Chapter 3

Zelda's tears came streaming down her face.

Nicholas stepped in front of her protectively. His gaze slowly turned cold as he looked at me. "Lauren, watch your mouth."

I raised an eyebrow. "If you don't like what I'm saying, then maybe you shouldn't do such disgusting things."

My parents noticed the argument and came outside. Their faces turned livid at my words.

I deliberately flashed them a bright smile. "For Zelda's happiness, don't forget what I asked for."

The York family's welcome reception was scheduled for three days later.

Nicholas didn't come home once during those three days.

All the bank cards in my possession had been frozen, and even the maid had been dismissed.

He was using this to force me to admit I was wrong, while also making it clear just how determined he was to marry Zelda.

In the bedroom, the gifts he'd given me were piled up like a small mountain.

Their exquisite, luxurious packaging had once symbolized his love. Now, they were nothing more than cold numbers in my bank account.

Before the York family's welcome reception, I packed up all the designer items Nicholas had given me and sold them off at bargain prices. I transferred the proceeds into a new bank account.

Fifteen thousand dollars. A pitifully small sum, but still worth more than Nicholas's worthless love.

On the day of the reception, I arrived right on schedule.

Half the York family had arrived, but Zelda was nowhere to be seen.

Nicholas sat beside Isabella, his gaze briefly sweeping over me.

"Zelda's been suffering from severe morning sickness, so I'm here in her place. I didn't want her getting upset and putting the baby at risk."

I simply nodded, not particularly bothered by the change.

But my relatives were all too eager to stir up trouble.

"Lauren, you've had it rough for so long. Do you even remember the rules of this household? When we sit down to eat later, don't stuff your face. Don't embarrass your parents."

"Look at you. You're better than Zelda at everything, yet somehow you still can't measure up to her. How did you end up living such a pathetic life?"

My father slammed his palm against the table, startling our relatives into reluctantly falling silent.

"I invited everyone here today because I want you all to bear witness to something."

As he spoke, he patted Nicholas on the shoulder. "Nicholas, I hope you'll forgive us. We love our daughter dearly, and that's why we've kept something from you about Lauren all this time."

His voice was thick with frustration and disappointment. "Lauren's been cheating on you, and the child is already three years old!"

The teacup slipped from my hand. I stared at my father in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"Mommy!"

A child's clear voice rang out from the doorway. A little boy in ragged clothes came running toward me, followed by a beggar who reeked of body odor.

The boy threw himself into my arms, sobbing. "Mommy, why don't you want me anymore? I miss you so much. I'll be good. Please don't leave Daddy and me, okay?”

The beggar's eyes lit up the moment he saw me. Shouting, "Honey!" he lunged toward me.

Nicholas crushed the wineglass in his hand. He kicked the beggar aside, then turned his bloodshot eyes on me.

"Lauren, is he your son?"

I parted my lips, wanting to explain, but my throat felt constricted. I couldn't get a single sound out.

Zelda rushed over just in time. She took Nicholas's hand, pleading with him to calm down.

"Nicholas, please don't do this. If you need someone to blame, blame me."

She choked back a sob, then gritted her teeth and said, "You're not the first man Lauren has manipulated in an attempt to destroy me."

"Shut up!" Nicholas's expression darkened, his composure completely shattered. "I said, shut up!"

"Nicholas, Zelda isn't lying." With a sigh, my mother took out a paternity test report and handed it to him. "See for yourself."

Nicholas opened the report. The glaring figure of 99 percent stared back at both of us.

"Zelda's always been a little naive. She just follows Lauren's lead and does whatever Lauren does. Lauren knew that, yet she still deliberately cozied up to a beggar just to set Zelda up. If we hadn't caught on in time, Zelda might actually have gone off with him.

"We didn't want to air our family's dirty laundry, so despite how angry we were, we kept the whole thing under wraps. But now that you're part of the York family, you have a right to know.

"We're here today for two reasons. First, to apologize to you. Second, to give you an explanation."

My father shot me an angry look.

"Lauren is cruel and malicious. She has harmed her own sister and led a scandalous personal life. She's unworthy of being called a York. From this day forward, she is no longer part of this family. The entire York family fortune will go to Zelda!"