Chapter 2

"Hey! Can you move your fake car out of the way? My mom's Panamera is a one-of-a-kind custom color in the world. Who are you to drive a look-alike?" the girl said.

I rolled down the window and looked at her coldly. "Is your father Aaron Meyer?"

The girl immediately puffed out her chest and answered proudly, "Of course! My name is Clarisse Meyer. I'm the Meyer family's one and only daughter! You're just a fraud trying to ride on our fame. Get lost now, or I'll have my dad seize your car!"

"The only daughter?" I let out a short laugh and pushed open the door, but two bodyguards stepped forward and blocked me.

They were men I had personally hired to protect Maeve. Now they stood against me, faces hard and hostile.

"Miss, this is private property of the Meyer residence. Unauthorized people are not allowed inside," one of them said coldly.

"Unauthorized people?" I glanced at him. "I am Aaron's lawful wife and Maeve's mother. You dare stop me?"

A calm voice came from behind me.

"Jasper, no need to be so fierce. This lady probably just likes my car too much and dreams of being my husband's ideal woman."

Jess Carter walked over and took Clarisse's hand, her eyes sweeping over my suit with faint disdain.

"Imitation will always be imitation. The position of Mrs. Meyer isn't something you can pretend to be just by wearing haute couture."

The guests attending the birthday party gathered around, pointing at me and whispering.

"She looks respectable enough. Why is she trying to pretend to be a Meyer?"

"She must be trying to latch onto Aaron. Look, the real Mrs. Meyer and the young miss are right here."

"I heard Aaron fathered a child with a nanny, and the girl kept claiming she was the Meyer family's heiress. The teacher even led the class to punish her. Looks like they're all the same kind."

"The nanny's daughter?" I turned to Clarisse. "At school, you were the ones who made Maeve cry and forced her to stand in the snow, weren't you?"

Clarisse shrank back under my gaze for a moment, then quickly became arrogant again.

"So what if we did? She's just an unwanted illegitimate child! Mom said Maeve's mother is a mistress and doesn't deserve my dad. And she doesn't deserve to be the Meyer family's heiress either!"

Jess stood there like a noble lady, her voice soft and gentle, yet every word dripping with superiority.

"Clarisse, don't waste time talking to people like this. Our family has always been kind-hearted. We only kept Maeve back then out of pity. A little pet raised in the house doesn't know manners. Teaching her a lesson is only right, so she won't embarrass us in public later."

I clenched my teeth and forced out each word with what little reason I had left.

"Where is Maeve? Bring her out to me. Now."

Jess covered her mouth and laughed lightly. "Why so anxious? Maeve is upstairs reflecting on her mistakes. And really, since you left the child at home, you should have taught her proper rules. Don't let her go around pretending to be a young lady and causing trouble."

As if deliberately trying to provoke me, she called upstairs.

"Dotty, bring Maeve down. Let her kneel and apologize to Clarisse in front of everyone!"

"Yes, madam!"

When I heard Dotty's familiar voice from upstairs, my heart jolted. I looked up in disbelief.

She stood at the top of the stairs.

She glanced down at me from above. The warmth she once had was gone, replaced by pure coldness and cruelty.

"Wretched girl, hurry up and come out!"

Dotty shouted behind her as if scolding an animal.

A small figure stepped forward.

It was Maeve.

Her hair was messy, her face pale, and a faint slap mark was still visible on her right cheek.

When she saw the crowd below, she immediately lowered her head like a frightened mouse, afraid to draw anyone's attention.

"Maeve!"

I couldn't stop myself from calling her. My voice trembled.

But Maeve only shuddered. She didn't look up at me. Instead, she buried her head even lower, as if trying to hide.

I turned to Dotty, unable to believe what I was seeing.

"Dotty, you raised me from childhood. I treated you like family. Before I left, I entrusted both my home and Maeve to you. Is this how you repay me?!"

"I don't understand what you're talking about, miss."

Dotty looked at me with contempt, as if I were a stray dog or an ant on the roadside.