Chapter 1

The day I came back from Swiden, my replacement was sitting right in my seat.

She was wearing my clothes, my hairpins, and had my fiancé and little brother standing up for her.

They all thought I was never coming back. Guess what? I came back.

*****

My name was Jessie Lawrence. Three years ago, I was plagued by a recurring illness, and even the best doctors in Kingston couldn't help me.

Father had no choice but to send me off to the Lawrence family's estate in Swiden to recover.

Before I left, he held my hand and promised that once I got better, everything in the capital would be like it was before.

But when I returned to Kingston, I realized those words were nothing but empty promises.

The welcome-home party was held at the Rainstone Garden in the Marquis's estate.

The moment I walked in, the whole room went dead silent.

The young nobles who used to orbit around me all dropped their eyes, none daring to meet my gaze.

My half-brother, Marcus, was in the middle of the crowd, pouring coffee for a woman.

When he saw me, his face froze for a split second, but then he turned back to her and said gently, "Linda, the coffee's still hot. Let me cool it down for you."

I paused and looked up.

The woman was dressed in a flowing blue gown embroidered with flowers, and in her hair was an emerald hairpin, almost a perfect copy of the one I used to wear.

Her features only bore a slight resemblance to mine, but she had managed to imitate my bearing almost perfectly.

If I hadn't returned today, anyone glancing her way might truly believe she was the true daughter of the Lawrence family.

Her name was Linda Bennett. She was a distant niece of my stepmother, Kelly Lawson, who brought her back from the Swiden manor a year ago.

When she first arrived in the capital, Linda was so shy she barely spoke above a whisper.

Then she started copying everything about me, including my clothes, how I brewed coffee, how I played music, even the scent I loved.

But after a while, she stopped imitating and started acting like she belonged.

She took my seat, stole my friends, took all the compliments that should've been mine, and fooled everyone in the city into thinking she was the perfect lady.

Even my fiancé, Jackson Lynn, was right there by her side, fixing the pearl hairpin by her face, acting like she was the only one that mattered.

I stood at the doorway for a moment, and a smile broke out on my face.

My cousin Andrea Gray quietly tugged at my sleeve and muttered, "Jessie, while you were gone these three years, they really pulled a cuckoo's nest trick on you."

I strode in. All eyes followed me as I walked straight to the head of the table.

Linda was the first to rise, giving me a graceful curtsy. "Jessie, finally you're back. If I didn't do well hosting today's welcome party, please don't hold it against me."

I took my time, letting my gaze sweep over her dress, then up to the hairpin in her hair.

"Lady Linda," I said coolly. "You wear my clothes, my hairpin, sit in my seat, and then talk about being neglectful? Isn't that amusing."

Linda's face turned pale, and she bit her lip, not daring to respond.

Jackson frowned before she could even respond. "Jessie, Linda was just hosting the party for you. Why do you have to be so sharp with your words?"

I looked up at Jackson.

After three years apart, he still had those refined features, but now, he was openly protective of her.

He used to be aloof with everyone, except me. He'd always let me have my way. Now, all that special treatment goes to Linda.

"Lord Jackson," I said softly. "So, while I was gone for three years getting better, you found someone to take my place and keep you entertained?"

Jackson's eyes darkened. "Jessie, careful what you say."

Linda quickly tried to smooth things over. "It's all my fault for not thinking things through and upsetting you.

"Not long ago, I went to Winterridge Temple and got a calming emerald necklace for you. I was hoping to give it to you in person when you returned, and now the timing couldn't be better."

As soon as she finished speaking, her maid stepped forward and presented the gift box.

Andrea leaned in and sneered in my ear. "She actually dared to give you the most basic emerald from the temple. That takes guts."

Just as I was about to speak, a noble lady next to Linda suddenly let out a startled cry, her elbow landing squarely on the maid's gift box.

The lid flipped open, and the emerald necklace rolled out, smacking right onto Linda's foot.

Linda let out a faint cry of pain, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

Jackson rushed over to steady her, then barked coldly at me, "Jessie, are you done making a scene?"

I froze for a moment, almost laughed out of anger. He didn't even bother to check what happened before pinning it all on me.

Marcus rushed over too, his face full of concern as he looked at Linda. "Linda, are you hurt?"

I stared at Marcus, and suddenly, whatever lingering affection I had for him in my heart vanished completely.

Jackson helped Linda to her feet, his brows furrowed with anger. "Linda was only thinking of you, and you embarrassed her in front of everyone.

"Jessie, you've been away for three years, but your temper hasn't changed a bit."

I stepped forward and slapped him across the face.

The whole room fell into dead silence. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Jackson's head snapped to the side, his eyes full of disbelief.

I shook out my stinging hand, my voice cool. "That slap was for you, Jackson, using the title of my fiancé, yet standing up for someone else and letting her trample all over me in public.

"Jackson, if you care so much about her, then return the engagement papers and call it off sooner rather than later.

"My seat, my things, my people, hands off. They're mine, and no one touches them."

Marcus finally snapped out of it, shaking with anger. "Jessie, have you lost your mind?"

I turned to face him. "If you still remember you're a Lawrence, you should be standing behind me tonight, not waiting on an outsider like her.

"Before you treated her as your sister, did it ever cross your mind whether our ancestors in the family shrine would even recognize her as one of us?"

Marcus was so choked up by my words that his face turned livid.

Linda's eyes were red as she gently tugged at Jackson's sleeve. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't shown up today, Jessie wouldn't be this angry."

I glanced down at her, a cold smile tugging at my lips. "Of course you had show up.

"If you hadn't, how else would I know who spent the last three years living as a knockoff?"

With that, I didn't bother looking at anyone else. I turned and walked straight out.

As soon as I stepped out of the Rainstone Garden, I bumped right into someone.

The person reacted instantly, steadying me by the shoulders without missing a beat.

I looked up and met a pair of deep eyes. It was Elias Sterling.

He was the young general of the Northern Defense Army and the eldest son of the Sterling family.

He was the quietest guy in the whole city before I left.

My gaze made his ears flush slightly, but Elias stood his ground, speaking in a low voice. "Lady Jessie, watch your step."

I was annoyed and said offhandedly, "Move."

Elias really did step aside, then handed me the brocade box. "A welcome-home gift," he said.

I didn't want to take it, but Andrea snatched it up with a sly grin. "Come on, Jessie, take it. He went out of his way to bring it for you."

Elias's ears flushed even redder.

Seeing him like that, I actually felt a bit of my frustration fade away.