Chapter 2

2 "Katherine," he said, "I wanted to show you how much I care about you, so I bought every rose in town to make this bouquet." Brittany looked shocked. She glanced at Amanda, nervous and confused. Did Michael just say that to me? Looking at Michael's adoring gaze, I wanted to puke. He used to cling to me, always wanting to play "wedding," telling my parents he would marry me when he grew up. But then he saw Amanda and ditched me for her. When Amanda made my life a living hell, he did nothing. Walking right up to Amanda, Michael smiled gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're beautiful, Amanda." Then he turned to me, his eyes like knives. "You think we're stupid enough to believe that you are Katherine Blackwood just because you made up a random story? Get real." "Katherine, if you begged me right now, I wouldn't give you a second look," he said, his face twisted in disgust. "There is only one person I love, and that is Amanda, the real Katherine Blackwood." Michael, who used to swear he'd love me forever, was now groveling at Amanda's feet, calling me a liar. The others, already unsure of my identity, immediately believed Michael. "Amanda has such a big heart. She let this stray hang around, and this is how she's repaid." "Someone should have left her to die in the streets. Now she just causes problems." Amanda looked thrilled, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. Seeing them together, I laughed, took a white jade pendant from around my neck. "This is the Phoenix Blood Jade. Only the real Katherine Blackwood can wear it." "Amanda, do you have one of these?" Several people hurried closer, peering at the pendant. Many of them had been friends with my parents for years. They gasped. "I heard Mr. Blackwood talking about this. Looks like Katherine is telling the truth." "Weird. Why did Steven say Mr. Blackwood wanted us here to support Amanda?" Amanda went pale, her eyes wide with panic. She had no idea about the Phoenix Blood Jade. Michael suddenly laughed, "Katherine, you think you can fool everyone? You want us to believe that something that looks like you found in the trash has been passed down through your family for generations? That's just pathetic." The others looked confused again, shifting their gazes between me and Amanda, unsure what to think.