Chapter 2 The Missing Heirloom

Evelyn burst out laughing upon hearing my words.

"Oh, please. A Sinclair? You have a kid with some random man, and now you're claiming he's part of the Sinclair family? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Victoria's face flushed red with anger.

"Today's my engagement day with Elliot. You came back because you found out about it, didn't you? You're doing all of this just to ruin my big day. When Elliot and I have a child, they will be the real Sinclair heir."

She immediately pulled out her phone and called Elliot, deliberately putting him on speaker.

The moment he answered, she put on a sweet, pitiful voice. "Elliot, when are you getting here? Chloe's gone crazy. She brought some little bastard home and is claiming he's yours. I think she's completely delusional—"

Before she could finish, I shouted into the phone, "My son's name is Theo Sinclair. He's a member of your family. If you've got a problem with that, you'd better come here and say it to my face. I'll be waiting."

The line went silent for a few seconds before Elliot let out a mocking laugh.

"A member of the Sinclair family? Chloe, it's been seven years, and you're still obsessed with me? What's this? You had a kid with some random man, and now you're trying to pass him off as mine? A shameless woman like you isn't someone I'd ever marry, so give it up."

He was an idiot.

Back then, he was like a gum under my shoe after he found out I was the eldest daughter of the Hart family.

Then, Evelyn convinced him that Victoria would be the one inheriting the Hart family, and he immediately switched sides and started fawning over her instead.

I had never been particularly interested in him to begin with.

Yet, he and Victoria spread rumors everywhere, claiming I was trying to marry into the Sinclair family and steal the Hart family's fortune.

In the end, I had been forced to leave the country for further studies and stayed away for seven years.

I snapped back to the present and hissed coldly, "Marry me? You're not worthy."

Still, I immediately took advantage of their momentary distraction to hurry Victoria and Evelyn with Theo in my arms.

All I needed was the jade pendant my mother had left me. However, I froze the moment I entered my old room.

Everything was gone. The room had been completely emptied and converted into Victoria's walk-in closet.

Victoria finally came to her senses and stormed in after me.

Then, she pointed at the security guards by the door and screeched, "What are you people doing? How did you let her get in here? Throw her and that brat out right now!"

I looked around the room, trembling with rage. "Who permitted you to touch my things? Where's the safe that held my mother's belongings?"

Evelyn curled her lip in disdain. "Why would we keep a room for someone who was kicked out of the family? Everything that was in here belonged in a landfill."

The words hit me like a punch to the chest. That emerald pendant was the only thing my mother had left behind.

I clutched Theo tightly as I shouted, "That's impossible. Dad promised me he'd keep it safe."

"Dad?" Victoria sneered. "You really think you're important? You're old news. As far as he's concerned, I'm his only daughter now. Whatever I say goes."

Then, she turned toward the guards again. "Are you deaf? I said throw them out."

The guards immediately closed in.

Theo wrapped his arms around my neck. "Mommy, can we go?"

His eyes were filled with fear and uncertainty. He was only five years old. He shouldn't have had to endure this kind of malice.

Just then, the roar of engines sounded outside. Several limited-edition Rolls-Royces pulled into the driveway.

The moment Victoria saw them, her expression changed completely. She hurried downstairs, excitement written all over her face. "Dad's here! And Elliot too!"