The patriarch of the Vanderwood family, my great-uncle Augustus Vanderwood, put a stop to the farce. He struck the marble floor hard with his ivory-handled cane, silencing everyone.

“Quiet! What is the meaning of this spectacle?”

As the eldest person present, Augustus’s words carried weight. He turned to Theodore and Brielle, scrutinizing them. “Why must you cause such a scene at Orion’s birthday party?”

Brielle shot Theodore a look. Taking his cue, Theodore immediately let out a theatrical sigh.

“Since everyone is here today, I’d like to take this opportunity, in front of all the board members and distinguished guests, to announce something of the utmost importance.” He said this while casting a complicated look at Orion.

I watched his performance with cold disdain.

“Orion is not Cordelia’s son.”

Theodore’s words landed like a bombshell. The party guests, those New York socialites, began to whisper amongst themselves.

Orion’s shoulders trembled slightly. He looked at me, his eyes filled with confusion, fear, and panic. I stroked his head to comfort him, gently pulling him closer to my side.

A flicker of smug victory crossed Theodore’s eyes before it was quickly masked by a look of sorrow and regret.

He explained, “Cordelia and Brielle gave birth on the same day at Lenox Hill Hospital. When I was holding Cordelia’s baby and went to see Brielle, I made a fatal mistake and accidentally mixed up the two infants.”

He lowered his head as if in great distress, but I nearly laughed aloud at his hypocrisy.

It was his and Brielle’s own sordid deal, and now he was trying to disguise his wicked plan to swap the children by calling it a simple “mix-up.”

He stole a glance at me, no doubt hoping to see me break down. However, I remained impassive, simply sipping my champagne.

He continued, “I just want to clarify to everyone here that Brielle is Orion’s biological mother, not Cordelia.” He glanced at me again and added, “Cordelia, you gave birth to a daughter, not a son. We must correct this mistake today and return Orion to Brielle.”

A few of the board members, bribed by Theodore, immediately chimed in.

“So it was an accidental switch. Not a big deal, they can just be switched back.”

“That’s right. It’s not too late for the children to return to their rightful parents.”

“Cordelia gave birth to a daughter. Since a daughter cannot inherit the family business, Cordelia should take this opportunity to step down.”

I narrowed my eyes, scanning the faces of those who spoke. They were all Theodore’s cronies.

These useless, sycophantic nobodies in The Vanderwood Legacy had long resented me. They couldn't wait to see me gone.

Hearing those words, Orion clutched at the corner of my dress, unsettled. I comforted him, then looked at Theodore and let out a cold laugh.

“Do you think I was in so much pain, bleeding so profusely, that I couldn't recognize my own flesh and blood? Orion is my son. He will never call another woman ‘Mother.’”

I didn’t raise my voice, but it was exceptionally firm, leaving no room for doubt.

At my firm reply, the panic on Orion’s face gradually faded, and he pressed closer to me. Brielle’s tears immediately began to fall. She looked heartbroken, as if I had truly stolen her child.

“Cordelia, what Theodore said is true. Orion is my son. Stop deceiving yourself. I am Orion’s biological mother.”

Brielle tried to reclaim her son with the utmost sincerity. She thought I was completely in the dark.

On the contrary, I was fully aware of what Theodore and Brielle had done.

Orion was my son. Of that, there was no doubt.

Ten years ago, I was still a student at Columbia University. My father had forced me to break up with my first love, Alaric Maverick, simply because he didn't think a poor artist from Brooklyn was worthy of me.

Not long after Alaric and I broke up, my father passed away. In my despair, I agreed to Theodore's marriage proposal. After all, this man, a Wharton graduate who seemed to be my “social equal,” had been pursuing me relentlessly for a long time.

However, during the wedding preparations, I discovered that Theodore was having an affair with Brielle. Seeing them together, I realized he was only marrying me for my social standing and family resources; he had been sleeping with Brielle from the very beginning.

On our wedding night, I plied Theodore with enough alcohol to ensure he passed out. I led him to believe we had consummated our marriage.

In truth, when we got married, I was already four weeks pregnant with Alaric’s child.

After Orion was born, Theodore secretly swapped him with Brielle's daughter. What he didn't know was that I had already switched them back. Since newborns look almost identical, my actions went unnoticed.

After that, Theodore began avoiding intimacy with me, citing exhaustion from work. Each time, I played the part of the understanding wife, while internally, I felt waves of revulsion.

I knew very well that he was carrying on with Brielle. He had no need for me.

For the next ten years, I raised Orion with all my heart. Theodore, to his credit, was good to him, too.

Sometimes, seeing how much effort Theodore put into raising Orion, I had to stop myself from laughing in his face.

Theodore thought he had fooled me, but he was the real clown.

“Cordelia, Brielle is right. There was an accidental swap. Orion is not your son. You gave birth to a daughter.” Theodore's tone was laced with mockery. “No matter how much you deny it, DNA doesn't lie.”

I scoffed. “I think you’ve lost your mind. What is this nonsense?”

Feeling insulted, Theodore became enraged. “You don’t believe me? Let’s get a DNA test! I guarantee Orion has no blood relation to you!” Theodore spat at me.

“Not only that, I want a divorce! I pursued you back then because I thought you were gentle and obedient. I never expected you to become so damn unreasonable! I’ve had enough of you!”

As he spoke, he glanced at Brielle out of the corner of his eye.

It seemed he had it all planned out—divorce me, marry Brielle, get custody of Orion, and then take over The Vanderwood Legacy.

I found his hypocrisy laughable. When he was courting me, his family background was even less impressive than Alaric's.

Although Theodore had compromised by marrying into the Vanderwood family, he had gained wealth and social status because of it. How dare he turn around and blame me? He was utterly despicable.

I knew his endgame. I had just given half of my shares in The Vanderwood Legacy to Orion.

Theodore and Brielle must have thought that now was the perfect time to gain power in The Vanderwood Legacy through Orion.

My tone was calm and composed as I replied, “Fine. We’ll get a divorce. But there’s no need for a DNA test. Orion is mine. Period.”

Orion squeezed my hand tightly. “Mom, I believe you. I look exactly like you!”

The faces of Theodore and Brielle fell.

Theodore immediately pulled Orion into his arms. “Son, why don’t you believe me?”

Orion simply pushed Theodore away and ran back to my side, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with him.

“Mom!” Just then, a girl ran in from the main door and rushed into my arms. She looked up at me and announced, “Mom, I’m Willow. I’m your daughter.”

This stunned everyone. All eyes were on me and this little girl.

So this is the daughter they claim is mine, I thought.