Yet she had no appreciation for our father's intentions. She'd pulled a bait-and-switch, shoving her own disgraceful marriage arrangement onto me.
If I'd gone along with it, by tonight the entire circle would know that the Pruitt family's legitimate daughter had married a cripple. The whole Pruitt name would become a laughingstock among high society.
In my previous life, that was exactly how she'd kept me crushed beneath her heel.
But with my parents backing me, I'd made a scene at the wedding. The Sanchez family still needed the Pruitts' support, so they'd forcibly dragged Rachel out of the bridal chamber. I got my wish—I became Mrs. Sanchez, and Rufus treated me like a treasure.
Back then, I had no idea that this man who seemed to pour his heart out for me had long since gotten Rachel pregnant in secret. The two of them had been working together from the inside, biding their time to destroy the Pruitt family once and for all.
A servant's startled cry yanked me from my thoughts. "Ma'am! Miss Rachel isn't in her room. Her wedding dress and veil are still here, but the dowry—it's all gone."
"And there's more. I found something in her room..."
My father picked it up and froze. Explicit photographs—Rachel and Rufus, together.
The color drained from his face, replaced by a mottled fury.
He hurled the photos straight at Celia's face.
"This is the fine daughter you raised! She's dragged the entire Pruitt name through the mud!"
The butler wrung his hands. "Sir, the James family's people are waiting outside. What should we do?"
My father's jaw was set like granite. His fist slammed against the table.
"Contact the Sanchez family immediately. Find that wretched girl and drag her back—quietly—then send her to the James estate. No illegitimate daughter is going to dictate a Pruitt family marriage!"
I tugged at my father's sleeve, pinched my thigh hard beneath my dress, and let the tears cascade down my cheeks.
"Dad, let it go. Rachel and Mr. Sanchez are clearly in love—they've already been to bed together. She even schemed to humiliate our family at the wedding. I won't marry a man like that. Let Rachel have him."
I dabbed at the corners of my eyes.
"The James family has been a long-standing partner of ours. In business, nothing matters more than keeping your word. I don't want you to break a promise on my account." I steadied my voice. "I'm willing to marry into the James family."
My father stared at me, stunned—then deeply moved.
"Fay, you're the legitimate daughter of the Pruitt family. In our entire circle, the Sanchez family was barely worthy of you. Marrying into the James family would be settling, and besides, Curt is still..."
He swallowed the rest. His eyes were full of heartache.
I smiled and finished the thought for him. "Dad, the James family was only ten spots behind the Sanchez family on last year's Forbes ranking. And think about it—the Sanchez family has had decades of head start. Curt may have a disability, but he's perfectly capable of having children, and he's a business genius. With me by his side and the Pruitt family's backing, who knows how far the James family could go?"
The contrast couldn't have been sharper: on one side, an illegitimate daughter who stole her sister's wedding for a taste of wealth. On the other, a legitimate heiress who kept her composure in crisis and volunteered to honor her family's commitment.
Night and day. The verdict was obvious.
The people in the room looked at me with newfound respect—and deeper sympathy for what I'd endured. Their contempt for Rachel's behavior was written across every face.
My mother's heart shattered. She pulled me into her arms and held on tight.
My father ground his teeth. "Even so, no one in the Sanchez family gets to humiliate a daughter of Charles Pruitt and walk away unscathed. Fay, you're right not to marry Rufus. But this insult—I will make them answer for it, no matter what it takes."
By the time we arrived at the Sanchez estate, the newlyweds had already been ushered into the bridal chamber, but the banquet was still in full swing—laughter, clinking glasses, the hum of celebration.
Then every head turned as we stormed through the doors.
The room went dead silent.
"Isn't that Fay Pruitt? She's supposed to be today's bride—what is she doing here?"
"Wait—the bride was sent to the bridal chamber half an hour ago. If that wasn't her... then who's in there?"
My mother let out a cold laugh.
