On the day Tammy was discharged, she asked John and Catherine out of the blue, “Why didn’t I get a proper welcome into the family?”

John and Catherine exchanged glances, not knowing what she was talking about.

Furrowing her brows, Tammy said matter-of-factly, “The family runs a business empire, so the least you can do is throw a huge party to let the city know that you’ve found your real daughter. Why didn’t I get one? Is Scarlett stopping this? Is she scared that I’ll steal her limelight?”

My eyes snapped open while I was resting in the front passenger seat.

John and Catherine had been laid off ages ago. They ran a food truck to put me through school.

Later, I built my own business successfully, and when the Smyth Group went public, I brought the family to the life of luxury.

As we came from humble beginnings, we weren’t bound by elite social rules. Of course, her question threw us off.

Come to think of it, I reckoned the 20-year-old wanted a celebration to mark the occasion.

“Alright,” I said. “I’ll book a private lounge in the Hilton, and we can have a nice family dinner.”

Tammy let out a scoff. “That’s more like it.”

Little did I know, it was the start of another drama.

When it came time to order, she picked the most expensive items on the menu.

“The Australian lobster, the king crab, and bring a bottle of ’82 Lafite.” Tammy pointed at the menu like some tacky nouveau riche.

The server looked at me politely.

I nodded. “Go ahead.”

Tammy turned to me smugly, “I hope you don’t mind, Scarlett. I lived a hard time at the orphanage for two decades. I’m not asking for too much, am I?”

“Not at all, so long as you can finish the food,” I said indifferently.

Throughout dinner, Tammy kept feeding John and Catherine with her warped logic.

“Mom, Dad, you have no idea how terrible fake heiresses are. They act all sweet while transferring the assets behind your back. You might want to keep a close eye on the family money and property.”

I paused from cutting my steak.

Money? Property?

John and Catherine did, in fact, have a run-down property to their name and a few thousand dollars in pension.

However, the villa, fancy cars, and company shares belonged to me.

John and Catherine buried their faces in their meals in embarrassment, not knowing what to say.

Tammy couldn’t take a hint. “What do you do in the family business, Scarlett? What’s your pay like? I expect your assistance when I join the company in the future. The business will be handed to me sooner or later.”

I put my cutlery down and wiped my mouth. “I run errands around the office. As for handing the business to you, that can wait until you finish college.”

“What’s with your attitude?” Tammy slammed her cutlery down. “I’m the only heiress to the family. I’m free to join the company whenever I please!”

To ease the tension, Catherine suggested a stroll by the pool.

I was talking to John and Catherine when Tammy let out a yelp. “Ugh!”

A pair of hands grabbed me by the arm and yanked me back.

Losing her footing, Tammy fell into the pool, but judging by her firm grip on my arm, she wanted to take me down along with her.

A massive splash ensued. The water in late autumn was biting.

Though I could swim, the thick trench coat, absorbing the water, weighed me down.

To make things worse, Tammy clung to me like a parasite, screaming and pushing me under. “Help! Help! Scarlett is trying to kill me!”

Amid her struggles underwater, her nails tore into the skin of my throat.

I choked on water several times, my lungs burning.

Working fast, the hotel’s lifeguard jumped in and scooped us out to safety.

I sat by the edge of the pool, drenched and gasping for air.

Tammy had it worse than me. Her makeup was ruined, and half her false lash was gone. She was a soaking mess.

Nevertheless, she remained full of energy. Once ashore, she threw herself at John and Catherine, crying while pointing at me. “Mom! Dad! She pushed me! She’s trying to drown me!

“If I hadn’t thought fast and grabbed her, I would’ve drowned!

“She’s so mean! All because I said I wanted to join the company, she tried to kill me!”

The diners by the pool gave us judgy looks, whispering and pointing away.

I wiped the water off my face and snapped her a callous look. “Tammy, there are cameras by the pool.”

Tammy froze before wailing louder. “I bet you bought off the security footage. With money and power, you can forge anything. Oh, woe is me…”

John sighed. “Stop it. We’re going to the emergency room now. It’s freezing out here. The last thing we want is for you both to catch pneumonia.”

The four of us found ourselves back in the hospital.

John and Catherine ran around, getting us a hot drink and collecting prescriptions.

With John and Catherine away, footing the medical bill, Tammy and I were left in the ward.

Tammy whimpered weakly in bed a moment ago. Once John and Catherine were out of sight, she jolted up.

She ripped the IV needle out of her hand and approached my bed, barefoot.

Her discolored face carried a menacing grin unbefitting her age.

“How does it feel, Scarlett?”

Leaning against the headboard, I met her gaze indifferently. “Not too bad. I’m in a better place than when you were electrocuted by your own camera.”

“You!” Frustrated, Tammy snapped an angry look at me. “I’m not like other heiresses. I’ve read more books of this genre than you’ll ever know. I know how you operate.

“Do you think that by playing it cool, you can hide the fact that you stole my life?

“You can’t hide your true colors from Mom and Dad forever. Blood is thicker than water. They will choose me in the end!”

Worked up, Tammy had her finger up my face.

“I will get you kicked out of the family! You’ll be ruined and penniless!”

I found her snarling look rather amusing.

“Tammy,” I uttered with composure. “Do you think that everything of the Smyths will be yours once you get rid of me?”

“Duh! I’m the only bloodline of the Smyths. Everything is meant to be mine!

“Why is an adopted orphan sticking around?

“You’ve landed a cushy job thanks to my parents’ generosity. Do you actually think putting on a few designer pieces makes you a society elite?

“Scarlett, know your place. You’re just a parasite!”

Just then, the door handle turned. John and Catherine were back from getting the bill taken care of.

Tammy rolled her eyes with a scowl and returned to her bed.

Picking up the tension in the ward, John and Catherine gave me a puzzled look and asked me what had happened.

I sighed and glanced at Tammy in resignation. “Tammy called me a parasite. She wants me out of the family.”

Tammy’s eyes widened as she didn’t expect me to call her out so blatantly.

From what she’d read, she figured the fake heiress would play the victim in front of her parents.

“That’s ridiculous! You started it!” Tammy shrieked.

“Well, we can check the surveillance footage to know whether I’m lying.”

I pointed at the obscure camera tucked away in the corner of the room.

Tammy’s expression went stiff as panic washed over her.

Letting out a scoff, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, Mr. Sierra? I am Scarlett Smyth. Send the recording from VIP Ward 302. Yes, the last ten minutes. Yes, right now.”

After hanging up, I turned my gaze to Tammy, who was dumbfounded.

I said indifferently, “Oh, I should let you know that the Smyth Group holds a 51% stake in this private hospital. I’m the majority shareholder.

“I have the authority to pull any footage or data from this facility.”