you're dealing with."

Richard let out a low chuckle and kicked me hard toward the doorway. "You? Don't make me laugh."

"Is that so? If she's not enough for you, how about me?" A voice boomed across the hall.