My arranged husband, Ethan Carter, had been my nemesis since childhood.

When it was discovered that I was the Brooks family’s long-lost biological daughter, both families pushed hard for our marriage.

With the union, business cooperation between the two families would flourish.

But Ethan flatly refused.

To get back at me, he deliberately “fell in love” with the fake heiress.

They booked a hotel suite together and even left my phone number on the reservation.

He postponed the wedding for five whole years, making me the laughingstock of New York’s high society.

The next time we met was at a gala dinner.

He wore an expensive suit, the fake heiress on his arm.

Everyone toasted him, showering him with praise—

Saying he and Sophia Brooks were a perfect match, a couple made in heaven.

“I love Sophia,” he said. “After all these years, I didn’t expect you’d still be waiting for me.”

“Since you’re so devoted, I’ll be generous and let you attend our engagement party.”

He tossed an invitation card down at me from his lofty perch.

I toyed with the wedding ring on my finger and didn’t even move.

“Sorry, I’m busy that day—I have to pick my daughter up from school.”

The moment the words left my lips, not a single person believed me. Laughter erupted.

“Stop making things up. You can’t even lie well. How could you possibly have a daughter in just five years?”

But I wasn’t lying.

My daughter is in preschool now.

Like her father, she’s been clever since she was little—

And she insists that only I pick her up; a nanny won’t do.

Some people’s eyes skimmed over my figure with open disdain.

“Your status might be low and you’re not favored, but at least your figure’s decent.”

“Yeah, you don’t look like you’ve ever had a child.”

“If you’re done with Ethan, why not give me a chance to pursue you?”

A ripple of mocking laughter spread around us.

They all believed that over the years, I had been clinging to Ethan just to secure the marriage and earn favor in the Brooks family—

Even calling me a pathetic lapdog in private.

What they didn’t know was that I had never cared about the so-called status of being the real Brooks heiress.

I didn’t even want anything to do with my biological parents.

“That’s right, me too, me too!”

“Lily Anderson, a leftover woman like you—dragged along for five years by Ethan—if you don’t get married soon, you’ll be an old maid nobody wants.”

“Why not lower your standards and marry me?”

“I wouldn’t mind becoming the Brooks family’s prized son-in-law!”

They shouted from below, but it was all for sport—

Passing glances, smirking, treating me as if I were a toy to be mocked.

One of them even stepped forward to lay hands on me.

Before he could touch me, Ethan kicked him hard.

“Watch your mouth.”

In his mind, no matter what, women who had once pursued him were off-limits to other men.

“Oh? Feeling protective, Ethan?”

Someone teased.

Ethan gave a cold chuckle, his gaze locking on me like a blade.

“Protective? I just think a woman like her isn’t even worthy of your attention.

If you know any farmhands out in the sticks, go ahead and introduce Lily to them—she’s better suited to slopping pigs.”

I looked at him calmly. After five years, he was still the same venom-tongued man.

Once upon a time, his words might have driven me mad with anger.

Now, they barely caused a ripple inside me—

Because when you don’t care, he can’t hurt you.

A chorus of jeers rose around us.

“Ethan, you really are ruthless.”

“To say something like that—did you forget she’s the real daughter of the Brooks family?”

Ethan calmly pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. His lock screen was clearly a photo of a beautiful woman.

“See this?”

He held the phone up for everyone to see.

“My girlfriend is the Brooks family’s heiress. Robert and Margaret Brooks fully approve—unlike some people who are like stray cats, unwanted by anyone.”

The moment I saw the wallpaper, I recognized her—it was Sophia Brooks.

I had no intention of responding and was just about to stand up.

Every gaze in the room immediately shifted toward me, as if expecting me to finally lose my composure and confront Ethan.

After all, that’s how it had always been between us.

When we were kids, he once poured ink into my meat pie.

I put laxatives in his oatmeal porridge.

Neither of us ever let the other off easily—

And I never allowed him the last word.

But now? Now Ethan was as light as a feather in my heart.

I picked up my bag and headed toward the exit.

“Lily Anderson!”

His voice, tinged with irritation, rang out behind me.

I paused mid-step.

Ethan rose from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes.

“Five years without seeing me, and you don’t have a single thing to say?”

For a split second, I thought maybe it was love turned to hate.

But no—that was just an illusion.

I turned back slowly, suddenly understanding his real intention for humiliating me in front of all these people.

He wanted to provoke me.

Five years later, he was still just as childish.

I shook my head honestly. “No.”

His stare bored into me like he wanted to pierce holes through my skin.

He didn’t love me—yet he still refused to let me go.

Since I had broken off the engagement and walked away five years ago, there had been nothing left to say between us.

“Mr. Carter, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave.”

I pulled my hand from his grasp and turned to go—

When a soft, syrupy voice drifted from the doorway.

“Sis, why are you leaving so soon?”

Wearing a white gown that highlighted her graceful figure, Sophia Brooks glided in.

“Ethan, it’s been five years since you’ve seen my sister. Be gentle with her—don’t be so harsh.”

She sat naturally beside him, leaning in without a hint of restraint.

Of course—by now they were widely known as the model couple.

After tonight’s gala, their proposal ceremony was set to take place.

Watching them side by side, the people around us looked at me with gleeful malice, certain I must be seething with jealousy.

But my gaze stayed calm and flat as I watched their little display.

Ethan shot me a cold glance, then turned back and wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist.

“Gentle? Does Lily deserve that?”

“A country girl who wandered outside since childhood isn’t fit to be your sister.”

He idly toyed with her hair, a mocking glint in his eyes.

“Sophia, remember—I’m only gentle with you.”

The two of them leaned in, clearly about to kiss in front of everyone.

If not for the people nearby stopping them, I was certain they would’ve ended up stripping right there.

I let a small smile curl my lips and lowered my head in quiet amusement—

And I couldn’t help but recall five years ago, when we were preparing to get engaged, and I had tried to build some kind of connection with him by inviting him to a candlelight dinner.

Over the phone, he’d brushed me off with, “Depends on my mood. If you wait for me at the restaurant for five hours, I’ll come.”

That day, I really did sit there from sunrise to sunset.

When the restaurant finally closed, there was still no sign of him.

No surprise—he’d stood me up.

That very night, my phone lit up with a message:

“Hello, your reservation for the hotel suite with a king-size bed…”

I’d laughed bitterly.

Just to spite me, even when they went to a hotel, they used my number for the booking.

That was the moment I knew—any relationship that required no effort or investment was doomed from the start.

Looking back now, it all feels impossibly far away.

“Sis, don’t be mad at Ethan. That’s just how he is,” Sophia Brooks said softly, her expression gentle but laced with false concern.

“You disappeared for five years without contacting us. Mom and Dad were so worried. Where on earth did you go?”

She spoke like a saint, but the undertone was pure malice.

“You don’t know the awful things people have been saying. Some claim you ran off with another man.”

Sophia covered her mouth with a dainty laugh. “But I know you wouldn’t—after all, you’ve always loved Ethan too much to accept another man…”

I chuckled along with her.

“How do you know I wouldn’t? Don’t act like you know me so well.”

I was smiling, but my tone was cold and distant.

“And stop calling me ‘sis.’ I’m an only child—my parents never gave me a sister.”

Her smile froze instantly, and the color drained slightly from her face.

I hadn’t held back one bit.

Everyone in our circle knew I—Lily Anderson—was the true Brooks heiress.

Sophia was the one who had been switched at birth, enjoying eighteen years of wealth and privilege that were meant for me.

When they found me, they couldn’t bear to part with the girl they had raised for nearly two decades, so they kept her in the family and told us to call each other sisters.

If not for what happened five years ago, I might have swallowed my pride and tried to coexist with her.

But we were always meant to be strangers.

My words clearly stung her; tears welled in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m not Mom and Dad’s biological daughter. I don’t deserve it…”

“Lily, are you crazy?” Ethan snapped, hurriedly handing her a tissue while glaring at me.

“Don’t you know? Robert Brooks has already written his will, leaving everything to Sophia.

“So what if you’re the real daughter? They cut ties with you years ago.

“Five years ago, you humbled yourself to return to the Brooks family and agreed to marry me just to secure your position.

“Well? How does it feel hearing this now—are you furious?”

His eyes were full of triumph, clearly hoping to see me twist in rage.

But my face remained impassive. “Oh. Good for you.”

This was getting boring. I glanced at my watch—my husband and daughter would be arriving soon to take me out for hot pot.

I stood, picked up my bag, and headed for the door. Then, remembering something, I turned back.

“Correction—five years ago, I didn’t agree to marry you to secure any position.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

I gave Sophia a cool glance.

“A phoenix is a phoenix. No matter how many feathers you glue onto a sparrow, it will never be a phoenix.”

With that, I turned to leave—only for the door to slam shut with a loud bang.