Chapter 2

I never imagined that Isla Harrington's return would cause the man who once swore he loved me to throw away everything we had.

At our engagement party—right in front of the crowd—he yanked his hand from mine and said cruelly,

"Molly, if it weren't for you, Isla wouldn't have suffered all those years. How are you even worthy of being with me? You're nothing but a fraud. The woman I'm going to marry is Isla."

Then, without hesitation, he turned and slipped the engagement ring onto Isla's finger.

Isla gently caressed the ring and looked at me with a mocking smile.

Gasps rippled through the guests and reporters alike.

And in that moment, every ounce of my dignity shattered across the polished floor.

Edmund and Victoria Wentworth stood up in fury. Edmund's voice thundered.

"Giles, have you lost your mind? Do you know what you're doing?"

But Giles remained unfazed. He held Isla's hand and addressed the room with arrogant pride.

"Perhaps many of you don't know yet—this is Isla Harrington, the true daughter of the Harrington family."

"Molly stole her identity and lived in luxury for years. Meanwhile, Isla wandered in poverty, enduring hardship. Now that the real heiress has returned—naturally, she's the one I should be engaged to."

The press couldn't believe their luck. Such a scandal was a feast.

"Miss Harrington, is what he said true? How do you feel about it now?"

I looked at the pair before me. Isla nestled into Giles' chest like a frail little bird, her smile full of mischief. Giles simply stared at me coldly, his expression unreadable.

It hurt a little, but not as much as I expected. I'd been through far worse. I smiled calmly at the reporters.

"He's not wrong. There was an accident at birth, and we were switched. Though Giles and I have been together for years, I know that ever since my sister returned, the two of them have been quite... taken with each other. So today, I took this chance to share the truth.

"As for me, the person I am truly engaged to is Lucas Fairchild."

Another wave of gasps swept through the hall.

All eyes turned to Lucas. He looked stunned at first, but when he caught my signal, he stepped forward without hesitation. Under the gaze of the entire room, he pulled out a diamond ring and slipped it onto my finger.

Giles, who had been watching with smug delight, suddenly stiffened in his seat.

"Molly," he snapped, "have you lost your mind? The Fairchild family's practically bankrupt! And Lucas is an illegitimate son. Even if I left you, there's no need to throw yourself into someone's arms to spite me!"

I suppressed a laugh, the corners of my lips curling slightly.

"Mr. Wentworth, this is my life. I don't believe it requires your concern."

Giles choked on his words, unable to reply.

Isla scoffed with disdain.

"A fraud and a bastard. What a perfect pair."

I ignored her and continued, my voice steady and composed,

"As for the mix-up between Isla and me, I truly regret the pain it has caused. Though it wasn't my choice, I will do what I can to make things right. Therefore, as of today, I will leave the Harrington family. From this moment on, my actions and life are no longer tied to them."

This was probably what Isla had wanted all along—using public pressure to drive me out of the family.

The farce had reached its climax. No doubt the headlines would be screaming by morning.

After stepping down from the stage, Isla was met with a sharp slap from Reginald Harrington.

"Do you even know what you've done?" he roared. "You insisted on driving your sister away—what good does that do this family? You could have chosen any man, yet you fixated on the one your sister loved. Have you no shame?"