Chapter 3

3 My wounds were bandaged, and I was in a VIP room, but my dad called.

I explained what happened. Thinking of Sam's bravery, I felt warmth.

My dad was furious.

""What?! That Chloe Summers tried to cut off your hands? She hasn't seen the Riley family's wrath yet!""

""And that Ethan, that bastard! I'll make them regret being born!""

I nodded. ""Dad, I want you to revoke Ethan's inheritance and kick him out.""

""And Sam, he saved me. I'll introduce him to you later.""

My dad promised,

""Don't worry, he's no longer a Riley from the moment he hurt you.""

""My secretary's coming to get me, I'll be there to support you!""

The phone call ended, my heart settled. I wanted to see Sam in the next room.

I got out of bed and the door opened.

Ethan walked in with bodyguards, kicking me in the stomach.

""Who gave you the nerve to bully Chloe?!""

I fell to the ground, unable to speak.

I didn't understand why Ethan had the right to hit me.

He was just an adopted son; without my parents, he would still be a street urchin.

Before I left for abroad, I treated him as my brother.

I even suggested he co-inherit the business with me after I came back.

My family gave him a new life, yet he sent me to hell.

Chloe emerged from behind Ethan.

Seeing me, she said sarcastically,

""Forget it, Ethan. Lily claimed she's the only Riley daughter, we can't offend her…""

Ethan sneered, looking down on me.

""The Rileys do have a daughter, but not you, a gold digger who seduced my father.""

""I grew up in the Riley family, how could I not know who their real daughter is?""

Ethan's words confused me. I am their daughter.

A middle-aged man stepped forward―Lee, my dad's assistant. Hope flickered.

But Lee stepped on my freshly bandaged wrist.

""What shameless gold digger? You seduced my boss and his son. Now you dare impersonate our young miss.""

""I'll teach you a lesson!""

He crushed my hand, blood soaking the bandages.

I stared at Lee in disbelief.

""You're crazy! I am the Riley daughter, the real one!""

Lee scoffed.

""I've been with the Rileys for over a decade. You say you're their daughter, but I've only ever seen Ethan, never you?""

He grabbed my hair, sneering.

""The Riley daughter is their precious jewel. If you were, Mr. Riley would have mentioned you.""

""Ethan already told me everything.""

""You're a gold digger trying to climb the ladder by using your body, forcing Mr. Riley to adopt you. He hates you, so you're seducing Ethan.""

Lee painted me as a gold digger.

I tried to explain that my dad hid me for protection. He pretended to ignore me to keep me safe.

This was used against me.

Before I could speak, Chloe spoke pitifully.

""I just wanted to warn Lily not to be a homewrecker. She's so arrogant, claiming to be the Riley daughter! Won't that ruin the family's reputation?""

Lee's eyes lit up, and he ordered the bodyguards to restrain me.

""Ms. Chloe is right! We need to teach you a lesson, so you understand that the Rileys are not to be trifled with!""

I struggled, but Lee slapped me. My face, already bleeding, split open again.

No one had ever dared hit me. I was precious.

But today, I've been slapped countless times.

It wasn't just physical pain but humiliation. I was filled with shame.

Chloe swaggered over, patting my swollen face.

""Lily Miller, I've seen many gold diggers like you who try to climb the social ladder with their bodies. We high-class people despise you.""

""Kneel down and lick Ethan's and my shoes, then shout 'I'm a gold digger' a hundred times in the hospital lobby. Then, when I marry into the Riley family, you can be a maid. How's that?""