Chapter 3

Sophia’s face flushed crimson under everyone's scrutiny, and she waved her hands in shame and indignation.

"No, it's not like that, Katya! Why would you say such a thing?"

I scoffed coldly. "What's the matter? After all these years of living under my identity, have you actually forgotten who you really are, Anya Popescu?"

Popescu is a typical lower-class Moldovan surname.

"So her name is Anya Popescu. It just reeks of poverty. She must be the maid's daughter, no doubt about it!"

Several of the other young heiresses laughed out loud, their words sharp and thoughtless. Sophia’s face went from crimson to ghostly white in her humiliation.

"That's enough! I won't allow you to speak to Sophia like that!"

My mother strode forward and pulled Sophia into a protective embrace.

"Katya! Isn't it enough that you are both daughters of the Kovalenko family? Why must you constantly torment Sophia and humiliate her in front of everyone?"

Marcus Castellano rushed over, his chest heaving with fury.

He was my fiancé, yet here he was, publicly defending Sophia and pointing an accusing finger at me. Remembering his bone-deep hatred just before I died in my past life, and the agony of being brutally violated by those Soldati, a chill ran down my spine.

"What's the matter? The heir to the Castellano family can't accept that his future wife was born to a maid?" I stared at him coldly.

A flicker of guilt flashed in Marcus’s eyes.

"You… you know?"

"Your marriage to the Torrino family in Chicago was their decision, and our family didn't dare to defy them. Our engagement was naturally voided. I've been in love with Sophia for years, and I was the one who asked your father for her hand… Don't take your anger out on Sophia. She hasn't done anything wrong."

Marcus’s betrayal exposed his heartless and fickle nature to everyone present, but he seemed utterly unconcerned with his reputation.

"Hah. Stealing my identity, snatching my mother's affection, forcing me to be the substitute bride, and then turning around to take my fiancé. She's just so innocent, isn't she?" I ruthlessly exposed Sophia’s true colors.

The crowd around us gasped, their gazes on Sophia growing more and more complicated.

Sophia's face turned ghastly pale.

Yet, she picked up the scalding coffee beside her and, with a forced air of composure, walked toward me to apologize, her expression pitifully humble.

"Katya, I know I've wronged you, but on an occasion like this, could you spare me some dignity?"

Before I could even speak, her body trembled violently, and the scalding coffee spilled all over her. Her delicate, fair hands instantly turned bright red.

The next second, a searing heat flared across my cheek as it began to swell. My mother’s hand was frozen in mid-air, trembling from the force of the slap.

She glanced at my face, hesitating as if she wanted to say something more, but it took her a long moment before she finally choked out, "Katya, you’ve gone too far!"

Then she immediately turned away to fuss over Sophia’s injuries.

The very instant Sophia cried out in pain, Marcus pulled her protectively behind him. He cradled her hands as if they were precious jewels, blowing on them gently, before frantically shouting for the private doctor to come and treat her.

I stood there, utterly alone, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me. The whole charade felt pointless.

When the family meeting finally ended, I went home alone, feeling utterly desolate.

Back in my room, a document lay on my vanity.

It was in Marcus's handwriting, a script I knew better than my own.

I opened it. The words "Engagement Annulment Agreement" stared up at me, bold and searing.

He really couldn't wait to cut all ties with me.

This was for the best. From this day forward, when we meet, I'll repay every wrong and settle every score!

The door creaked open.

I turned my head and, for once, I saw a flicker of guilt in my mother’s eyes. "Katya... Mom was impulsive. I shouldn't have laid a hand on you. Please, don't blame me..."

"Sophia's mother died because of me. I owe her a life. I know I've neglected you all these years and made you suffer, but I need you and Sophia to get along. You are both the most important people in the world to me!"

A cool sensation spread across my cheek as my mother dabbed ointment on it.

"You're getting married soon. A scar on your face wouldn't look good..."

How long had it been since she’d spoken to me so softly? For a fleeting moment, my resolve wavered. But her very next words sent my heart plummeting.

I looked at my mother's feigned concern, a bitter irony washing over me. So, even this last shred of warmth was a lie.

"About what happened earlier... you were too impulsive. Go and apologize to Sophia, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened."