Chapter 2

When I got back to the Whitmore estate, Celeste was lying in the private medical suite on oxygen.

The room was fit for a palace and filled with her belongings. It had been built just for her.

My mother sat beside the bed, holding Celeste's hand. My brothers were gathered around her.

My mother stood as soon as she saw me. "Evelyn, I promised I'd come back for you last night, but Celeste kept feeling unwell, and I was busy until late. I'm sorry. I've removed everyone who said those things about you from the Whitmore guest list."

That was the first time since I had returned that anyone had apologized for leaving me behind.

Then she looked at Celeste in bed and lowered her voice. "But last night was a shock for Celeste. Please don't fight with each other like that again."

Spencer's face hardened. "She has a heart condition, and you deliberately used the engagement to trigger an attack."

"That's enough from you, too. Evelyn just got back. Don't take that tone with your sister."

Celeste slowly sat up. "Once you marry into the Ross family, Evelyn, you'll see how good life can be."

Mom, I like it when you choose me. But this tiny bit of your love won't stop your adopted daughter from digging her own grave.

I gave her a knowing smile. "Yes. I'm so happy. I can't wait."

Then I texted my assistant: [Tell Ross the grace period on the Whitmores' billion-dollar debt is over. Start collection today.]

If she wanted me married off to clear the debt that badly, I would make the debt even worse. I wanted to see what my family would choose under that much pressure.

When I left the medical suite, I found my father pacing the living room with his phone to his ear. "We agreed on another month."

I couldn't hear what the person on the other end said, but my father's expression changed abruptly. "Twenty-four hours? Where am I supposed to get a billion dollars?"

My mother hurried over. "What is it?"

He hung up. "Ross canceled the grace period. They're going after the assets we pledged."

I left them to deal with it. For the first time, I took a real look at the house where I had been born. The hallway was lined with family photographs: my parents' wedding, both of my brothers' graduations.

There were photos of Celeste on a horse for the first time, at her first ball, and at her debut when she turned eighteen...

Not one photograph of me. Not even a baby picture.

My mother followed me out, looking uncomfortable. "There used to be a lot of pictures of you, but Celeste is fragile and has always felt like a stand-in, so we put them away. I'll arrange for a photographer tomorrow, and we'll take a new family portrait."

I looked at her. "All right."

Her relief was obvious.

Then a news alert popped up on my phone: [The Celeste Children's Home marks its sixteenth anniversary next month.]

I had seen an article about that home in an old newspaper not long after the ring took me.

My father had told a reporter, "When my daughter comes home, this place will be named after her. It's a gift for her."

I held the phone out to her. "Mom, wasn't that home built for me? When will you change the name?"

A few seconds passed in silence. "It was originally built for you, yes. Your father and I didn't think it through. I'll talk to him about changing the name back. But can we wait until Celeste is a little stronger?"

Celeste came out of the medical suite just then. "Mom, if Evelyn wants the name changed, change it. I've had it all these years. It should go back to her."

Julian started in on me. "Says who? Celeste has run it for years, and you've only been back for five minutes, but you already want the name changed!"

Suddenly, everything became clear.

My people had told me the Whitmore family had found me long ago but had never come to get me. Now I knew why: they already had a favorite daughter at home.

They had let her remove my photographs, erase every trace of me, take over the charity that was meant for me, and even take my place as the Whitmore daughter.

My mother truly wanted to make it up to me, but every time Celeste looked hurt, she rushed to her without a second thought and forgot about me.

Later, my father came out of the study and handed me a document. "The family lawyer will officially change your surname to Whitmore tomorrow."

I had asked many times when I could change my surname back to Whitmore.

He had always said the family paperwork was complicated. My mother had told me to settle into the house first.

After a month of delays, the moment my engagement to Mr. Ross was settled, everything could suddenly be done at once.

I pretended to be puzzled. "That fast this time?"

He looked at me. "Mr. Ross is marrying a Whitmore daughter, so your status has to be restored. Now you need to marry him as soon as possible, before the Ross family makes things difficult for us."

Afraid I would refuse, my mother took my hand. "The whole family will go with you tomorrow."

Seeing how badly they wanted me gone, something tightened in my chest. All I wanted was to be back with my parents and know what it felt like to have a family. Yet the family I had ached for remembered I was a Whitmore only when there was a debt to clear.