Madison jerked her head up. Her eyes were wide with panic as she stared at me.

With a scoff, I looked down at her. She was probably wondering how I knew she wasn't just an adopted daughter but Tyler's illegitimate child.

But I wasn't about to explain myself to her.

Today, all the truth would come to light.

Unfortunately, despite what I said, no one seemed ready to take my side.

After all, over the years, Madison had attended various events with Tyler as the successor of the traditional pottery. Many people had known her.

Meanwhile, ever since my mom, Lindsay Campbell, passed away, I'd been living in seclusion with Grandpa. There, I learned the art of traditional pottery in the mountains. I rarely stepped into the outside world.

Just as we were in a standoff, a man suddenly stepped onto the stage. He glared at me with a sharp, commanding gaze. "Enough!"

I recognized him immediately. He was my fiancé, Wilson Guzman, who had a small but notable reputation in the heritage community.

He knew all about my family's situation, including the truth about Madison and me. Our engagement was common knowledge, but I knew he wouldn't tell the truth.

After all, during the years I'd been in the mountains, he'd already been secretly involved with Madison.

As expected, he first rushed to help Madison to her feet, then accused me sternly, "What the heck are you doing, Phoebe? Maddie's always been patient with you at home, but this isn't the place for you to spout nonsense.

"Since you're claiming Maddie is impersonating you, I'll testify for her. She's the Campbell family's heiress, the true successor of traditional pottery, and my one and only fiancée!"

With Wilson vouching for Madison, my credibility was shot. Everyone practically wanted to rush up and throw me off the stage.

"Get out of here! A mere adopted daughter can never take the stage!"

"The Campbell family is a well-known name in the heritage community. Does she think we've never seen its heiress? How dare she confuse the facts?"

"Wilson is the Campbell family's son-in-law. He would never mistake his own fiancée! Honestly, liars deserve to be punished harshly!"

Realizing the situation had turned in their favor, Madison straightened up. She linked her arm with Wilson's as she said, "It's okay. Phoebe is just a bit naive. Let's spare her this time. If she likes the trophy so much, she can keep it.

"I believe traditional pottery is too important to be defined by a single trophy. With Grandpa and me, we'll ensure the craft thrives and grows!"

Her words were poised and diplomatic, making me seem petty and unreasonable in comparison.

Wilson's gaze hardened as he looked at me. "Maddie is being magnanimous, but I can't stand seeing her wronged.

"You better give the trophy back to her now, or I'll be sure to tell your dad, and he'll teach you a lesson for being so out of line."

He made his threat, expecting me to cower. But I just smirked. My tone dripped with disdain as I replied, "Sure, why don't you go ahead and tell him? Now? Or should I call him myself? I'm curious to see if he dares to teach me a lesson."

The audience erupted in shock. No one expected me, a mere adopted daughter, to speak so boldly.

Everyone started to curse at me.

"Shameless, utterly shameless! A mere adopted child thinks she can bully the true heiress!"

"I bet the Lloyd family has been too kind to her. She doesn't even respect her own father! What a waste, raising someone like that!"

"No wonder she was adopted. If her biological parents saw how vicious she's become, they'd probably regret not choking her when she first started crying!"

Upon hearing the crowd's curses directed at me, Wilson smiled smugly and tried to reason with me. "If you apologize to me and Maddie now, we might still let you off the hook and pretend this never happened.

"Otherwise, once I tell your dad, you won't be able to stay in the Lloyd family anymore!"

Madison, hiding behind Wilson, rolled her eyes at me. Her smug expression was full of self-satisfaction. After all, she knew all too well that when it came to me and her, Tyler would always choose her.

I was eight when Mom died in a car accident while rushing to take me to the hospital for a high fever. Tyler blamed me for her death and developed a deep hatred for me.

I had always felt guilty and tried to earn his approval, so I obeyed him and showed respect in everything I did.

Whenever Madison brought up Tyler, I would helplessly give in. But this time, I didn't give her the reaction she was expecting.

Wilson's ridiculous words amused me. I pulled out my phone to dial Tyler's number.

"You've been talking for so long but haven't dared to call him, so I'll do it myself. Oh, when he gets here, I'll also inform him that I'm breaking off the engagement with the Guzman family today!"

Someone in the crowd quickly caught onto the fact that I'd used the word "inform" and mocked, "This adopted daughter has completely lost it. If anyone didn't know better, they'd think she's the one in charge of the Lloyd family."

But Wilson's face immediately turned pale at my words. After all, the Guzman family's current reputation and status were built on this marriage, which tied them to Grandpa, the successor of intangible cultural heritage.

Without this marriage, the Guzman family would be nothing!

Soon, my call was picked up.

There was no immediate response. Clearly, he was still trying to figure out how to handle the situation.

I didn't feel like playing games, so I coldly said, "I know you're watching the live stream. If you don't come here now, your precious daughter is going to be ruined by me today. You know I have the power to do it, Tyler Lloyd."

There was a heavy sigh on the other end. My words had clearly struck a nerve. After a long pause, the call was abruptly hung up.

Madison screamed in disbelief, "Phoebe Campbell, how could you speak to Dad like that?"

I crossed my arms and looked at her with complete arrogance. "I said what I said. What's wrong with it?"

Madison glared at me, but I could see the fear in her eyes. She could tell I wasn't the same as I used to be, but the problem was, she had no idea why I'd changed so dramatically.

Eventually, her gaze flickered. She approached me and softened her tone. "Phoebe, this is just a little argument between us sisters. There's no need to bring Dad into this. I really don't want to see you make a mistake and get kicked out of the family."

I smirked, not holding back any of my disdain. "What are you afraid of? Didn't you say I was lying? Didn't you want to call Dad over? I did just that."

It didn't take long for Tyler to arrive. He stormed in, furious. "You little brat!" he shouted. "How dare you treat your sister like this? If I'd known you were so vicious, I never should've adopted you! I'm going to teach you a lesson for your grandpa today!"

He was about to slap me across the face, but I grabbed his wrist and shoved him away forcefully.

"What right do you have to teach me a lesson in Grandpa's place? Too used to throwing your weight around, and you've forgotten what your last name is?"

Tyler's face immediately turned pale. He hadn't expected me to stand up to him like this.

Madison rushed over to support him and asked in concern, "Dad, are you okay? I don't know why Phoebe's acting like this but don't blame her. She's my sister, after all."

Her act of humble submission not only tugged at Tyler's heartstrings but also garnered sympathy from the audience.

"Mr. Lloyd, you're finally here! Look at what your adopted daughter has done to Ms. Lloyd!"

"How vicious! She's been assaulting Ms. Lloyd right in front of us. Who knows what she's been doing behind closed doors?"

"For such a prestigious family like the Lloyd family to have such an adopted daughter is like a rotten apple in a barrel of good ones. She should be kicked out of the family immediately!"

Wilson also stepped forward at the right moment, adding, "Exactly, Mr. Lloyd. She's accusing Maddie of being the adopted daughter and claiming she's the real successor. A liar like her doesn't deserve to stay in the Lloyd family!

"She even tried to harm you earlier. If Maddie hadn't caught you in time, you might have fallen off the stage. You can't keep indulging her!"

Tyler's eyes flickered with guilt. He immediately raised his voice. "Nonsense! Maddie is my only biological daughter! Phoebe, you're just my adopted daughter. I've done my duty by raising you, and now you dare to covet Maddie's position? How ungrateful!"

His words sealed my fate as the liar in this situation. A wave of contemptuous murmurs spread around.

But I couldn't help but laugh. I watched Tyler in amusement. "So, you're confirming that Madison is the true successor of traditional pottery? Are you sure about that?"

Under my unblinking gaze, Tyler began to avoid eye contact.

Then, as if a realization hit him, he stepped closer and whispered, "Stop this, Phoebe. You're ruining my life now. Is this how you honor your mom? Apologize to Maddie now, or I'll really be angry."

A surge of fury welled up inside me.

How dare he bring up Mom?

It wasn't until my death in my past life that I learned that he was the one who killed Mom! He had tampered with the car, causing the crash that killed her.

Originally, he had intended to get rid of both of us. But at the last moment, Mom had desperately protected me, saving my life.

I stared at the shameless, vile face before me. Without a second thought, I kicked him hard.

Tyler screamed and was knocked to the floor by my sudden blow.

No one expected me to strike him. The crowd began to yell at me in anger.

"Do you have no conscience? How dare you attack your father?"

"This is absurd! You have no respect for your parents and no pity for your sister! You're rotten to the core!"

"People like her should be executed!"

Tyler looked at me in disbelief. His voice trembled with rage as he scolded, "Phoebe Campbell, how dare you kick me! You really want to be kicked out of the family, don't you?"

The audience responded in unison, "Kick her out! Kick her out!"

But just as everyone was caught up in their outrage, a calm, elderly voice suddenly rang out, "So what if she kicks you? Tyler, since when do you have the right to kick Phoebe out of the family?"