Vivian's mother's words instantly ignited the crowd.

"Mrs. Spencer, are you saying Alice is an illegitimate child? Seriously?"

Face twisted with anger, she opened the locket on the necklace. Inside was a photo of a family of three. "Here's the evidence. How could this be fake?"

"I've suspected for years that he must have a bastard out there somewhere. Never expected her to show up at my doorstep.

"And that dress belonged to Vivian. She tried it on once but felt it was too big, so she left it at home. A few days ago, while cleaning, I realized it was missing. I thought we'd lost it. Who knew he'd give it to his illegitimate child instead?"

She then pulled out her phone and showed everyone a photo of Vivian wearing the dress.

The details on the cuffs and the unique stitching were crystal clear—obviously nothing like the one I had on.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"They're identical… Looks like it really is Vivian's dress. No wonder the craftsmanship looks so meticulous."

Hearing her mother's accusation, Vivian's face twisted with fury. Her voice turned icy.

"No wonder your mother never showed up for parent-teacher meetings. She was afraid someone would recognize her as the mistress."

Her words sent the others spiraling.

"If her mom was a homewrecker, who knows what she's been doing? I couldn't stand her in high school. Always wearing that cold, stuck-up expression—like we owed her money."

"Exactly. She even seduced boys from the neighboring class to fight for her. I used to wonder what was so irresistible about her. Turns out, being a vixen runs in the family."

"She only looks innocent. Behind the scenes she's a mess. Back in high school, I heard she went to hotels almost every day. I even saw her hand a room card to a middle-aged man once."

"Oh my god. Seriously? Acting like that in high school? But I guess it tracks—she bullied the legitimate daughter, so what wouldn't she do?"

Even my former deskmate—someone who used to get along with me—looked at me with disgust.

"Alice, I didn't expect you to be so morally corrupt. I hate mistresses and illegitimate children more than anything. And you're both.

"Don't you dare say we were ever deskmates. Just thinking about the things you've done makes me sick."

More guests gathered, drawn by the commotion. They pointed, whispered, stared.

I glanced around. Hardly anyone recognizable. So this was the extent of Desmond's connections? A room full of strays?

Then it clicked—he didn't want anyone my mother knew discovering all the filthy things he'd been hiding.

The crowd thickened. Almost everyone had their phones out, cameras pointed at me. Some even used flash, aiming directly at my eyes.

I raised a hand to block the harsh glare and walked straight to Vivian's mother.

"First you slander my mother as a mistress. Then you slap me without knowing anything. Do you think you're above the law?"

Vivian erupted the moment she heard me speak to her mother like that. She shoved me hard to the ground, her tone dripping with arrogance.

"So what if my mother slapped you? Do you think anyone can touch me?

"You think I'm still the same girl you forced to drop out? Even if I cripple you today, your homewrecker mother won't dare say a word."

She glanced down at me, grabbed a glass of wine from a servant, and poured it straight over my head.

"Maybe you'll end up begging my dad for money later. This glass wasn't cheap. Think of it as me helping you wash that dress."

One of her followers jumped in immediately.

"One glass isn't enough. Who knows how dirty her clothes are? Let's all help wash them!"

She grabbed another glass and splashed it on me.

The crowd followed suit.

"Hahaha, scrub that stench off her!"

"Look at her. She probably loves it. This must be nothing compared to what she and her mom have done for money."

Carl, eager to show off, grabbed a bottle of champagne. He shook it vigorously, aimed it at my face, and laughed.

"Come on, drink up! Clean yourself from the inside too!"

My ankle was twisted—I could barely move. When he raised the bottle as if to smash it down, I could only lift my hand to block it.

The bottle struck the back of my hand, leaving a bright red welt.

"Alright, that's enough. This is my recognition banquet—I can't have anything serious happen.

"Alice, as a former classmate, I'll overlook your past and your identity—for today. But remember this: starting now, you'd better keep your head down whenever you see me."

I forced myself to stand, ignoring the pain. My jacket was soaked through. I peeled it off and wiped the wine from my face as best I could.

Then, with a cold, steady gaze, I surveyed every person who had just hurt me.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Mom," I said calmly, "I'm at the Hillside Estate. I'm being bullied."

The moment those words left my mouth, Vivian's mother snatched the phone from my hand. She barked into it, sharp and venomous, "As the legal wife, I'd really love to see the mistress who could raise such a shameless daughter."

Then she hurled my phone to the floor, smashing it against the tiles.

"Look at how bold she is—don't tell me her mother has a whole flock of sugar daddies?"

"Let her mother come, then. We've got plenty of wealthy wives here today. Let's see how she hides from them."

"Please. She probably thinks her mom is some kind of superhero. Vivian is a legitimate heiress now—why would she be scared of a mistress?"

"Oh wow, I'm so scared. She's terrifying. Really."

Their voices grew louder, uglier—every sentence a baseless accusation.

I looked at the twisted faces of old classmates and guests alike, and my voice turned cold.

"I hope you can still laugh in the end."

Vivian lunged at me, trying to yank my hair. I stepped aside and shoved her away hard.

Then I turned to the person who had been directing the entire mob—her mother.

"You keep calling me an illegitimate child and my mom a mistress, but your entire 'proof' is a single childhood photo of me.

"I'm actually curious—do you have a marriage certificate? Or did you ever have a proper wedding?

"Or… is it that you already know who the real mistress is, and you just can't stand the sight of me, so you let everyone else insult me and my mother?"

With each sentence, Vivian's mother's expression darkened. Vivian sensed something was wrong and grabbed my collar.

"You bitch, how dare you provoke us?

"What illegitimate daughter acts this arrogant? If my mother weren't the legal wife, wouldn't I know? And if you're not the bastard, why don't you have the Spencer surname?"

People who had been wavering before immediately nodded. After all, most children take their father's surname.

"She's right. I almost fell for it."

"Alice is vile. Her mother ruined someone else's marriage, and now she's questioning whether Vivian's mom is the legal wife? Shameless."

Amid the rising chatter, my former deskmate suddenly jumped out.

"Oh! Alice, you've worn that earring since high school, right? It must be expensive."

At her words, Vivian's gaze snapped to the delicate stud on my left ear.

"That earring definitely isn't cheap. No way your mom bought it. My dad must've paid for it."

My expression shifted. I instinctively covered the earring.

That tiny motion was all Vivian needed. A vicious glint flashed in her eyes.

"Oh? Look how nervous you are. Did I hit a nerve? If my dad bought it, then as his legitimate daughter, I have every right to take it back."

I slapped her reaching hand away. "My mother had this custom-made to protect me. If you remove it, it triggers an alarm. I'm warning you."

My mother commissioned it after I was once kidnapped—a silent alarm that activated the moment it was taken off, sending my location to her phone.

But my phone was now shattered on the floor.

Vivian sneered.

"You think I'll believe that? Why would a bastard need protection? And even if it were that special, it still belongs to us. All your mother's money came from my dad anyway."

Seeing she had no intention of stopping, I dropped the pretense and reached for the earring myself. Vivian noticed immediately and shouted to the classmates around her, "Hold her down! I'll take it off myself."

At her command, several boys pinned my arms and legs. I was forced to my knees like some criminal awaiting punishment.

Vivian stood over me, her disgust unfiltered—more brazen than she ever was in high school.

Her fingers pinched the earring and twisted. The sharp metal scraped against my ear, sending a cold, slicing pain down my neck.

She was trying to rip it off.

But she knew—I had a bleeding disorder. If she tore it out, I could be in real danger.

"Vivian, you know I have a bleeding disorder—"

A slap cut me off, burning across my cheek.

"Don't start with that again. You used that excuse to force me out of school, and now you think it'll stop me today? I'm exposing your lies."

Before I could react, she yanked hard, tearing the earring straight through the flesh of my ear.

"Aah!"

A sharp, throbbing pain burst through my earlobe as blood slid down my hair and dripped onto the floor.

Completely unfazed, Vivian tossed the earring to the ground and crushed it under her heel. Her voice dripped with arrogance.

"Let's see if our delicate illegitimate Alice bleeds to death."

Warm liquid kept sliding down my neck. Panic surged through me—followed instantly by pure rage.

"You're insane."

I stepped forward, desperate to make her pay, but someone pulled me back.

It was my only friend from high school—my former deskmate.

Vivian spotted who stopped me and smirked, her expression full of triumph. She lifted her chin and laughed provocatively.

"Hit me? Hahaha. Go ahead—look around. Who here would ever help you?"

She deliberately walked up to me and tapped her own cheek. "I'm a wealthy heiress now. If you're so tough, go ahead—hit me, loser."

I clenched my teeth and looked at my high school deskmate, who didn't even have the courage to meet my eyes. A bitter laugh escaped me.

"You're all equally wicked. You'll regret this."

"Regret?" Vivian scoffed. "What a joke. Why would I ever regret it? But you… I'm not so sure about you."

She waved her hand slightly and turned to the group of former classmates, amusement in her voice.

"Beat her. Whoever satisfies me will get a business opportunity from my dad.

"Oh, and remember—our little princess here has a bleeding disorder. Draw blood and I'll give each of you ten grand."

At that, my old classmates didn't care whether they knew me or not—they swarmed me with fists and kicks.

"Just because we tore out your earring, you think you can fight Vivian? She's the daughter of the legal wife. You, an illegitimate brat, actually think you compare?"

"A bleeding disorder? Good. I'm afraid you won't die fast enough. People as vicious as you should've been strangled at birth."

"Trash stays trash. Come on, put your back into it. Look at her—she still thinks she's above us."

"Hahaha, look at her now. Pathetic. Record it. Post it online—‘The legal daughter teaching the illegitimate bastard a lesson.' That'll feel good."

My high school deskmate suddenly pulled out a nail knife from God knows where and stabbed it into my thigh. She yanked it out—then stabbed again.

"Alice, don't blame me. I need the money to get into the Hawley Group. You won't hate me for it… right?"

Vivian stood with her arms crossed, watching them torture me like entertainment.

"Regretting it yet? Tsk tsk… how pitiful. Just like a stray dog."

She lowered her gaze to me, voice dripping venom. "Remember this—you and I are not the same. Some people are born noble. People like you can keep dreaming about a life like that."

The others chimed in instantly.

"She's just a useless illegitimate child without a home."

"Exactly. And now, even illegitimate kids can inherit. Honestly, I hope she dies today so she won't try to steal Vivian's inheritance later."

"That's nothing. My neighbor just divorced his wife. When this party ends, I'll send her over to him as a bride. I heard he's into special… tastes."

"Hahahaha, Carl, you always have the best ideas. Trash like her deserves a man like that."

"You gotta admit… Alice's got the body for it, though—"

Filth and cruelty flooded my mind as blood loss drained every ounce of strength from my limbs.

Vivian stepped closer. Her heel ground into the puddle of blood around me as she gripped my chin, forcing my face up. Her voice was ice-cold.

"Doesn't feel so good now, does it? Didn't you say your earring would trigger an alarm and send out your location? Funny… I don't see anyone coming to save you."

The moment her words fell, the sound of an engine roared to life outside.

Someone shouted from the hallway, "The owner of the villa is back!"

I lifted my head toward the door.

Was my mom finally here?