3/
It was the ultimate gossip–worthy moment. My mother glanced at my father.
He shook his head frantically, holding up three fingers in a solemn oath. “I swear, I don’t know that woman!
Lila is my only precious daughter!”
A small smile played on my lips as I slipped into character. “Mom? Dad? What’s going on?”
My mother wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. We’ll get to the
bottom of this.”
The next second, Jenna lunged, grabbing my arm and shoving me backward. I stumbled right into the seven-
tiered birthday cake,
Sticky buttercream ruined my custom designer gown.
Gasps rippled through the guests.
I struggled to my feet, dazed, and stared at the woman whose face was contorted with a furious jealousy.
My parents rushed to pull me up, gently wiping the frosting from my face,
My father’s voice was thunderous as he turned on Jenna. “I don’t care who you are! To cause such a scene
at a Clark event… it’s clear your mother taught you nothing! Have you no manners?”
Jenna seemed momentarily stunned by his authority, but then she latched onto his arm.
“Dad! I’m your real daughter! This impostor should be thrown out! She stole my life for eighteen years! Why
does she get a party like this?”
Her eyes welled up with tears.
She looked utterly pitiful.
Today is my birthday, too,” she sobbed. “And I’ve never, not once in my life, had a real birthday party.”
Chapter 1
20.06
My mother helped me up, her expression pained, before turning to Jenna with a rare, severe tone. “Let’s put aside the fact that you’ve come here with absolutely no proof. Even if you were our biological daughter, we would never acknowledge you after a stunt like this! You have no class, no decorum! Look at where you are!”
My mother was always gentle; she never spoke harshly. This time, she was truly furious.
But something felt off. Something was missing.
Where was Leo?
I hadn’t seen him all morning. Normally, he’d be glued to my side by now, telling me how beautiful his little
sister looked.
Thinking back, he’d been distant lately.
could
Could it be? Did he already know about Jenna?
My father shot a look at his assistant, who quickly took the microphone and tried to get the party back on
track.
The rest of us retreated to a conference room in the back.
My parents‘ brows were knitted with worry.
The last eighteen years had been too perfect. This was the scene I had been waiting for.
