Chapter 1

The four of them instantly perked up, even letting out a sigh of relief.

I scoffed and set my glass down hard.

"I'll take her place, but I have two conditions."

Jared frowned. "Don't push it, Thea! Rory already stepped aside so you could take your place in the Twyford family. What else do you want?"

I ignored him and looked straight at my grim-faced parents.

"First, transfer the fifteen percent stake in Twyford Corp Grandpa left me. Put it in my name now.

"Second, hold a press conference tomorrow morning and tell all of Borevia's elite that I'm the Twyfords' only biological daughter. Rory is the adopted daughter who was raised in my place."

The living room went dead silent.

Then Rory burst into sobs and collapsed into Jared's arms.

"Thea... Are you trying to kill me? I know I took your place for twenty years, but I never asked for any of this.

"If you want shares, I'll give you everything I have. But why do you have to humiliate me in front of all Borevia's elite...?"

"Rory, don't cry. This isn't your fault!" Jared held her tight, then glared at me. "Thea, you're seriously cruel!

"You know Rory's always been fragile. Are you really not gonna stop until you've driven her to her death?"

Diane stormed over and pointed right at me.

"You ungrateful brat! My dad only left you that fifteen percent because he wasn't thinking straight. You grew up in some small town. What do you know about running a company? You'd blow it all!

"And forget the press conference! Rory grew up with us. She's my daughter. Period.

"If people find out she's adopted, she'll be a joke in Borevia's social circle. You'll ruin her whole future!"

Watching Diane go all out for Rory, I went numb. Then my chest started to ache.

I was the daughter she'd carried for nine months.

But ever since I came back, all she did was pick me apart—my cheap clothes, the fact that I couldn't play piano, even how I never knew what to say to make her happy.

Rory knew how to dress, talk, and fit right in with Borevia's elite.

To Diane, she was the only daughter worth being proud of.

I pulled myself together, shrugged, and stepped away from Diane's finger, which was practically in my face.

"You won't agree? Fine." I kept my voice casual. "Then send the fake to the Alwyns tomorrow.

"Axel might be paralyzed now, but his grandfather, Walter Alwyn, is still around.

"What do you think he'll do when he finds out you tried to fool him with a girl who isn't even your biological daughter? Think he'll take that as the Twyfords insulting his family?

"The Alwyns could crush the Twyfords without breaking a sweat.

"And when that happens, Rory's reputation will be the least of your problems. Your whole family—and Jared's Pritchard Corp—will go down too."

Richard's expression changed.

He knew exactly what the Alwyns were capable of. They were one of Borevia's most powerful families, with ties to both law enforcement and the criminal world.

Even with Axel disabled, the Alwyns would never let anyone trick or disrespect them.

Richard looked me over, clearly weighing his options.

"Richard, you can't agree to this! Rory's going to marry Jared. What will the Pritchards think if everyone finds out she's adopted?"

Diane kept protesting beside him.

"Enough!" Richard snapped, making her flinch.

He took a deep breath and glared at me. "Fine. I agree!

"I'll have the lawyers transfer the shares first thing tomorrow, and I'll hold the press conference. But remember this, Thea!"

Richard pointed at the front door, stressing every word. "Once you get the shares and marry into the Alwyn family, you're theirs for good!

"Even if they make your life hell, don't come crying to us! As far as we're concerned, we won't have a daughter anymore!"

Seeing how badly he wanted me gone, I smiled.

"Deal."