Chapter 2 An Arranged Marriage

Hanging up the phone, Kendra casually tossed her empty cola can into a nearby trash bin.

Her biological parents?

A mocking smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth.

It sounded like something worth looking forward to.

When she was just born, her mother had vanished from the hospital. Keith Moore, the hospital director back then, had adopted her.

According to him, her mother was likely a rural woman who had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Perhaps feeling unable to raise a child on her own, she had fled.

Because of this, even when Kendra grew up and had the financial means, she had never bothered looking for her biological parents.

But as it turned out, she had been switched at birth.

She didn't believe the hospital would make such a careless blunder, which meant the only person who could have switched the babies was that woman.

How interesting—trading another child's destiny for her own daughter's lifetime of wealth and privilege.

What a brilliant scheme.

But people always had to pay the price for what they had done.

With a plan already forming in her mind, Kendra casually packed a few changes of clothes into a bag and headed downstairs.

She got into the luxurious stretch Lincoln and headed in the direction of Yrocbert.

Kendra leaned back against the leather seat, closing her eyes to rest.

Half an hour later, the car glided into an exclusive, ultra-expensive district of Yrocbert.

The Spencer residence was a sprawling manor. The main gates alone stood over three meters high, flanked by two stone sculptures that projected an imposing grandeur.

Kendra followed the butler through a long corridor before stepping into the main hall of the estate.

Five people were waiting in the room.

At the center seat of honor sat a man in his seventies, dressed in a dark suit. He leaned on a gold cane, radiating a sharp, vigorous authority.

On the left couch sat a middle-aged couple. The man wore a crisp suit and a stern expression; the woman was dripping in jewels and impeccably groomed, though the look she gave Kendra was full of undisguised, critical scrutiny.

On the right was a young man around twenty-five. He sat with his legs crossed, scrolling through his phone without even glancing up, treating Kendra as if she were nothing but thin air.

Next to the young man sat a girl about Kendra's age.

She wore a white Chanel suit, her hair tied back in an exquisite low ponytail. Her eyes were slightly red, and her entire presence exuded an aura of pitiful, fragile innocence.

Yet Kendra didn't miss the fleeting flash of jealousy and hatred that darkened the girl's eyes.

She understood immediately. This had to be Lorelai Spencer, the girl who had stolen her identity for the past twenty years.

"You must be Kendra. I'm your grandfather, Terry Spencer. Come here and let me get a good look at you." The old man in the seat of honor was the first to break the silence.

Kendra walked over gracefully, offering a polite smile and a nod. "Hello, Mr. Spencer."

Until she had the full measure of the situation, she had no intention of playing the dutiful granddaughter right away.

After all, human nature was fickle, and she had seen far too much of it growing up.

However, she could tell that this old man genuinely welcomed her. The joy shining in his eyes couldn't be faked.

As for her biological parents and brother, Kendra's gaze swept over them, taking in their cold, varied expressions.

"Kendra, you're finally back. We've really been wanting to see you." Wringing her hands, Lorelai stepped closer. Her voice trembled with a delicate weakness that made her appear all the more fragile.

Kendra looked at her, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.

Ignoring the girl entirely, Kendra turned her attention back to Terry and cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Spencer, your family was in quite a rush to bring me back. I doubt this is just about a heartwarming family reunion, is it?"

Terry stiffened, clearly caught off guard by her bluntness. A flicker of discomfort crossed his eyes.

"You certainly don't mince words, young lady." He let out a heavy sigh. "Indeed. The reason we brought you back so urgently is for an arranged marriage."