Chapter 3

Yara walked into the cafe with her boyfriend, Joseph. Without a word of courtesy, she snatched my card and sneered. "You didn't sleep a wink last night, did you? Your parents favor Sarah, and Sarah's crazy. Life at that house must have been miserable for you."

I glanced in the mirror and realized she was right—my dark circles were terrifying.

Comments scrolled across my vision.

"Lexie wasn't scared in the slightest. She spent the entire night trying on every dress and splurged three million dollars online."

"She's far too petty. The Waltons would definitely look down on her. Yara never spent any of it last time."

Fearing I might change my mind, Yara hurried to say, "It's too late to regret now. The Walton family is a place that takes everything and gives nothing. My future husband and I are off to follow our own hearts."

I frowned at Joseph. The stench of sweat clung to him, his skin was tanned, and he was hunched over a mountain of desserts, shoveling them into his mouth.

Back when Yara first got together with him, I had been strongly against it, but everyone assumed I was trying to meddle, so I let it go.

Comments appeared again.

"Perfect! With that one million dollars, Joseph can launch his business sooner. He'll show the Walton family who's really in charge, rise to the top as a tycoon, and finally be with Yara."

I smiled. There was no way I would let some broke man destroy the happiness I had fought so hard to build. For the next five years, I made sure someone was always watching their every move.

Their business got off to a good start, and they made some profits. However, Yara, who had grown up in luxury, demanded the absolute best in everything.

Joseph grumbled endlessly, and the two argued constantly. He had always been a gambler and had kept it in check for Yara, but after a few wins, he fell back into old habits. Within three years, the one million dollars was completely spent.

Over those five years, Yara had tried to reach me, but as long as I refused, her status meant she could never get through. I had learned Raymond's and Grace's likes and dislikes perfectly, and even Sarah was completely at my mercy.

Soon, I entered Walton Group and became the company's second-in-command.

One day, the orphanage called, requesting my presence at the director's funeral. I agreed, only to find that nobody I knew had come.

Then, a familiar voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.

"Lexie, it hasn't been easy to meet you. How long do you plan on keeping my identity?"

I looked at her and barely recognized her. Yara's face was pale, and her once-perfect features were drained of life. She charged at me like a lunatic, clutching my neck and screaming, "Have you been meddling all these years? Is that why I never saw anyone from the Walton family?"

She held on even tighter. "It shouldn't be this way! How can you be safe in the Walton residence? Why didn't they throw you out and humiliate you?"

I battered her hands with all my strength, but it didn't work.

Joseph slapped her. "You crazy bitch, now is not the time to lose it!"

I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. The comments that had been silent suddenly exploded across the screen.

"She's completely lost her personality. I want the poised, aloof Yara and the devoted, rough Joseph back."

"Poor Lexie. Yara was the one who insisted on swapping identities back then, and now she refuses and is forcing her to switch back."

I calmly slipped my hand into my pocket and touched the dagger I carried at all times.

Yara sneered. "Lexie, you're still so foolish. The director's funeral was fake. If we hadn't deceived you, how could we swap identities?"

I answered calmly, "Why do you think the Waltons would recognize you after all these years?"

"You're fake, Sarah's fake, and I'm the only true blood of the Walton family. No one abandons their own child!"

She turned sharply to Joseph. "Tie her up. After she dies, I'll take my place as the Walton heiress."

Joseph boxed me in, but I took the opening and slashed his palm with my dagger. He jerked back in pain, and I bolted for the exit.

I didn't get far before several burly men blocked the exit. Yara yanked my hair and lashed out at my face. "You think you can escape? I'll end you!"

Comments poured in.

"She's terrifying. She wouldn't actually kill her, would she?"

"She's staging a fire. When the Walton family discovers Lexie's body, she'll cry about a stolen identity and walk back into the family's arms."

Joseph swung a wooden stick at me in desperation. I covered my head, doing what I could to protect myself, yet they still overpowered me and tied me up.

Yara poured a bucket of oil over me and viciously said, "Lexie, die!"

I watched the lighter inch closer and closed my eyes in despair. Suddenly, a crowd appeared at the doorway, and Sarah elegantly stepped down from a car.

"Lexie Walton, you're hopeless. I thought you could handle this."