Chapter 4

Julian walked over, his shoe coming to a stop right in front of my face.

“Looks to me like your rib is fine. Get to bowing.”

He tipped a champagne bottle, pouring it directly over my head.

The icy liquid drenched my hair, running down my face in pale red streams mixed with blood.

Dozens of guests raised their phones.

The blinding flashes stung my eyes.

I lay there on the cold floor like a dying dog.

These were the same people who used to call me sweet nicknames, begging to hang out and swearing they were my friends.

When their family businesses struggled, I lent them money.

When they couldn't land jobs, I pulled strings and used my contacts to fix it for them.

Now, the only look on their faces was pure pleasure, the thrill of grinding the high-and-mighty princess into the dirt.

I completely broke down.

“What did I ever do to you? Just because I’m not biologically part of this family?”

Janet crouched beside me, her tone as gentle as ever.

“Nora, your biggest mistake was acting like royalty when you’re nothing but trash.

“Your real background is even worse than mine. Why did you get to be the rich princess while I had to play your sidekick?”

Her eyes crinkled into a sweet smile.

“I’m the one who leaked the truth about you being an imposter.

“And I’m the one who told Julian your real parents collect garbage for a living.”

I gasped for air, staring straight into her eyes, enunciating every word.

“Even if I’m not their biological daughter, even after the real daughter came back, my parents chose not to go public!

“They didn't kick me out! In their eyes, I’m no different from their own blood!

“You treat me like this tonight, aren't you afraid my parents will make every single one of you pay?”

The room went quiet for a moment.

Guests exchanged glances, no one daring to speak.

Julian studied me in silence, then raised a hand.

“Let go of her.”

The bodyguards released their grip.

I pushed myself off the floor, taking a shaky breath.

Before I could stand, Ethan spoke up.

“You really think Mom and Dad view you as their own?”

He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and tossed it onto the tile in front of me.

“Go ahead. Call them.

“Tell them you’re getting bullied.”

The phone rang a few times before connecting.

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. “Mom…” I sobbed into the speaker.

Silence hung on the line for two long seconds before my mother’s cold voice cut in.

“Nora, what are you doing now? Are you playing the victim again?”

I froze completely.

She kept going.

“Even if today is your birthday, you can't keep picking on Chloe! Why are you so selfish? Do you have to ruin the peace in this family?!”

I gripped the phone tightly, desperate to explain.

“Mom, Julian hit me…”

Before I could finish, my dad snatched the phone. His voice was like ice.

“Nora, listen to me clearly. You are not our daughter. Stop using these cheap tricks for sympathy. Know your place.

“If you cause any more trouble, I’ll personally ship you back to your real parents!”

My mind went entirely blank.

I couldn't utter a single word.

To them, I had always been nothing more than a dramatic, spoiled fake.

Ethan reached down and slid the phone out of my weak fingers.

“Mom, Dad, don't worry about it. She’s just throwing another tantrum. You know how she is.”

He ended the call.

He looked down at me with pure disdain.

“Nora, my family is generous enough to keep feeding an extra mouth.

“That doesn't mean you can act like you own the place.”

Julian flicked his chin toward me.

“Got anything else to say? Start bowing.”

Janet added softly, “Nora, don't keep everyone waiting.”

My knees buckled, slamming hard into the floor.

I bent forward, my forehead crashing into the tile.

“One,” Janet counted aloud.

“Two.”

“Three.”

Cheers and applause filled the air.

Ethan swirled his wine glass casually, taking a slow sip.

Julian watched with a lazy, amused grin.

Blood dripped down the bridge of my nose, staining my entire face red.

Right at that moment.

Heavy, synchronized footsteps thundered outside the hall.

The next second—

BANG!

The heavy double doors were kicked wide open.

Over a hundred bodyguards clad in black suits flooded into the room, surrounding the entire hall tightly.

Through the parted row of guards, the real heiress, Chloe Jackson, stepped inside.