Chapter 1

Lily hadn't expected me to react that way. She just stared at me for a long time.

When it finally sank in, her eyes reddened, and huge tears spilled down her cheeks. "Jessica, I really wasn't trying to compete with you. You're their biological daughter, after all. I only wanted a little more time with them. But if you truly can't stand having me around, I can leave right now."

With that, she got up to go.

But she had barely taken one step when she crumpled to the floor.

"Lily!" My mother dropped to her knees beside her without caring who was watching and clutched her tight. "Baby, don't scare Mommy like this. A doctor! Where's the doctor?"

"The doctor's on his way. Lily, don't be scared. I'm here." My fiancé, Daniel Moretti, was right there beside her.

Lily opened her eyes and said weakly, "Mom, don't blame Jessica. It's my fault for being so useless. All these years, you've worried about me because of my illness. I used to wonder what you'd do once I was gone. But now I can see God still loves me. He brought Jessica back to you, so even if I die, someone will be here to take care of you for me."

"Stop. You're the daughter I love. I don't want anyone else." My mother was crying so hard she could barely breathe.

I watched Lily's painfully obvious performance in silence and smiled.

She had no idea that when the Morandi family first claimed me, their fake princess stabbed herself in front of everyone and accused me of attacking her.

When the Capello family claimed me next, their fake princess forged evidence that I'd betrayed them to their enemies.

At least the first two fake princesses had something going for them. One had the nerve to cut herself. The other had the brains to build a case.

This one had nothing but a fake illness and a sob story.

Clearly, she'd never heard how I'd turned the tables and sent both of those fake princesses to prison.

If she did, she'd realize how stupid she looked right now.

"Jessica!" Daniel's deep voice cut into my thoughts.

I looked up, and he grabbed me by the throat. "Lily never wanted to compete with you. So why are you bullying her like this? I swear, if anything happens to Lily, I will make you pay!"

He scoffed. "Don Andreani, Mrs. Andreani, I don't care what either of you thinks. Lily is the only woman for me. She's the only one worthy of becoming the Moretti Donna."

I laughed, pried his fingers from around my throat, and asked, "So you're calling off the engagement?"

"That's right." Daniel lifted his chin, his eyes full of mockery. "Jessica, even if you beg me now, I'm not changing my mind. Unless... you get on your knees and apologize to Lily."

I raised an eyebrow. "So if I apologize, you'll marry me?"

Daniel snorted. "Depends on how sincere you are."

I immediately grabbed a pen and paper and handed them to him.

Before I could say anything, the people around us burst out laughing.

One guest snickered. "She wants it in writing? I'm dying. Does she really think Daniel would marry her? He just feels sorry for her."

Another guest sneered, "She's terrified of getting thrown out, so she's latching onto the first man who might protect her."

Daniel frowned too. "Jessica, do you have no shame? I said it depends on how sincere you are. I never said I'd marry you..."

"You've got it wrong," I cut in. "I want you to sign the agreement ending our engagement. I'm worried you'll change your mind."

The whole room went quiet for a second, then exploded with laughter.

One of the guests scoffed, "Wow, she's full of herself. If she weren't the Don's biological daughter, does she really think Daniel would want her?"

Another chimed in. "Oh, stop laughing at her. She's had a rough 20-some years out there. A few delusions are to be expected. She probably thinks the richest man in the world is going to marry her someday."

The richest man in the world?

That’s not all—among the candidates for my future fiancé, there were even sons of the most powerful and elite figures.

But my two adoptive fathers said I'd never be a pawn in some arranged marriage, so they turned them all down for me.

"Hurry up and sign," I told Daniel.

Daniel had just picked up the pen when Lily suddenly stopped him. "Daniel, don't sign it..."

Lily pulled free of my mother's arms and threw herself into Daniel's. "Don't ruin things with Jessica because of me. I'm not Mom and Dad's real daughter. This engagement was never mine to begin with. Besides, I don't have long to live. If there's someone by your side to take care of you, I can rest easy."

Daniel held Lily close and looked at me with ice in his eyes. "Jessica, look what you've done. Why can't you be half as kind as Lily?"

Lily pressed a hand to her chest, breathing fast, but when she looked at me, a smile tugged at her lips. "Jessica, whether it's Mom and Dad's love or Daniel, I'd never take any of it from you. So please don't do anything rash. If Daniel really gets angry and calls off the engagement, there'll be no fixing it."

I laughed. "Love? I'm not so sure about that. If they really loved you, why would they hire a quack who can't even tell when you're faking?"