Chapter 3

We had the family portrait taken at the house. The photographer waved me over. "Stand between your parents."

Spencer spoke up. "Put Celeste in the middle. That's where she stands every year."

My mother hesitated. "But today was supposed to be for Evelyn..."

Celeste stepped back. "It's fine, Mom. I'll stand off to the side."

Every one of them gave me a hard look. In the end, my father pulled Celeste into the middle and settled the matter. "We're all family. What difference does it make where anyone stands?"

I looked at him. "If it makes no difference where anyone stands, why can't she stand at the side?"

My mother looked back and forth between us. She clearly wanted to say something, but in the end, she only took my hand. "Let's do it this way for now. Later, we'll take one with just the two of us. All right?"

The portrait was supposed to be for me in the first place, yet I was still the one asked to step aside.

The old me never let anyone take something from me a second time.

But this was my first family portrait, so I ended up at the far edge while Celeste stood between my parents, with both my brothers gathered around her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I got the family portrait I had wanted. But when I looked at the close-knit little family in it and at the person on the edge who did not fit in, something shifted inside me. I looked like an outsider who had wandered into someone else's happy home.

After the photos, we all went to the law office.

The lawyer laid out the documents. "After Evelyn went missing, her share of the assets was transferred to Celeste. Do you want them transferred back to her now?"

My mother barely hesitated. "Transfer them. They were Evelyn's, and they should go back to her."

Julian objected at once. "Mom, she's about to be married off!"

"They'll still be hers after she gets married." This time, my mother didn't give in.

But then Celeste started crying. The firmness drained from my mother's face, and she looked torn.

She turned to me. It took her a long time to speak. "Evelyn, the assets will absolutely be returned to you. It's just... can you give Celeste a few days? I'll sit down with her and sort everything out myself."

I was done listening to her promises. Celeste had felt unwell, so my mother had stayed with her and forgotten to come back for me. She promised we would take a portrait with just the two of us later. She promised to transfer the assets in a few days. Every time, I was the one pushed aside. Every promise came to nothing. This time, I would take back what was mine.

So I had my assistant release a story, and it quickly made the front page of every major news outlet: [Whitmore's Biological Daughter Returns. Will Celeste Lose Her Place in the family?]

Someone followed up with a post about the Celeste Children's Home: [This home was founded to honor the missing biological daughter. Now that Evelyn is back, why does it still bear the adopted daughter's name?]

The story spread faster than anyone expected. People from families like theirs were especially sensitive to this kind of thing.

Within half an hour, the society girls who had been fawning over Celeste had deleted every photo of themselves with her.

Celeste called one of them, only to be told, "We don't associate with a fake heir.

"Don't be stupid. The real daughter is back, and they'll put you out sooner or later. What gives you the right to be in our circle?"

Reporters even cornered them at the law office. "Ms. Whitmore, everyone says you're going to lose your position as heir. Do you have a comment?"

Celeste wiped her eyes. "You all stay with Evelyn. I'll handle the press myself." My mother immediately rose to her feet. "How can you go alone?" My brothers stood up right behind her.

After taking two steps, my mother stopped and looked at the unsigned documents on the table. "Evelyn, maybe I should stay..."

My father cut her off with a frown. "There are reporters everywhere outside, and Celeste isn't well. What good would it do for you to stay?"

My mother struggled with the decision for a few seconds, then went to Celeste. "This won't take long."

The family members who had promised the night before to stay with me through every step of the paperwork were clustered around Celeste in an instant.

"Dad, are you sure you want to leave me behind again?" I asked one last time.

The question stopped him for a second, but then he grew impatient. "Evelyn, don't make a scene. The name change isn't urgent."

In under two minutes, all of them were gone.

I remembered what I had overheard as I passed the medical suite the night before. "She doesn't want this marriage. What if she backs out on the wedding day?" "We could give her a little something beforehand. If she's unconscious, she can't resist."

I had expected at least one person to call her out, but neither of my brothers objected. They only warned her not to get caught.

From beginning to end, I was the one they threw away.

The lawyer watched them leave with his mouth open, then asked carefully, "Evelyn, do we continue?"

"No. Don't change my surname to Whitmore. I don't want to be the heir, either."

I gave my assistant one last instruction: [Don't wait. Have Ross freeze the hotels they pledged.]

While my father was helping Celeste deal with the press, he got a call.

Two of their key hotels had been hit with asset-freeze notices at the same time, and the cash flow they had managed to maintain was about to dry up.

He panicked. He thought the trouble between Celeste and me had shaken the markets and made the public think he would abandon his adopted daughter now that his biological daughter was back.