1
At age eight, our family's spiritual guide proclaimed my fate as "too delicate."
Consequently, I was dispatched to Serenity Ridge, a sanctuary brimming with mystical energy, to live in isolation.
The plan was for me to remain there until I turned eighteen.
However, upon my eventual return to the family home, I uncovered a shocking revelation:
For a decade, my supposed loving siblings had allowed their adopted foster sister, Jessica, to assume my identity.
During my fiancé's birthday celebration, she took her deception even further.
Jessica seized the symbol of our betrothal–a gift from my uncle, the Emperor–and flaunted it before everyone.
Gesturing towards me, she declared loudly, her voice laced with scorn:
"Lord Wyatt, please accept my apologies for this embarrassment. Our foster sister here seems unaware of her station and had the audacity to pilfer the engagement token the Emperor bestowed upon us. She even attempted to use it to masquerade as me and mislead you. Rest assured, upon our return home, I'll ensure my brothers instruct her on proper conduct."
In my previous life, I would have swallowed my pride and endured her humiliation, desperate to please my brothers and their favorite.
But not this time.
Because in this life... I had been given a second chance.
I strode forward, snatched the engagement token from her grasp, and hurled it to the floor with all my might.
Then, I delivered a resounding slap across her face that silenced the entire room.
"Jessica," I said icily, my words piercing the stunned quiet, "you dare steal what's mine? You must think your life has been far too comfortable for far too long."
Everyone was frozen, astonished by my actions. For a moment, the room was enveloped in silence as people exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Jessica, however, was completely thrown off balance. She reeled backward, collapsing to the ground in shock. For a fleeting instant, fury flashed in her eyes, sharp and poisonous, but it quickly vanished. She reverted to her usual pitiful act, clutching her cheek as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Savannah," she whimpered, her voice quavering, "I understand you've long admired Lord Wyatt, but you and he... you're from different worlds. Please, don't debase yourself like this."
"Different worlds?" I echoed, advancing towards her. My gaze bore into her as I looked down at her pathetic form on the floor. A cold smirk played on my lips.
"My mother was a princess of royal descent. My father is the Duke of Harrington, a man whose military triumphs are legendary. My uncle reigns as King of this realm. I am the rightful heiress of the Harrington family, noble-born and of the purest lineage. And Wyatt?" I scoffed. "He's merely the son of a baron. Indeed, Jessica–we are from different worlds."
"Savannah! How dare you distort the truth!"
The voice belonged to my fourth brother, Logan, who rushed towards us, his face etched with alarm. Close behind was my third brother, Michael, who stooped to assist Jessica to her feet.
"Jessica, are you alright?" Logan inquired, his voice dripping with worry as he gently cradled her face. His brows furrowed in concern, his tone soft as if addressing a delicate flower.
Jessica shook her head feebly, tears glistening in her eyes. She gazed up at him with such a pitiful expression that anyone observing would have felt sympathy for her.
Michael, meanwhile, turned to Lord Wyatt with a composed yet stern countenance. "Lord Wyatt," he stated, his voice steady and authoritative, "Savannah was merely a lowly servant in the Harrington household. My father, out of compassion, adopted her as a foster daughter. But evidently, she's forgotten her place. She's delusional enough to believe she could pass herself off as a noblewoman–worse still, your future bride. Allow me to summon my elder brothers. We'll address this matter through the family's laws."
At his command, an attendant hastened to fetch our eldest brother, Edward.
The crowd, already murmuring before, erupted into louder whispers, their words sharp and cutting.
"She's an impostor! Pretending to be the Duke's daughter? How shameless!"
"I heard the late Duchess cherished her real daughter so deeply that she abandoned her luxurious life in the palace to journey across the kingdom, aiding the poor and praying for her child's future. Imagine her fury if she knew about this fraud!"
"And the Duke himself–he'll be livid when he learns his beloved daughter was mistreated. He'll make that girl regret ever being born."
"Not to mention the four Harrington brothers. They adore their sister as if she were made of gold. They won't take this lying down."
"If I were her, I'd be groveling now, begging Jessica for mercy."
"She's just some country bumpkin trying to act like a noble. A crow masquerading as a swan. Revolting."
I released a soft chuckle, amused by the absurd chatter. They weren't mistaken, though. When my parents returned and discovered the truth, neither Jessica nor my so-called brothers would escape retribution.
Wyatt stepped forward then, positioning himself beside Jessica and my brothers, his expression one of smug self-righteousness.
"Naturally, I trust your word, Third Young Master," he addressed Michael, his tone eager to please. "Jessica embodies grace and kindness. There's no possibility someone like her could be an impostor."
He turned to Jessica, his gaze softening as he examined her. Once satisfied she wasn't gravely injured, he faced me, his features contorting into a sneer.
"And you," Wyatt said, his voice dripping with disdain, "just two nights ago, you approached me with the engagement token, claiming to be the true Lady Harrington. Did you honestly believe I'd fall for it? I've known Jessica for years–her kindness, her nobility. And you?" He scoffed, his lip curling in contempt. "You've been permitted to play the role of a noble for so long that you've forgotten your true station. You're nothing but a mongrel pretending to be human."
Perfect. Everything was unfolding exactly as I had orchestrated.
Wyatt, oh Wyatt, if you hadn't insulted me so, how else would I have been able to dissolve this absurd engagement?