Chapter 4

"It's like she doesn't know when to give up! But I guess she's got nothing to say now that we've all seen those pictures."

No, I refused to believe this. I called Dad, my hand shaking, but my call was rejected. "Why aren't you answering your phone when I need you the most, Dad? I'm getting picked on right now! Hurry up and answer the phone!"

My heart was racing, and my thoughts were all over the place. I forced myself to stay calm.

Dad had been busy the entire morning, so he had to be taking a break now. Normally, his assistant took over his work while he was on a break.

At the thought of this, I immediately called Dad's assistant, Leonard Birch.

I put the call on speaker as soon as Leonard picked up. "Hey, Leonard, I'm Dad's biological daughter, right?"

Leonard chuckled at this. "Did you call me just to ask this, Ms. Chapman? You are Mr. Chapman's only biological daughter, and everyone in the company knows that. Is everything alright? Do you need me to wake Mr. Chapman?"

Shock registered on the audience's faces. I heaved a sigh of relief.

Leonard was the lead PR officer of Chapman Construction Group. He was famous for his good looks and had more followers than Dad. His words were as good as the truth.

The students in the audience grew suspicious. "That was Mr. Birch! I listen to his interviews all the time, and I'd recognize his voice anywhere! Could Elodie be telling the truth?"

"But Annabel looks exactly like Mr. Chapman, and her mom has a marriage certificate, too. That's ironclad evidence, isn't it?"

A vicious smile tugged on my lips. "With so many fake certificates going around, who knows if that piece of paper that woman's holding is real? We could send it in for professional testing. I've got time for this game."

Annabel didn't shrink away from this. She quirked a brow instead and snorted. Then, fishing out her phone, she video-called my dad.

The call was put through immediately, and on her phone screen was a face I was all too familiar with.

Dad would take Annabel's call in a heartbeat, yet he didn't think twice about letting Leonard answer my calls. My blood boiled, and whatever morale I'd gained earlier quickly dissipated.

"Hello? Annabel, shouldn't you be in class? Why are you calling me?"

Annabel shot me a triumphant look when she noticed I'd gone still. She smiled and said, "There's been a small incident at school. Mom's here too."

The woman with the marriage certificate sauntered over and called out to Dad in a honeyed voice, "Hello, darling!"

Dad asked with concern, "What happened? Do I have to step in?"

Annabel chirped sweetly, "Oh, it's no biggie. I'll handle it myself. I'm your favorite daughter, aren't I, Dad?"

Dad chortled and replied indulgently, "You're the only beloved daughter of the Chapman family, so of course!"

Pouting, Annabel muttered mournfully, "But someone showed up at school claiming to be your daughter and that your marriage to Mom is a sham! You've no idea how upset I am."

Dad frowned, and rage washed over him. "Who's the knockoff that dared to challenge you? And what's wrong with your school? Did they forget I had that building donated in your honor?

"Your mother's my legitimate and only wife, and you are my only beloved daughter, Annabel! Keep your head high and put that impostor in her place! I'm here if you need me!"

Upon hanging up, Annabel hurried toward me and slapped me hard across the face. "Did you hear that? My dad has spoken up for me personally. Are you going to ask another 'assistant' to prove your case?"

Caught off guard by the slap, I fell. It was all I could do to counter loudly, "No, that was AI! I can tell! You were lying. Give me your phone! I know where the loopholes are."