I let out a cold laugh. “My temper isn’t the best. If I don’t see Bella today, I truly will get violent.”
“On the other hand, if you tell me where she is, you won’t leave here empty-handed.”
With that, I opened the case I had brought. Inside lay rows upon rows of glittering gold bars.
Even the most jaded guests gasped at the sight.
“Who is this woman, to make such a display?”
“Are those gold bars real?”
“Of course they’re real. If they weren’t, she’d be in jail already.”
My voice rang out, sharp and cold: “I want to know where the so-called real daughter, Isabella Hayes, who was brought back a year ago, has gone. She is my daughter. I must find her.”
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
I picked up one bar. “This one weighs fifty grams. At today’s market price, it’s worth more than thirty thousand dollars.”
“Whoever tells me Bella’s whereabouts—this is yours.”
On the floor, Chloe glared at me with venom. “Don’t listen to her! She’s just some poor wretch from the countryside—how could she have so much money?”
“Is that so? Then how do you think Bella had such a fine bracelet? Even the dress you’re wearing was designed by a world-famous couturier I personally hired for her.”
“You call her poor, yet you steal her clothes and wear her jewelry. Tell me—who’s the pathetic one?”
At my words, Chloe’s face went white. The crowd turned toward her, whispering.
“So that dress wasn’t hers at all?”
“Ha! She claimed it was exclusive. Turns out she’s parading around in someone else’s castoffs!”
“Fake is fake. I don’t know what the Carters are thinking, favoring an impostor over their real daughter.”
Chloe erupted, “Shut up! That cheap little tramp only thinks she can get away with things because she’s pretty! She even tried to seduce my fiancé!”
“Your fiancé?” I scoffed. “You’re just a cuckoo in the nest, a fraud. And you dare boast?”
I gave a sharp laugh. “Well, it doesn’t matter. After today, you won’t be getting married anyway. Once your fiancé sees the real you, he won’t want you.”
My words hit her like a bomb. She stood frozen.
“No… no! Daniel promised—why hasn’t he shown up yet?”
I smiled. “He hasn’t come because my people intercepted him along the way.”
Richard’s eyes bulged with rage. He clutched his broken hand, his face purple. “You dare! The Carter family is uniting with the Miller family! If you stand in our way, you’ll be ruined—just like that wretched girl!”
Before he could finish, I hurled a gold bar at him. It struck his mouth, shattering his teeth. He crumpled to the ground, groaning.
“And you dare look down on my daughter?”
Margaret stumbled forward, trembling with anger. “You want to take Isabella away? That’s our family’s business! You only raised her for a few years—what right do you have?”
“That little brat disrespected her elders and schemed against Chloe. The fact we let her live was mercy enough!”
I stared them down, my voice icy. “Is that so? Then how is it that the daughter I raised with such care turned into a cruel, deceitful girl the moment she entered your house?”
I turned to Richard. “And as for Chloe’s parentage… I don’t need to say more. Since you don’t want Bella, I’ll take her away. Isn’t that exactly what you wanted?”
