Chapter 2

Bianca clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with shock.

Tessa enveloped her in a protective hug, murmuring comfort. Turning to me, she snapped, "You're out of line, Wendy! Someone, drag her to her room and lock her in!"

I kicked away the servants lunging at me and spun toward the butler. "Who exactly is Jared marrying?"

His face was grave. "The heiress, Miss Bianca Pittman."

My face turned cold. "The Pittman family has one heiress—me, Wendy Pittman! Bianca is irrelevant!"

Tessa lunged forward, trying to clamp a hand over my mouth, her face flushed with panic as she glanced at the butler. "Don't listen to her nonsense. Bianca is my daughter, and Wendy is just my niece, throwing a tantrum here because she's bitter about caring for the old man."

She turned to me, her tone softening, but her eyes flashed with a warning. "I know you're upset. I'll make it up to you, okay? Just stop this."

The guests erupted in whispers, their stares prickling my skin.

"Talk about ungrateful."

"A cousin trying to steal Bianca's fiancé? And making a scene like this?"

Bianca chimed in, her voice soft and pitiful. "Wendy, why are you picking on Tessa?"

Her eyes glinted with venom for a split second before melting into teary innocence. "I know you've always been jealous, throwing fits to get Tessa to love you more."

She clung to Tessa's arm and sobbed, "You've taken my clothes and jewelry, but now you're after my identity and fiancé?"

My heart pounded painfully at their betrayal.

I locked eyes with Tessa. "You're really going this far for her? Twisting my entire life to hand it to her? I went abroad to care for Rupert without a single complaint. Is this how you repay me?"

Their faces twitched, but I pressed on. "And you even matched her up with my fiancé? Does Rupert know any of this?"

The room buzzed with gasps and murmurs.

"What is going on? If that's true, Tessa has crossed a line."

"I always thought it was odd. When did the Pittman family get another heiress? Sounds like a bait-and-switch."

"Shh, keep it down. If the Reillys realize the bride's a fake..."

Exchanging looks with others, an older woman whispered, "Five years ago, when Mr. Pittman Sr. was sick, Wendy went abroad with him to receive treatment."

"So, Tessa sent her daughter away and raised her niece as the heiress?" Someone sucked in a sharp breath. "That explains why we've only seen Bianca at all the fancy parties these past years."

Tessa's face shifted from pale to red as the whispers reached her. Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped me hard.

...

The crack of the slap echoed through the hall. I stumbled back, my cheek burning as if branded.

"You ungrateful brat!" Tessa shrieked, her voice trembling with rage. "I poured my heart into raising you, and you choose today to make a scene?"

She grabbed my hair, yanking so hard my scalp screamed. "Look at you! A few years abroad, and you've forgotten every ounce of decency I taught you?"

Forced to tilt my head, I saw the fury in her eyes, laced with a flicker of panic she couldn't hide.

"Mrs. Pittman?" the butler gasped.

"I'm disciplining my child. Sorry for the scene." Tessa forced a smile, her grip tightening like a vise. "This girl has always been a handful, but today she's gone too far."

She turned to the gawking guests, her voice booming. "Please, forgive the drama. This is my late sister's daughter, orphaned young and raised in our house. Caring for Rupert must've been too much. She's not herself."

Bianca sobbed, clinging to Tessa like a damsel in distress. "Mom, don't be mad. Wendy is just exhausted."

"See how sweet Bianca is?" Tessa shoved me. "And look at you!"