Chapter 1
Grace Parker, my sister-in-law, stormed into the company's annual gala and slapped me hard across the face right in front of hundreds of employees.
She jabbed a finger at my nose and shouted, "You're not even fit to shine my brother's shoes! Stop acting high and mighty!"
My father-in-law sat nearby. His face was dark with anger, and he looked ready to chew me out for failing to manage the family.
Instead, I calmly smoothed my hair and looked at him. "Dad, haven't you ever been suspicious?
"Look at her acting like a lunatic. Does she seem like a Parker to you?"
"I highly suggest you get a paternity test so you don't spend the rest of your life raising someone else's kid."
"After all, a true society heiress would never throw a public tantrum like this."
Seeing Grace's face instantly drain of color, I knew everything was about to change.
My father-in-law froze. His eyes turned ice-cold.
Three days later, the results came in. Security dragged my arrogant sister-in-law out the front gates and tossed her to the curb like actual garbage.
*****
My cheek burned. The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the ballroom.
Grace had stormed the stage at our corporate party. Right in front of hundreds of employees.
She pointed her finger right in my face. "Chloe, you're not even fit to shine my brother's shoes!
"Stop pretending to be some big shot Vice President!"
The room went dead silent. Hundreds of pairs of eyes locked onto me.
I saw pity, amusement, and utter confusion.
This was Grace. My husband Logan Parker's sister. The spoiled princess of Parker Group.
Beside me sat my father-in-law, Maxwell Parker.
As Chairman, his face was dark with fury.
He gripped his armrests so hard his knuckles turned white.
He glared at me with pure blame.
He clearly felt my lack of control over the family had allowed Grace to embarrass the Parkers in public.
He was about to explode and put me in my place.
I completely ignored Grace. I reached up and calmly smoothed my messy hair. My movements were steady.
Then, I turned to look at Maxwell.
"Maxwell," I said.
My voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear. Every single person in the room heard me.
Maxwell's rising anger stalled. He froze and stared.
I kept going." Haven't you ever been suspicious over the years?"
His frown deepened. "Suspicious of what?"
I glanced at Grace. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking incredibly smug. She was just waiting to watch me get chewed out.
A tiny smile crept onto my lips. "Look at her. Screaming and making a scene like a lunatic.
"Does she seem like a Parker to you?"
The smugness instantly vanished from Grace's face.
Maxwell's expression shifted.
The anger faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare.
He looked at his daughter in a completely new light.
I twisted the knife. "I highly recommend you get a DNA test.
"It would be a shame if you spent half your life raising someone else's kid while she drags your family name through the mud.
"You always say the Parkers are a legacy family.
"A real society heiress would never throw a public tantrum like this."
My words dropped like a bomb in the silent room. People gasped.
Grace's face went completely white.
The hand pointing at me started to shake.
"What the hell are you talking about!" she stammered. Her voice was laced with panic. "Chloe, you psycho! You're trying to ruin me!"
Her arrogance was completely gone.
I knew it. The power dynamic in this family was about to flip.