Chapter 1

My grandfather fell seriously ill and needed specialized treatment abroad. The family elders wanted one of the younger generation to accompany him as his caregiver.

They originally chose my cousin, Sienna, but my mother begged me with tears in her eyes to take her place.

"Elara, you are a trained doctor. Looking after your grandfather won't be hard for you. But your cousin lost her parents so young and has always been frail. she simply isn't built for that kind of hardship."

I couldn't bear to see her so heartbroken, so I agreed to go in Sienna's place. That one decision kept me away for five long years.

Finally, my grandfather recovered. I was desperate to go home and boarded a flight back to the States. But the moment I landed, I saw a post on my mother's social media.

"My precious baby girl is finally getting married! Thank you to all our friends and family for the blessings."

But didn't she only have one daughter?

Who was this precious baby she was talking about?

1

I rushed from the airport back to our family estate. The moment I looked up, I saw my mother walking out, holding my cousin Sienna's hand.

She was pulling her close with an affectionate smile. It was the look of a creator staring at her most perfect masterpiece.

Sienna was dressed in a stunning, custom-made red bridal gown. She stood in the center of a crowd of relatives, looking every bit the blushing bride.

"Sienna's eyes are the spitting image of yours when you were younger!" one relative chirped.

"Exactly! Look at how that gown fits her. It's perfect," another added.

My mother laughed, the fine lines around her eyes crinkling with genuine joy.

"This child has always looked just like me," she said.

She playfully pinched Sienna's cheek. "She's finally getting married today. My heart feels so heavy, like a mother losing her world."

Sienna pouted and threw herself into my mother's arms. "Don't be sad, Mom! Even after I marry Xander, I'll still come to see you every single day!"

The relatives burst into playful laughter at her words.

"Every day? Poor Xander is going to feel like a bachelor in his own home!"

"Haha, absolutely! Our Sienna is truly her mother's little girl."

Sienna stomped her foot in mock annoyance, drawing another round of laughter.

I stood in the shadows of the hallway, my phone still clutched in my hand. My heart was trembling with a sharp, cold pain.

Just then, a man dressed as a high-end butler approached the group.

He respectfully held out an exquisite velvet gift box and bowed slightly.

"Mr. Xander had this necklace custom-made specifically for his bride."

"The central gemstone was a gift from the Sterling family patriarch to Mr. Xander."

"The old master told him to set it into a necklace to give his favorite granddaughter a surprise."

"Please accept this, Miss Sterling."

Sienna's eyes lit up. A deep blush rushed to her face as she reached out to take the box.

"Thank you. Tell Xander he's so thoughtful for remembering me...."

I let out a cold laugh and stepped out from the corner, blocking her path.

While everyone stared in shock, I reached out and took the gift box myself. I offered a thin, sharp smile.

"No need for thanks. Tell him I received it."

The entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Sienna's expression froze. My mother's face turned pale instantly.

The butler was clearly caught off guard. He looked at me, then at Sienna, completely lost.

He turned to my mother in confusion. "Mrs. Sterling, may I ask who this is...?"

I slowly opened the box. Inside was a priceless emerald necklace, crystal clear and glowing with history.

I ran my fingers over the cold stones and looked at the butler. My voice was calm.

"I am Elara Sterling."

I turned to face the crowd, enunciating every single word.

"I... am Xander's true fiancée."