Chapter 4
Isabelle fanned the flames, crying and insisting she was innocent.
"Emily, I know you just got back and want Mom and Dad's attention.
"But why blame me? What did I do wrong?
"If Mom and Dad don't want me anymore because they found their real daughter and I have to leave, I'll go with a clear conscience!"
My parents glanced at me, looking conflicted. I gave them a gentle, understanding smile.
"Mom, Dad, I just want peace in the family. I'm not trying to blame Isabelle, and honestly, I don't really understand all this talk about cameras... But if Isabelle wants to check, go ahead.
"I just got home. I don't want to make things hard for you."
When the security footage loaded, Isabelle and Charles looked confident they'd win. But all the camera showed was Isabelle raising her hand and me hitting the floor—nothing like they expected.
And yes, the pendant really did fall right when we passed it between us.
"This angle doesn't show anything!
"But I saw it with my own eyes! Emily staged the whole thing to frame Isabelle!
"You did this on purpose! How could you be so cruel?" Charles roared.
The more Charles attacked me, the more I kept my head down, sobbing as I pressed closer to Mom and Dad.
Dad slapped Charles hard across the face. "Shut up!
"Emily didn't even know there were cameras! How could she have staged all this?"
Actually, I'd spotted that black camera the moment I walked in.
Back then, although surveillance cameras weren't everywhere yet, they covered every corner of the city before I died. Adjusting the angle was easy.
But right now, I was just a small-town girl in my early twenties, playing my part—eyes wide, lips trembling as I watched the "surveillance recording."
I said, "Is this a security camera? Is there one at the front door too?
"Mom, Dad, can I see it?"
Anyone watching would've pitied me—my timid voice was that convincing.
"After all, it was the first time Charles and I ever walked through the door together."
As I spoke, I glanced at Charles.
Seeing his face drain of color, I let a tiny smile slip.
He was so focused on protecting Isabelle, he didn't see he'd already walked into my trap.
Charles, Ryan, Isabelle—they were all just stepping stones on my path.
Who I dealt with first didn't matter.
The hunt had only just begun.
Despite Charles' efforts to stop them, my parents—indignant on my behalf—pulled up the front door surveillance footage.
Just as I expected, when they heard Charles' arrogant talk of an heir, Dad's face darkened.
"Charles! Who said you get to be the heir to Stone Enterprises?
"Who gave you the right to talk to my daughter like that?
"Isabelle is my daughter, and so is Emily!
"Don't forget why you even got to set foot in this house!"
In my past life, Charles only inherited Stone Enterprises because my parents died in an accident. Now, seeing him bow his head and clench his fists, a chill ran down my spine.
Could it be... my parents' deaths weren't an accident?
Charles took all the blame from my parents, letting Isabelle escape unscathed.
For the next few days, Isabelle seemed to learn her lesson. She started playing the meek role, just like I used to.
She even moved out of the best bedroom in the mansion and replaced her designer wardrobe with the plainest, most pitiful clothes.
She said, "Emily, you're back, so of course I shouldn't be here having what's yours.
"Please, just don't kick me out. As long as I can stay with Mom and Dad, I'll do anything—even be the maid!"
She even put on a show in front of my parents, dumping all her treasured jewelry and clothes at my feet like some grand apology.
"Charles only upset you that day because he's always been protective of me. Really, it's all my fault.
"You probably don't care about any of this stuff anymore, but it's all I have. Please, just don't be mad at me. Let Charles and me stay with Mom and Dad and take care of them. I'll do anything to get your forgiveness."
Then she actually bowed to me and cried until her eyes were red and swollen. My parents looked heartbroken.
"Emily, your sister has such a pure heart.
"We're family—you can't hold grudges like this.
"Don't be so petty."
Charles helped Isabelle up, then handed in his resignation letter.
"Mom, Dad, you adopted me to look after Isabelle. But if Emily won't have her around, there's no reason for me to stay with the Stone family," he said.
Charles had been groomed for years and controlled a huge portion of Stone Enterprises' resources and insider information. If he left now, the company would definitely suffer.
He and Isabelle played their parts perfectly, and my soft-hearted parents took my hand, trying to "reason" with me. They showed me photos of Isabelle growing up—in every one, she looked like a little doll, adorable as could be. My parents' eyes were full of tenderness as they gazed at her.
"Isabelle's never had a hard day in her life, and honestly, she really didn't know anything—she's innocent.
"From now on, you and Isabelle will be sisters. We'll just tell everyone you're the daughter we lost and found.
"The Stone family can easily support a few more children.
"You and Isabelle will both be our daughters.
"Charles will run the company, and you and Isabelle will split ownership 50-50. We promise you'll never suffer again."
Looking at my parents with everything already decided for me, I couldn't help feeling disappointed—even though I'd expected it.
Was I being too greedy?
But why should I split what was mine alone with someone else?
"Next week is Isabelle's birthday. We'll throw a joint party to celebrate that and your return—a double celebration for the family..."
For the first time ever, I cut my parents off. "Mom, Dad, next week is my birthday too."