Chapter 2

2

Sienna's face turned white as a sheet. She bit her lip and hissed at the servants behind her.

"What are you all staring at? Get over here and take my necklace back from her!"

I let out a cold snort and stepped back.

"I'd like to see anyone try."

I raised an eyebrow at Sienna. "You've certainly grown bold, haven't you? Ordering people to attack me?"

"Do you actually believe you're the daughter of this house now?"

My mother frowned and pulled Sienna into a protective embrace. "Elara, what do you think you're doing!"

"Today is your sister's big day. Do not cause trouble!"

"Sister?"

I scoffed. "Since when do I have a sister? Everyone knows the Sterling family only has one daughter, and that's Elara Sterling."

I pointed directly at Sienna, my eyes full of mockery.

My mother's expression turned vicious. "Elara, shut your mouth! Stop talking nonsense!"

Sienna took a step forward, leaning close to my ear so only I could hear.

"Elara, who's going to believe you? You've been gone for five whole years. Nobody even recognizes you anymore."

I didn't hesitate. I raised my hand and sent a sharp slap across her face.

"Shut up! You're just a cousin living under my roof. Where do you get the nerve to bark at me?!"

Sienna held her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. My mother pulled her close, comforting her hysterically.

"How dare you! Elara, you've clearly forgotten all your manners!"

"Guards! Drag her to her room and lock her in!"

I kicked away the servants who tried to grab me. I turned and shouted at the butler.

"Who is the man supposed to be marrying today?"

The butler looked grave. "Naturally, it is the daughter of the Sterling family, Miss Sienna."

The coldness in my eyes deepened.

"The Sterling family has only ever had one daughter, and that is me. There is no 'Miss Sienna' in the bloodline!"

My mother lunged forward to cover my mouth, looking at the butler with an awkward, panicked expression.

"Don't listen to her lies!"

"The Sterling daughter is Sienna! This girl is just a niece from my side of the family."

"She was chosen to care for the old master years ago and grew resentful. She's just here to make a scene."

She looked at me then, her voice softening into a fake plea, though her eyes were full of threats.

"Elara, I know you feel wronged. I'll make it up to you later. Just stop this nonsense now, okay?"

The guests began to murmur. They looked at me with judgmental, suspicious eyes.

"That is so ungrateful," someone whispered.

"A cousin living on charity trying to steal a fiancé? How trashy."

Sienna took her cue, sobbing quietly.

"Cousin, why are you doing this to Mom?"

A flash of malice crossed her eyes before she let the tears fall again.

"I know you've always been jealous of me. I know you've always begged Mom to love you more."

She piteously clutched my mother's arm.

"I didn't mind when you took my clothes or my jewelry. But how can you try to steal my identity and my husband?"

The pain in my chest was so sharp it physically hurt. I glared at my mother.

"Mom, are you really going to go this far for her?"

"Are you really going to hand over my very identity to a liar?"

"When you told me to take her place to care for Grandpa, I didn't say a word. Is this my reward?"

I saw their faces twitch as I gritted my teeth.

"You're even giving my fiancé to her. Does Grandpa know about this?"

The crowd erupted again at the mention of my grandfather.

"Wait, if that's true, then Mrs. Sterling is...."

"I always thought it was weird. I didn't remember the Sterlings having a second daughter."

"Shh! But if the Groom's family finds out the bride was swapped...."

A few older women exchanged looks. One whispered, "Five years ago, when the old man was sick, it was definitely Elara who went overseas."

"So, Mrs. Sterling sent her own daughter away and raised her niece as her own?"

Someone gasped. "No wonder we've only seen Sienna at parties all these years...."

The whispers reached my mother's ears. Her face turned a sickly shade of grey and white.

Suddenly, she lunged forward and slapped me across the face.

"Slap!"