Chapter 3

At three that afternoon, the Grant family held their so-called public apology event on the first floor of the Grand Crest Hotel. Even more media showed up than I'd expected.

Some came for the Grant family name, some for Sophie's new endorsement, and some wanted to see how the real daughter would clean up the mess for the foster daughter they'd raised for twenty years.

By the time I reached backstage, Sophie was already done with her makeup.

She'd changed into a plain long dress, with light foundation and enough redness left at the corners of her eyes to make her look even more like the victim than she had yesterday.

The moment she saw me come in, she stood up. "Emily."

"Don't sound so close to me." I set down my bag. "You might call the wrong name later."

Her lips stiffened for a second, then her eyes reddened again. "I know you hate me, but I really didn't mean to do it."

"Of course you didn't mean to hit her." She froze. I looked at her. "You only meant to send me to prison in your place."

Footsteps sounded outside, and Victoria walked in.

She was wearing a dark green suit today, her hair pinned up so neatly not a strand was out of place, as if this weren't an apology to the victim at all but a brand launch she was personally presiding over.

"The media are all here." she glanced at me. "Emily, remember the script. Apologize first, admit fault second, and don't say anything extra."

I handed the USB drive in my hand to the hotel's tech staffer nearby. "When I speak later, put the files inside on the big screen for me."

Victoria frowned. "What files?"

"The compensation plan and confession statement," I said evenly. "People should at least get to see how sincere the Grant family is." She stared at me for two seconds, then let it go.

When the lights came up out front, I followed Victoria and Sophie onto the stage. Richard sat front and center with James beside him, brand reps and fan photographers lining the sides, while flashes burst toward us hard enough to sting my eyes.

Victoria spoke first. She bowed to the cameras, her voice so steady there wasn't the slightest tremor in it. "We've invited everyone here today because the Grant family needs to make a statement about the traffic accident that happened the night before last."

She made it sound beautiful. The Grant family would never avoid responsibility. Emily had only returned home and was still willing to step forward and take responsibility. Sophie had been so guilty she hadn't slept all night.

In a few sentences, they became noble, responsible people, and I became the driver finally ready to admit fault.

When it was my turn, the microphone was placed in my hand. The room went completely still. Everyone was waiting for me to follow the script they'd prepared and nail myself to the role they had built for me.

I lowered my eyes to the speech paper in my hand and started slowly. "Hello, everyone. I'm Emily Grant. I am here today to admit fault."

In the front row, James's shoulders visibly loosened. Sophie raised a hand to the corner of her eye, even her timing perfect. I lifted my gaze and looked straight at the center livestream camera.

"The first wrong I'm here to admit is that I should never have been shoved out by my own mother, the day after I was brought back to the Grant family, to go to prison for someone else." I said.

The audience froze for a second, then exploded. James shot to his feet. "Emily!" I ignored him and only raised my hand toward the tech booth. The big screen lit up.

The first audio clip began to play. Victoria's voice rang through the entire banquet hall. "You got back to the Grant family. Nobody knows who you are. Even if you do a few years and come out, you'll still be a Grant heiress.

Sophie is about to sign a contract. She can't have a record. The Grant family will compensate you." Every line was exactly what they'd said in the living room that afternoon.

For the first time, the composure on Victoria's face cracked. She snapped at the tech booth, "Turn it off."

"Not yet," I said. "There's more."

The next image on the screen was a photo of trace evidence from inside the accident car. Holding the microphone, I spoke one word at a time. "This was taken by traffic officers inside the accident vehicle.

"The broken anklet on the passenger-side floor mat, blue star charm. Sophie, in your interview on Starlight Night Talk last month, didn't you say this was a birthday gift from my brother, custom made, one of a kind?"Sophie's face turned ghost white.

"Now look at the nail polish trace on the steering wheel. Dark red cat-eye polish. A crack on the ring finger of the right hand. Last night, when I returned to the Grant family, you personally poured me tea." I said.

People had already started snapping photos like crazy. The brand representative lowered his head to check his phone, and his expression turned visibly colder. James rushed onto the stage and reached for my microphone. I stepped back half a pace and avoided him.

"James, what's the rush?" It was the first time I'd ever called him that. He froze.

I looked at him, my voice low but clear enough for everyone to hear. "Are you afraid I'll rip the Grant family's mask off in public, or afraid Sophie finally can't hide behind all of you anymore?"

"Emily, get down here right now." Richard had stood up too, his face dark enough to scare anyone.

"I can do that," I said. "After the last piece of evidence plays."

I glanced toward the entrance. Alex was standing there, with a man in his forties and two traffic officers beside him.

He held a manila envelope in his hand, his face still drawn but far steadier than it had been at the hospital. The room broke into even more chaos. "The victim's family is here," someone blurted out. I stepped aside.