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!"

He snorted coldly, grabbed my arms and forced me behind my back. "Today, even if I have to tie you up, I'll take you to Kendall to kneel and apologize!"

My arms were being pulled painfully and I scowled angrily. "Larry, I am the future Princess of Harlette. I’m not someone you can treat however you please. You should think twice before laying a hand on me!"

He hesitated, then released his grip with a grudging growl.

He turned to look at Katnis behind me and grabbed her by the throat. "You’re indeed the future Princess of Harlette; I dare not touch you. But I can touch her, can’t I?"

Larry struck with all his strength. Katnis’s face turned bright red as she struggled to call out for help.

He knew my weakness and he used it to his advantage.

"Alright. I'll do it."

My palms were clenched so tightly until they hurt, as Larry pushed me forward.

Jordan was still by Kendall's bedside, carefully applying medicine to her. Even the slightest frown on her brow caused Jordan immense pain.

I suppressed the humiliation and the hatred in my heart, slowly uttering the words, forcing the tears back into my eyes.

"I'm sorry."

My knees suddenly gave way and I collapsed onto the floor beside Kendall's bed.

Kendall laughed triumphantly, leaning close to my ear.

"Look at you. Even though you’re the true heiress of the Princeton Family, you still have to bow your head and apologize to me."

"I told you before, everything you have and cherish in this family, I will take it all away from you, piece by piece!"

She leaned against Jordan's embrace, laughing triumphantly. 

Outside the door, there was a commotion and the butler shouted loudly that the Halton Family had come to deliver the betrothal gifts.

The gifts were piled up from the front hall all the way to the backyard, even blocking the entrance to Kendall's room.

Although Kendall had been pampered for over a decade, she had rarely seen so many fine things.

Her gaze fell on the pink diamond crown and she couldn't hide the jealousy in her eyes.

She glared at me with a venomous look and spoke with a bitter tone, "I recognize it. It’s the highlight of last week’s Paris auction, worth over a hundred billion."

"Lilian is so lucky. Such a generous dowry clearly shows how much the Prince of Harlette loves you. I'll never have such good fortune..." 

Before she could finish, my mother couldn't bear to see her sad and began to comfort her, "Silly child, your parents will never shortchange you when you marry.”

“If you like these things, I'll have Lilian leave them all for your dowry. How about that?"

Kendall was immediately coaxed into laughing out loud and her gaze toward me grew even more arrogant.

"Forget it. They say the Prince of Harlette is mentally impaired, so how could I possibly take her dowry just because I want it? At least, Lilian can save the money for her future children with this dowry."

"But… I wonder if the child of a fool would also be a fool?"

Kendall gave me an innocent wink and I clenched my teeth to hold back, refusing to take the bait.

She mocked my difficult future, but she didn't know that compared to the Halton Family, this family was the real hell for me.

The wedding came before we knew it.

According to custom, my mother should have personally escorted me to the wedding, but just as I was about to leave, the maid by Kendall’s side rushed over, saying she suddenly felt palpitations.

My mother didn’t hesitate for a moment, letting go of my hand and walking away quickly.

Katnis spoke up for me, her voice trembling with emotion. "Today is the young lady’s wedding day, but the mistress didn’t even see you off…"

I watched my mother's worried figure as she left, swallowing the bitterness in my throat. 

"Let’s go; don’t delay the auspicious time."

This kind of favoritism and cold treatment was something I had long grown accustomed to, yet why did it still make my nose sting?

Fortunately, the wedding procedures at the Halton Family were extremely elaborate, leaving me no time to dwell on my sorrows.

 Upon entering the bridal chamber, my heart was filled with anxiety.

I had no idea how to face a husband I had never met before, who seemed so foolish and naive, nor did I know what the future held for me.

All I knew was that I had to take revenge!

A faint, refreshing scent of cedar drifted past my nose, followed by a low, chuckling laugh. The large red veil covering my face was lifted.

When Felipe Halton swept his gaze over my face, his eyes suddenly sparkled and he pulled me into his arms.

'Thank God! I’ve finally married you!'