The woman sobbed through every word, then pulled out a DNA test—and it confirmed she really was my biological mother.
Only then did I remember. When I was little, my father had told me the woman living with us wasn't my real mother.
My birth mother was a gambling addict who'd gotten so desperate at the card table she tried to wager me as her stake.
My father couldn't stomach that kind of depravity. He divorced her, packed us up overnight, and cut her off completely.
We didn't keep a single photograph of her. No wonder I hadn't recognized her.
But no one believed my explanation.
Even Eric Walker, who had been silent until now, rose to his feet.
"Juliana Perry, I'd like to believe you."
"But your mother has been with my household for twenty years. I know what kind of person she is."
"I will not allow a woman who tried to destroy my daughter's marriage and lies with every breath to go on living."
He raised his hand, and the bodyguards moved to shove me into the dog cage.
My gaze caught Effie beside him—the relief on her face plain as day—and something locked into place. I lunged and grabbed the hem of Eric's trousers.
"Mr. Walker, I know who's been sleeping with your son-in-law!"
"It's her!"
Every head in the room turned to follow where my finger was pointing.
When they saw I was pointing at Effie, they all looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
Even Effie herself laughed in disbelief at the accusation.
"Juliana, do you hear yourself?"
"I'm Samuel's wife! You're saying I committed adultery with my own husband? How does that even work?"
Eric stared down at me, eyes full of disgust.
"If I'd known you were such a stupid fraud, I would've had Brutus rip you apart before you ever opened your mouth."
"Drag her to the private beast arena. Tell the fireworks crew the show's cancelled—tonight I'm inviting my guests to watch a woman fight wild animals instead."
Eric's voice didn't waver. The bodyguards seized me and hauled me toward the private beast arena.
I thrashed and screamed explanations, but someone shoved a cloth into my mouth to shut me up.
Just as I was about to be dragged out of the banquet hall, a business card slipped from my jacket pocket and hit the marble with a sharp crack.
One of the bodyguards looked down. His face went white. Hands shaking, he picked it up and carried it straight to Eric.
I straightened my clothes and faced him.
"I'm the chief securities analyst at Oceanic International."
"I came tonight to assess whether the Walker family qualifies for Oceanic International's first domestic investment allocation."
"Ha— haha!" Before I could finish, Samuel doubled over, laughing so hard tears ran down his face.
He clutched his stomach and pointed at me.
"Juliana, your cons are garbage, but I'll give you this—you've got nerve."
"First you're some elite graduate back from overseas, now you're Oceanic International's chief securities analyst."
"Do you even know what those four words are worth?"
"The biggest financial firm on the planet. A janitor there makes more in a month than you earn in a year."
"You're a nanny who wipes up shit and piss—stop putting gold on your face and go perform in the arena."
Effie wore the same sneer. She snatched the business card, tore it in half, and flicked the pieces into the air.
"I've seen this trick a hundred times. You can't just print a few cards and expect people to fall for it."
"You've got a hard mouth, though. I'm worried Brutus alone won't be enough to break you."
"Dad, didn't you just bring back a few lions and tigers from Africa as gifts for the baby's one-month celebration? Why not let them out tonight and give everyone a real show?"
Eric's gaze dropped to the gold-embossed business card on the ground. The watermark caught the sunlight, sharp enough to make him squint.
He still nodded. His men dragged me into the arena.
Lions and tigers that hadn't eaten in days surged to their feet, throwing themselves at the bars, snarling.
Samuel grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced my face toward them.
Then he leaned close, his voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear.
"Juliana, you're clever. You almost got there. Almost touched the truth."
"Too bad you're just a little short on luck. Be a good girl and let the beasts tear you apart, and nobody will ever find out my secret."
He laughed—manic, triumphant—and raised his hand to signal the guards to lift the gate.
I watched it rise, inch by inch.
Death was one step away.
The gate was almost open when a booming laugh cut through from the doorway.
"Mr. Walker! Congratulations on the new grandchild!"
Eric saw who it was—Oceanic Group's representative in Arden—and his whole demeanor flipped. He was on his feet instantly, ushering the man toward a seat, eager to show off the spectacle.
But when Edward's gaze found me in the arena, disheveled and cornered, his face changed completely.
He threw himself past the bars and planted himself in front of me.
"Chief... Chief Analyst Perry!"
