I laughed—sharp, pissed off.

Patrick? The man's a just a husband living under my roof. This house? Everything in it? Mine.

And this maid, clinging to her outdated crap, thought she could lecture me?

I sneered. "Even if Patrick were here, he'd still follow MY orders. As for you? You're fired."

I called the butler right then and there. Maya barely had time to blink before she was out.

She raged about getting Patrick to "deal with me," but the bodyguards were already tossing her luggage onto the lawn.

Watching that door lock behind her? That was the moment I finally felt calm enough to grab Elise and walk out.

In the car, I looked at her. "If anyone bullies you, you tell me. I'll always protect you."

Tears welled in her eyes—then she broke into the softest smile and nodded.

Her thoughts hit me again:

'Why is Mom nothing like Dad said?

'Did he lie to me? Does she actually love me?

'But then why, in my last life, when I begged Dad to call her before I died... did he say she didn't want to see me?'

A chill cut through me.

Could Patrick really...?

The doubt twisted tighter the very next second.

At the school, Principal Susan Pringle told me Elise wasn't even on the enrollment list.

Which made no sense—I'd told Patrick loud and clear: the day Della and Elise started school, they were each getting ten percent of Everard Corp as a gift.

I asked, "Ms. Pringle, can you check again? Both girls were registered together."

Susan gave Elise a look like she was gum on her shoe. "Mr. Sheeter said he's giving TWENTY PERCENT of Everard Corp to Della for enrollment. And Elise? What is she, some illegitimate kid? No shares for her."

My temper snapped. "What did you just say? How DARE you call my daughter illegitimate? Who the hell do you think you are? They're MY shares—I'll give them to whoever the hell I want!"

Susan looked like she was about to clap back—but then suddenly switched gears, all sugary fake.

"Mr. Sheeter! What a surprise to see you here!"

I turned.

And yep. There he was.

Patrick.

Patrick ignored Susan and came straight to me, looking rattled. "Honey, what's going on at home? Why was Della crying so hard?"

I slapped him.

"Why didn't you enroll Elise?"

He froze for a beat, then scrambled for an excuse. "She just got back from the orphanage. I—I didn't think she'd handle school well. I was worried she'd get bullied."

"She's my only heir. She's inheriting everything. Who's gonna bully her? And even if they try, she'll learn to fight back. How else is she supposed to run Everard Corp?"

Patrick stiffened. "Wait... you're not giving the company to Della anymore? That's not fair! We have THREE sons. How can Elise be the only heir?"

I smirked. "This company's been run by women for generations. That's my family's legacy. Funny—you were fine when Della was getting it. But now that it's Elise, you've got a problem?

"And don't even start on favoritism—the principal just exposed you—you promised Della twenty percent of MY company."

Patrick turned to Susan, stunned.

Susan? Straight-up pointed at me. "A mistress should know her place! Acting like you run the world. You really think Mr. Sheeter can't live without you?"

Didn't even get a chance to respond—Patrick cut in, yelling, "What the hell are you saying? I CAN'T live without my wife!"

Susan finally clued in that she'd wrecked her own rep and went quiet.

Patrick turned back, laying it on thick. "Babe, I just felt bad for Della. She's surrounded by strangers. No one really loves her. I just wanted her to feel secure."

Then Elise's voice dropped into my mind again:

'Della's not unloved—she's still got her beautiful mom.

'Whenever the dog bit me, that woman laughed and said if I died, it'd break Mom. Then she'd finally have Dad and Della all to herself.

'She said Dad swapped me and Della on purpose.

'But if I told Mom, she'd probably think I was lying.'

I froze.

My skin went cold. I stared at Patrick, trying to process it—he actually cheated. Spent my money on his side chick and deliberately swapped their kid with mine.

I started shaking, full-on shaking.

But Patrick? Thought I was speechless because I understood. "Della's a good kid," he said. "Go home, apologize, bring her a few gifts. She'll get over it."

I laughed. "Get over WHAT, exactly? She's your bastard kid—living off MY money, eating MY food—and still acts like I OWE her?"

Patrick stiffened. "Wh-What do you mean 'bastard kid'? What are you trying to say?"

"Oh, Patrick Sheeter... I've been way too nice. You really thought I wouldn't figure it out? That I was THAT dumb?"

Something flickered in his eyes—guilt, maybe. But he still tried to act like the victim. "You just don't want to support Della anymore, so now she's suddenly my 'bastard kid'? Seriously? That's messed up."

His voice cracked as he got louder. "She's just a kid! You want her growing up with THAT kind of shame on her back?"

I didn't bother replying. Just pulled out my phone, hit speaker, and called my PI.

"I need a full check on Patrick Sheeter. See if he's been cheating. And six years ago... was the baby swap really a mistake—or was it planned?"

Patrick lunged for my phone, but too late—the call was already over.

He jabbed a shaky finger at me. "How far are you taking this? You're seriously gonna blow up this family and turn all the kids against you?

"Don't say I didn't warn you—our sons LOVE Della. Keep pushing, and they'll drop you.

"Apologize to Della, transfer Elise to another school, and follow my lead. It'll all smooth out."

I didn't move.

He inhaled deep, dialing up the fake concern. "Babe, you don't get how parenting works. It takes time.

"And this 'bastard kid' nonsense? No proof. Stop throwing money at PIs. When the boys show up and see you like this, what're you even gonna say?"

I laughed, low and sharp. "Say WHAT? I don't owe anyone an explanation.

"You abused MY daughter and tried to hand my company to your side chick's brat. And I'm the one who needs to explain myself?"

Before he could fire back, a voice cut in from behind.

"You DO owe Dad an explanation!"

Our sons had arrived.

Ash—the eldest—stepped in front of Patrick. "Mom, how could you say that about Dad and make Della cry? You DO owe them an explanation!"

Bruce, my second son, pointed at Elise. "It's YOU again. You piece of trash. Always lying, always stirring up drama between Della and Mom. Scheming little brat. Why don't you just die already?"

Clint—the youngest—looked me dead in the eye, full of disgust. "Thanks to your favoritism, Della almost ended her life. And you're still standing here? Go home right now and tell her she's the only princess in this family. If something happens to her, I'll never forgive you!"

My heart thundered. My sons—blindly defending a cheating father and his side chick's kid.

I gritted my teeth. "Do you even know the kind of people you're defending?"

They hesitated, confused. Doubt flickered across their faces.

I didn't say a word. Just held out my phone and opened the report my super-efficient PI had already sent.

Right there on the screen: Della was Patrick's illegitimate daughter.

And six years ago, that baby swap? Totally intentional. Patrick's move.