My brother kicked aside the security guards holding me and yanked the rag from my mouth.
The moment I saw his face, the dam inside me broke. I buried myself against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
He caught sight of the bloody wounds on my hands, his expression twisting in pain. He gently patted my back, his voice low and soothing.
“I came too late… I let you suffer.”
Then, without warning, he lunged forward and seized Louise by the collar.
“You swore on your life you’d protect her. How dare you treat her like this?” His voice thundered through the hall. “Do you think the Scott Family has no one left?”
Shock flickered across Louise’s face. Clearly, he had never expected my brother to return to US.
It made sense. Since he was five years old, Jimmy had been raised overseas by our grandparents. After our parents’ so-called accident, he’d avoided this place of sorrow even more, managing his affairs abroad instead.
We had stayed connected mostly by phone, oceans apart. If Louise hadn’t pushed things too far this time, Jimmy would never have dropped everything and come rushing back.
Jimmy turned toward the guests, his voice calm but firm.
“Distinguished guests, many of you know the Scott Family once had another son, Jimmy Scott, who resides overseas managing our international market. Some of you have even met me.”
“I testify here today, this wounded woman beside me is the true Scott Family heiress—Louise’s legal wife, Naomi Scott. The woman on stage is nothing but his mistress.”
A flash of viciousness crossed Louise’s face as he roared.
“Nonsense! My elder brother is perfectly fine overseas—why would he suddenly return? You’re just an actor this woman hired! The two of you are conspiring to steal the Scott Family fortune!”
He sneered, “Besides, do you really think I, Louise, wouldn’t recognize my own wife?”
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
“This man does look just like the late Mr. Scott. He doesn’t seem fake at all!”
“What good is looking alike? Didn’t the real and fake wives look alike too?”
“Besides, Mr. Darren and Mrs. Scott’s love was deep as the sea. A true love story! How could he possibly mistake his wife—or cheat on her?”
Hearing the murmurs, Louise’s smug smile returned.
Watching this, my stomach twisted with dread.
For years, Louise had hidden the truth so well, treating me with gentle devotion. To outsiders, we were the picture of a perfect couple.
No one would believe he was capable of such treachery. Not strangers, not even me—just a month ago.
Was my brother’s arrival not enough to save me?
My chest tightened with panic, but then my brother gave me a steady look, as if to say, Trust me.
He pulled out a jade token, carved with his name, the one he had carried since childhood.
“This thousand-year-old cold jade was crafted exclusively for the Scott Family. My sister and I have worn ours since birth. This alone proves who I am.”
But Louise and Karen didn’t flinch. Instead, they held up jade tokens of their own—engraved with my name.
“I have one too,” Karen declared boldly. “I am Naomi, the true heiress of the Scott Family.”
My breath caught. I never imagined Louise would steal my jade token while I was unconscious. He had planned this meticulously, determined to crown Karen as my replacement.
Watching her flaunt the heirloom my parents left me, rage burned through my veins.
That token was my only keepsake of them. I had to take it back.
When Karen turned her head, I seized the chance. I slipped behind the staircase and snatched the jade token straight from her hand.
“Louise, you shameless liar! This is mine!”
In the blink of an eye, a sharp scream split the air.
“Ahhh—!”
Karen tumbled down the staircase, clutching the child in her arms.
