Jerome suddenly pushed me away, his steps moving forward unconsciously, but he stopped after only two steps. He clenched his fists, his eyes full of heartache.

The guests looked at each other and whispered among themselves.

"Who is this person? So bold, daring to snatch Mr. Gilmore’s son-in-law."

"Yeah, she's already married, yet still coming to make trouble. She's really shameless."

Anna was being mocked, but her face was still filled with arrogance.

I looked at Jerome and said in grievance, "Who is this girl? Jerome, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?"

The veins on Jerome’s restrained forehead bulged, yet he didn’t say a single word.

"Jerome, since you married me, you should settle down. Don’t let them dance in front of me, okay? I’m scared …"

Perhaps because I acted too weakly, they didn’t take me seriously.

Jerome softly comforted, "Anna, it’s not what you think. Go home first, I’ll explain to you later, okay?"

Anna still wanted to hit me, but her father, thinking of the bigger picture, stopped her with a loud shout. So, she stormed off angrily.

As I stared straight at her back, my eyes filled with intense hatred. That was because my mother's death was inseparable from Anna, her mother and brother.

This time, as I returned to the country, I wanted the family estate, the truth ... Each one of them!

After such a scene, both my father and Jerome had no mood to deal with the guests. So, I just took the chance to mingle with the big shots from all walks of life.

From the current situation, I was undoubtedly the sole heir of the Gilmore Group and seeing that I was so easy to manipulate, those shrewd people all tried to curry favor with me, yet their eyes revealed greedy and calculating light.

My informant in the Gilmore Family villa told me my father had just said the plan to announce their identities would be postponed and several people started to cry and made a fuss.

My father coaxed Celia and his pair of illegitimate children for a long time. Even Jerome, who should have been entering the bridal chamber with me, used the excuse of urgent business to rush over.

They must have come up with some kind of plan before finally appeasing the three of them.

In the end, Jerome held Anna in his arms back to her room, only to come out two hours later.

Jerome returned home at three in the morning and went straight to the study to sleep.

The next day, Celia, my father’s secretary, was promoted to financial director. Robert parachuted directly from the headquarters’ lowest level to the president of a subsidiary. Anna also received a beautiful riverside villa.

Meanwhile, I, his legitimate daughter, still hadn’t even stepped through the doors of the group’s headquarters.

I didn’t care whether I went in because having my people inside was enough. Well … more precisely, my mother’s loyal people.

I heard my father was going to set up a foundation named “Roona Foundation.”

What a ploy! Who doesn’t know it was built for Robert and Anna?

After Jerome left for work, I dialed a number.

"You can act now."

"And also, Robert went to the subsidiary. He’s a useless fool, greedy and lustful. Make him cause as big a mess as possible."

Just as I hung up, the front door lock clicked.

I thought Jerome had forgotten something, but it turned out to be Anna, with three thugs behind her.

Seeing the results of my work from last night, I instinctively shrank my neck, trembled all over and moved toward the living room.

"You… what do you want? How do you have my house key?"

"Breaking into a private residence… that’s illegal!"

I trembled as I reached for my phone to call the police, but Anna contemptuously slapped it away.

She kicked me to the ground, grabbed my hair and forced me to look up.

“Look at you … you're such a coward. How dare you try to steal my dad and my Jerome! You should learn from your dead mom and go to hell sooner!”

I grabbed her wrist and struggled desperately. “Who are you? How dare you to insult my mother!”

Anna gave a cold snort and slapped me twice with a loud “Smack!”

“You bitch, my name is Anna, remember it well. My dad is Adam Gilmore and I am his most beloved daughter!”

“You’re nothing but the burden he abandoned overseas, shamelessly crying to come back!”

“It’s all your fault, you little slut, that our family can’t reunite openly and honorably!”

I stared at her in disbelief, my voice trembled, “You’re lying! How could Dad possibly have another daughter?”

Anna laughed twice, then only stopped to hit me after she made my nose and mouth bleed. She stared at me like I was trash and mocked, “What’s one daughter? I even have a brother and he’s the real future heir of the Gilmore family!”

“I came today just to tell you to get back overseas immediately. Otherwise, you’ll die worse than your mother!”

“What a waste, bringing so many people to deal with you. You’re just as useless as your dead whore mother!”

It was like a switch had been flipped inside me. I roared at her, “You can insult me, but you can’t curse my mother!”

Enduring the sharp pain, I bit down hard on her wrist. Anna cried out in pain and three thugs rushed forward to punch and kick me.

The dull thuds on my back mixed with Anna’s angry curses, “You bitch! How dare you bite me? Beat her to death!”

Someone stomped hard on my hand, ground it down and kicked my ribs until they broke. I clenched my teeth, the taste of blood spreading in my chest and mouth, until I finally blacked out.

When I woke again, it was already evening. I lay in the VIP ward of a hospital and my whole body ached. My father and Jerome were both by my bedside.

Seeing me awake, my father held my hand, his face full of guilt. “Lacey, you’re finally awake. Dad was so worried about you.”

I frowned and weakly opened my mouth, “Dad, is what she said true? Do you really have another son and daughter?”

Father lowered his head and sighed, only speaking after a long while, “Lacey, this matter is Dad’s fault. Anna is a sweet and kind child. If you spend some time together, you’ll definitely grow to like her.”

Two silent tears slid down my face. “Dad, she beat me like this and you still call her kind?”

Jerome quickly tried to defend her, “Anna isn’t that kind of girl. I’m sure there must be some misunderstanding.”

I had wanted to give them one last chance, but their hearts were already halfway across the ocean. So, there was no need to waste more words.

Just then, my father’s assistant rushed in, looking terrified. “Mr. Gilmore, bad news,” he said. “Word has gotten out about you keeping a mistress and having two illegitimate children …”

Father shot up from his chair, his voice suddenly rose. “What did you say?”

The assistant handed the phone to him, but his voice trembled, “It’s already trending on the social news. I’m afraid this can’t be covered up…”

My father panicked and roared, “What the hell happened? Isn’t this just slapping me in the face?”

The assistant didn’t dare breathe loudly. “It seems… Miss Anna accidentally let it slip…”

At that moment, Jerome’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it and immediately answered.

From the phone came Anna’s terrified scream, “Jerome, help me!”

Jerome’s expression suddenly changed and he quickly said, “Anna, don’t be afraid, I’m coming right now!”

Jerome put away his phone and stormed out.

My father was burning with anxiety. “What on earth happened to Anna?”

But no one answered him. So my father also strode out to follow him, without sparing me a single glance.

Watching their panicked backs as they were leaving, I felt no disappointment. Instead, a trace of pleasure surged up in my heart. After acting with them for so long, the real show was finally about to start.