Chapter 3

I picked up the internal phone and called my assistant. "Book me a flight back home. Make it right around the time of Joyce's third baby's one-month party."

My assistant said, "Sure, Ms. Grant. Should I let the Grant family know?"

"No need," I replied with a faint smile. "Let's give them a surprise."

The plane touched down. I set foot on familiar soil, and the air buzzed with the city's vibrant energy.

Without giving the Grant family a heads-up, I moved straight into the penthouse suite of the most exclusive hotel downtown.

I didn't make my grand entrance right away. Instead, I met up with a few contacts first.

One was a long-serving executive at Grant Group, the vice president of finance who'd been pushed aside by Zack and left feeling frustrated and overlooked.

Another was an anonymous informant holding key evidence of Zack's abuse of power and shady money transfers.

And then there was the top private investigator in the business. I needed him to dig up all the juicy, hidden details about Joyce and Zack over the years.

With money as my leverage and my sharp instincts and negotiation skills, I quickly had all the information and support I needed.

A net was quietly being woven around Joyce and Zack, and indirectly, around Spark's and Tasha's warped perceptions.

Joyce's third child's one-month party was set at the Grant residence, and the whole place was decked out in pure luxury.

I picked that day to show up, rocking a custom-tailored suit and driving myself over alone.

Instead of fancy gifts, I only brought a briefcase packed with game-changing documents.

The entrance to the Grant residence was lit up with festive lights and packed with guests.

My arrival caused a bit of a stir.

Plenty of people recognized me, shooting me looks full of surprise and curiosity.

After all, I was the real heiress who'd been exiled for years—a whispered rumor, almost an urban legend in this crowd.

Spark and Tasha clearly hadn't expected me to show up.

Their smiles froze the moment they saw me, especially Tasha's. Her expression got really complicated.

"Joliet? W-Why did you suddenly come back?" Tasha stammered.

I smiled. "The institute project is on hold for now, so I thought I'd drop by for a while. Just in time for Joyce's big day."

My gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Joyce and Zack, who were surrounded by admirers.

Joyce was dressed in an expensive custom gown, dripping in jewels, her face glowing with a radiant, self-satisfied smile.

But if I looked closely, there was a hint of barely concealed exhaustion and forced cheer in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.

When she saw me, her smile froze for a split second, and then turned even sweeter and more fake. She let go of Zack's arm and hurried over.

"Joliet, you're finally back! I missed you so much," she said.

She opened her arms to hug me, but I smoothly sidestepped her, dodging the hug without making it obvious.

"Congratulations, Joyce," I said coolly, my eyes drifting past her to Zack standing behind.

Zack was definitely easy on the eyes, sharp in his suit, all charm and poise. Right now, he was sizing me up with a calculating, almost appraising look.

He reached out his hand, flashing a polite smile. "Joliet, it's been a long time. Welcome back."

I didn't take his hand but just gave a slight nod. "Mr. Lewis, I've heard your name before."

The vibe instantly got awkward.

Spark cleared his throat, trying to smooth things over. "Alright, Joliet just got back. She must be tired from the trip. Have a seat and rest. Joyce, Zack, go greet the other guests."

I slipped into a quiet corner and sat down, watching this whole phony celebration play out with icy indifference.

Joyce was the ultimate social butterfly, fluttering from guest to guest, soaking up compliments and never missing a chance to hint at how she'd "expanded" the Grant family tree and how proud everyone should be of Zack's talents.

Zack, meanwhile, was schmoozing with the business crowd, cracking jokes and carrying himself like he was already the Grant family's heir apparent.

Tasha tried a few times to come over and talk to me, but each attempt was interrupted by guests or Joyce pulling her away.

Spark stayed with a group of old friends, sneaking glances at me every now and then, his eyes full of complicated emotions.

Halfway through the party, the host invited Spark to the stage to give a speech.

It was the usual routine—thanking everyone for coming, expressing his affection for his grandson, and throwing in some not-so-subtle hints about the Grant Group's bright future with Zack by his side.

Just as Spark finished his speech and the applause died down, Zack was straightening his tie, about to step up and show off his "heir apparent" vibe. That was when I slowly got up and walked to the front of the stage.