Chapter 5

The colleagues around me, noticing Lily’s confident demeanor, began urging me to back down.

“Miss Anderson, just apologize. You’re clearly in the wrong here, pretending to be her. Once her father arrives, it’s only going to get worse for you.”

“Exactly. Some people should take a good look at themselves. Just look at you in those cheap clothes, while Miss Lily Anderson is wearing designer brands from head to toe. It’s obvious who’s real and who’s fake.”

I glanced down at my custom-made outfit, completely speechless.

Apparently, not having a flashy logo meant it was “cheap.” No wonder some people couldn’t recognize understated luxury when they saw it.

I raised my head and took a closer look at Lily’s so-called designer clothes and handbag. Something about them felt oddly familiar.

Wait a second. That bag.

Wasn’t it the one I disliked and had the housekeeper throw out? How did it end up with her?

My thoughts were interrupted by a commotion near the door as a large group of people entered the room.

Lily’s attention briefly shifted to the noise, but her eyes locked onto the necklace around my neck.

“Well, aren’t you brave? Stealing my necklace and flaunting it like it’s yours.”

Before I could react, Lily stormed over, ripped the necklace from my neck, and hurled it to the ground with force!

“Lily! Are you out of your mind?”

I knelt down and picked up the broken necklace, cradling it in my hands as anger surged through me.

This wasn’t just a piece of jewelry. It represented my dad’s love and blessings, and she had destroyed it.

I felt a burning urge to lash out at her.

Just then, my dad entered the room, surrounded by bodyguards. His eyes scanned the crowd before settling on James, who was standing behind Lily. His brows furrowed in obvious displeasure, but James, clueless as ever, didn’t seem to notice.

“And who are you? Who let you in here?” James asked arrogantly.

“Dad!” I interrupted James and walked over to stand by my father’s side.

James smirked immediately, his expression smug as if he was watching a ridiculous play unfold.

“Emily, you went all out for this. Bringing in someone to pretend to be Mr. Anderson and even hiring bodyguards? You must have spent a fortune on these actors. Absolutely hilarious!”

My dad’s face darkened, and the veins on his forehead began to bulge. That was always the first sign that his patience was wearing thin.

“You ungrateful fool. I promoted you to Vice President because of my daughter, and this is how you repay her?”

James doubled over in laughter, clutching the table for support.

“You? Promoted me? That’s priceless. Some broke old man thinks he has the power to do anything for me? What a joke!”

I clenched my teeth, my voice cold and sharp.

“James, don’t push it too far.”