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?"

Jordan Callahan rushed over, his chest heaving with anger.

He was supposed to be my fiancé, yet he publicly defended Kendall and accused me without hearing both sides of the story.

Thinking back to the moment before I died in my previous life, when he hated me with such intensity and the agony of being ruthlessly humiliated by those men, I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine.

"What? Now that you know your future wife was born to a maid, can you not accept it, Mr. Callahan?"

 I glared at him coldly.

 A flash of guilt crossed Jordan's eyes.

"You… know?"

"You were sent to Harlette by the Halton Family and our Callahan Family dared not disobey. Our engagement is naturally null and void. It was me who had been secretly in love with Kendall for years and actively sought this marriage from Mr. Princeton. 

“Don’t take your anger out on Kendall; she hasn’t done anything wrong."

I exposed Kendall’s true colours without mercy. 

“So, to summarise, she’s stolen my identity, taken my mother’s affection and forced me to marry in her place. Now she’s even taking my fiancé! She’s truly innocent, isn’t she?”

Those around us gasped in shock, their gazes toward Kendall growing increasingly complicated.

Kendall's face turned ashen.

Yet she picked up the hot tea by her side, forced herself to remain calm and walked toward me, bowing her head humbly to apologize.

"Lilian, I've wronged you, but in this situation today, could you spare me some dignity?"

Before I could respond, her body trembled violently and the scalding tea spilled all over her, turning her delicate, fair hands bright red.

The next moment, my cheeks also felt scorching hot and swelled up quickly.

My mother’s hand, still raised in mid-air, paused. She looked at my face, hesitated and after a long moment, managed to say, "Lilian, you’re being too harsh!"

She then turned her attention to Kendall's injuries.

Jordan also shielded Kendall behind him the moment she cried out in pain, cradling her hands as if they were precious treasures and breathing gently into them. 

He then panicked and shouted for medical personnel to come and treat her.

I stood alone nearby, feeling utterly bored.

After the press conference ended, I took a taxi home feeling dejected.

Upon returning to my room, I found a letter on the vanity table, written in Jordan's familiar handwriting.

I opened it and saw the words [Breaking Off the Engagement] in bold letters, stinging my eyes.

He really could not wait to cut ties with me.

Well, that was fine. When we met again in the future, we would settle our scores—revenge for wrongs done!

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

I turned around to see my mother and to my surprise, there was a rare look of guilt in her eyes.

"Lilian... it was me who acted impulsively and hurt you. Please don't blame me..."

"Kendall's mother died because of me. I owe her my life.” 

“Over the years, I've neglected you and caused you so much suffering. But I hope you and Kendall can get along well. You are both the most important people in my life!"

A cool sensation touched my cheek as my mother's fingertips, smeared with ointment, gently applied it to my face.

"You’re about to get married; a scar on your face won’t look good…"

How long had it been since she had spoken to me so softly? 

A faint flicker of doubt stirred in my heart, but the next moment, her words sent my heart plummeting once more.

"What happened today was ultimately your fault for acting impulsively. Go apologize to Kendall and I'll pretend it never happened."

I looked at her in disbelief. "I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize to her?"

"You burned Kendall’s hand like that and you still have the nerve to say you’re not at fault? Lilian, how can you be so irresponsible?"

Larry stormed in, having heard about what happened during the day while he was at the office. He was eager to demand an explanation from me.

"I didn’t do anything wrong!"