The mentally impaired Prince of Harlette was set to marry the eldest daughter of the Princeton Family.

Upon hearing the news, my parents panicked and decided to kidnap me to take her place.

I refused, claiming that I had already been removed from the family registry and fled the country by climbing over the wall and boarding an international flight in the middle of the night.

I had no idea that, less than six months after her wedding, Kendall Princeton had become restless and lonely. She was caught having an affair with another man at Mrs. Halton's birthday banquet. 

Humiliated, she committed suicide.

The Princeton Family was also implicated, their stock prices plummeted and my parents' lifelong efforts went down the drain.

I pleaded with my childhood sweetheart and fiancé to save the Princeton Family, but all I heard was his seething hatred.

"I invested twenty billion to short the stock and bring down the Princeton Family. How could I possibly save you?"

"If you hadn't stood by and let her marry that fool, how could she have taken her own life at such a young age? You are Kendall’s murderer. I will make sure you go to hell!"

"Want money? Use your own life to pay for it!"

He personally bound me and took me to an underground money lender, watching helplessly as I was tortured to death.

Only then did I realize that it wasn’t just my parents and older brother—even my fiancé had only eyes for Kendall!

After being reborn, I severed all blood ties, abandoned my youthful affection and voluntarily married into the Harlette family.

But when I stood atop the clouds, crowned and looked down on everyone, they regretted it so much that they went mad. 

——

The Prince of Harlette narrowly escaped death after an attack, but remained mentally unstable for five years.

Yet, when Mrs. Halton selected a bride for him, she clutched tightly to the note bearing the name of the Princeton Family’s eldest daughter.

The old lady issued an order, “Marry the Princeton Family's eldest daughter into the family.”

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city and the daughters of wealthy families were all waiting to see Kendall's humiliation.

After all, everyone knew that the Princeton Family had only one daughter, Kendall Princeton.

My parents were so distraught they went gray overnight, unwilling to let their beloved daughter marry a fool, even if he was the esteemed Prince of Harlette.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my face still young with a straight fringe, silently counting down.

“Three, two, one…”

The door burst open and my older brother, Larry Princeton, rushed in first.

"Lilian, you know if you’re the real heiress of the Princeton Family, right? This marriage should have been yours. Why should Kendall marry that fool?"

"Whether you like it or not, in a week, the Halton family will come to claim her. You must marry in her place!"

My parents followed closely behind.

Seeing their worried expressions, they must have just come from Kendall's room.

An hour earlier, the house had been in chaos. Katnis had secretly inquired and reported that Kendall was refusing to marry, staging a hunger strike in her room. 

My parents were terrified and had pleaded with her for a long time before finally convincing her to eat half a bowl of porridge.

They couldn't bear to part with Kendall, so they came to force me.

But clearly, I was their only biological daughter!

I calmly met Larry's hate-filled gaze and questioned, "Brother, have you lost your mind?” 

“Ten years ago, it was my mother who personally erased my name from the family registry. She said she only recognizes Kendall as her daughter and the Princeton Family has only one heiress!"

"The Halton Family specifically requested to marry the Princeton Family's daughter. I, an outsider with no connection to Pirnceton Family, am being forced to marry into their family. Don't you fear provoking the Halton Family's wrath, which would bring disaster upon the entire Princeton's?"

Kendall was not my mother's biological daughter, yet she had taken all of my mother's affection.

Ten years ago, my mother was robbed and the maid took a knife for her, dying on the spot, leaving behind a young daughter.

My mother, out of gratitude, raised the little girl by her side, personally educating her. Not only changing her surname and adding her to the family registry but also gradually distancing herself from me.

Kendall had a lively and carefree personality and with my mother's spoiling, her status in the family has surpassed mine, the legitimate heiress.

As a child, I couldn't hide my hatred and tried to intimidate her, warning her not to know her place.

She showed no fear, instead provoking me further. Just as I couldn’t control myself and reached out to hit her, she suddenly stumbled and fell into the decorative pond.

My mother didn't hesitate, jumping in frantically to pull her out.

Kendall's face was frozen pale and she timidly pulled on my mother's sleeve, "Madam, I just missed my mother so much that I accidentally called you 'Mom.' The young miss wants to kill me..."

My mother was heartbroken when hearing this, so she immediately said, "Silly girl, from now on, you can call me Mom!"

She turned to look at me, her eyes filled with disappointment as she scolded me, "You're so heartless. Sometimes I really doubt if you're my biological daughter!"

Watching them embrace tightly, my heart felt like it was being torn apart inch by inch with a dull knife, the pain so intense I couldn't breathe.

She didn't even listen to my explanation, forcing me to kneel in front of her for three days and three nights, then personally crossed my name out of the family registry.

Overnight, I became the only outsider in this family, while Kendall became the apple of my parents' eyes.

My heart was already breaking, but then my older brother Larry, whose temper was legendary, lost his edge around her.

In my previous life, they also forced me to marry in place of Kendall.

I was deeply hurt by their favoritism, so I left home in a fit of anger that night and boarded an international flight to escape the chaos.

Yet I couldn’t escape the fate of being dragged down by Kendall.

This time, I wouldn’t act impulsively.

"If I recall correctly, the most important project for the Princeton Family is currently in the hands of the Halton family in Harlette. Can you afford the consequences of their anger?"

My warning finally made them hesitate. My parents stood there for a long time, unsure of how to respond.

Larry snorted coldly, "Are you blaming our mother for neglecting you all these years?"

"Lilian, how could I have such a petty sister like you! Compared to Kendall, you don’t even act like a member of the Princeton Family."

In the past, I would have been heartbroken by his words, but that time, I did not care anymore.

I curled the corners of my mouth and bowed respectfully to my parents. "Mom and Dad, I'm willing to marry that fool from the Halton family."

My parents' eyes lit up.

"But... I have a condition. I want you to hold a press conference and tell everyone in person that I am the true heiress of the Princeton Family."

 My parents looked hesitant. "This..."

 Before my parents could respond, Larry rushed forward and grabbed me by the collar.

"I knew you weren’t being nice. All these years, you’ve been holding a grudge against Kendall for taking your place!"

I pushed his hand away with all my strength and explained, "Brother, you've misunderstood. I didn't do it out of selfishness..."

"Only by making my status as the sole heiress of the Princeton Family public can I marry into the Halton Family with proper credentials!"

My mother looked distressed, hesitated for a long time before reluctantly agreeing, "Alright, I’ll go arrange it right now. I’ll hold a press conference to restore your status as the Princeton Family’s heiress and personally tell them that Kendall is our adopted daughter."

Kendall, who had just managed to stand up with her frail body, heard this and tears welled up in her eyes. 

She stammered out, "Mom… Are you abandoning me now?"

After saying that, she glared at me with resentment, turned and ran off. But just a few steps later, she closed her eyes and fainted.

Larry acted quickly, catching her and lifting her into his arms. My parents also rushed after her, filled with concern.

A bitter taste rose in my mouth.

In this family, I had always been the outsider.

It was said that Kendall caused a scene after waking up, but the press conference still went ahead as scheduled.

As I let Katnis drape a string of pearls around my bare neck, I felt nothing but irony.

After all, I was their biological daughter, yet I did not even have a single piece of jewelry worth showing off.

Even this necklace was left over from last year, picked out by Kendall and left to gather dust in the closet.

Had it not been for today's special occasion, it likely would never have ended up in my hands.

My mother reluctantly took my arm and led me to the table, while Kendall sat on the other side.

Below the stage were the invited media reporters and the prominent young ladies from the influential families of Rosette.

"Thank you all for coming. Today, I have some joyful news to share with everyone…"

"Thanks to the kindness of the Halton Family of Harlette for choosing my daughter to marry into their family. I’ve never had the chance to introduce her to you all.”

“This is Lilian Princeton, my biological daughter. Technically speaking, she is the second young miss of the Princeton Family. In a few days, she will be marrying into the Halton family of Harlette…"

Second daughter?

After my initial shock, I mockingly glanced at my mother beside me. She was so heartbroken over Kendall that she couldn't bear to let her suffer even the slightest injustice.

Even if I were to sacrifice my own happiness, I could never regain the identity that rightfully belongs to me.

As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd began to whisper and gossip.

"The Princeton Family has another daughter? I've never heard of her before.”

“Yes. Didn't the Princeton Family always claim that Lilian was an adopted daughter? She wasn't even included in the family tree..."

"You can’t see through this? It’s obvious the Princeton Family couldn’t bear to marry their precious daughter to that foolish Princeton, so they brought in an adopted daughter as a substitute.”

“Wow! Mrs. Princeton is really clever. After all, Mrs. Halton only mentioned the Princeton Family’s daughter, not naming anyone specifically. This way, it doesn’t count as deception."

"However, I heard that Lilian was born to a nanny. Mrs. Princeton felt indebted to the nanny for saving her life, so she raised Lilian. Marrying such a woman into the Halton Family of Harlette is truly a bargain for her!"

I glared at the crowd pointing and whispering about me, while Kendall gave me a defiant glance from afar.

I returned her glance with a contemptuous smile, slowly withdrew my hand and spoke in a low, firm voice, "You all are unaware..."

"In truth, the Princeton Family has always had only one daughter. Kendall is the one you all claim was born to a maid!"

My mother never expected me to expose her lie on the spot. She frantically reached out to cover my mouth.

"Shut up! Don't dare to speak such nonsense!"

However, everyone present was seasoned and had already formed their own opinions. They exchanged glances between me and Kendall.

"Blood ties are no trivial matter. Without concrete evidence, one would never dare to make such claims in public. Judging by Mrs. Princeton’s nervous demeanor, what Lilian said is likely true…"

"I also notice that Lilian has the demeanor of a true heiress. No wonder I always felt that Kendall had a certain air of petty-mindedness."

"But how could someone abandon their own daughter and instead spoil a maid’s child like a precious treasure?"

Kendall, feeling scrutinized, blushed fiercely and shook her hands in shame. "No, you all got misunderstanding! Lilian, why are you saying such things?"

I snorted coldly, "What? After all these years of using my family’s identity, have you really forgotten your own name, Elena Baker?"

"What?! So, her real name is Elena Baker? She reeks of poverty—she must definitely be the nanny’s child!"

Several young ladies laughed out loud and Kendall's face turned red in embarrassment.

"Enough! Don't you dare speak to Kendall like that!"

My mother immediately stepped forward and embraced Kendall.

"Lilian! You’re both daughters of the Princeton Family. Why must you pick on Kendall and embarrass her in public?"