“You won’t let me take her because you’re afraid of what she might say—or because you’ve done something so vile it can’t be known!”

The crowd’s eyes snapped to the Carters. They stammered, unable to respond.

“No way… could they really be that cruel?”

“Imagine—ignoring your own flesh and blood, yet doting on a stranger’s child?”

“Well, she was raised as a pampered heiress for years, while the real daughter grew up in the countryside. People play favorites.”

“But this ‘countryside’ girl looks well-off. That bracelet and gown alone are beyond the Carters’ means.”

Whispers swirled through the room. The Carter family’s faces turned dark.

Chloe clutched her swollen cheek. Suddenly, the sound of a car horn came from outside, and her eyes lit up.

“Old witch, you’re dead! My uncle is here. Once he arrives, he’ll destroy you!”

Richard smirked as well. “That’s right. Do you know who’s coming? The richest man in New York City, Adrian Hughes—my wife’s brother. You’d better know your place.”

The onlookers gasped.

“The richest man in New York City? Not someone to mess with!”

“I didn’t say anything reckless, did I?”

“Who knows if it’s true. If it is, the Carters wouldn’t still be some third-rate family.”

The room buzzed with speculation. Richard ordered the doors opened, his face brimming with smugness.

I remained unimpressed. Today, they would see just how dangerous this ‘countryside madwoman’ could be.

When Adrian Hughes entered, Chloe rushed forward. “Uncle, Uncle!”

“Today’s my niece’s engagement. I came to support her. What happened—your face!”

Her face was a swollen, bloody mess, grotesque to look at.

Adrian frowned, scanning her up and down. “Who… who are you?”

“Uncle, it’s me! I’m your niece!”

“My niece isn’t some hideous monster. And where’s your bracelet?”

“It was her! Uncle!” Chloe jabbed a finger at me. “That crazy woman stole it and tore up my face! You have to help me!”

Her sobbing filled the hall.

Adrian’s brows furrowed with impatience. But when his eyes landed on me, he froze in shock.

“Catherine Hayes? Sister—what are you doing here?!”

“If I hadn’t come, your real niece would have been killed and replaced by this fraud!”

Chloe’s face went blank with horror.

Margaret paled as well. “Sister? What do you mean? Mr. Hughes, you must be mistaken!”

Adrian snapped, “How could I mistake my own sister? The question is, where is Bella? My niece?”

“I heard she was getting engaged today. I rushed back for this. Where is she?”

My voice turned to ice. “Ask them. They’ve stolen Bella’s bracelet and paraded around in her gown. Shameless impostors!”

“And you, Adrian—this is how you’ve been protecting Bella?”

At my words, Adrian raised his hand and slapped himself across the face. The crowd gasped in shock.

“Sister, I was wrong!”

“When Bella first returned, she called me. She told me she was doing well here. I visited her a few times. But for the past month, she stopped answering my calls—only texted me that she was busy.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “Clearly, someone was impersonating her. You fool!”

Realization dawned on Adrian. He turned and seized Chloe by the throat.

“It’s you!”

“Uncle, no, I—”

“Shut up! What are you, daring to claim ties with me? My niece is only Bella. What do you think you are?”

He swept a cold gaze across the room. “Speak! Where is Bella?”

No one dared answer.

Adrian Hughes roared, “Men, drag them out and break their arms and legs!”

“No! No! I’ll talk—I’ll tell you!”

The Carter family turned ashen with terror.

I glared at them. “Now you want to talk? Too late.”

“Break their limbs! Search every corner—no one in the Carter family is to be spared!”

Adrian’s men immediately dragged them out, snapping bones as screams echoed through the hall.

Even the Carters’ servants were seized and forced to kneel before me. Guests stood silently to the side, handing over their phones and devices.

I wasn’t afraid of news leaking—it was Bella’s suffering I didn’t want paraded before outsiders. She was my treasure, the child I had protected with all my being.

The servants knelt, trembling. From outside came the guttural, heart-wrenching cries of Richard, Margaret, and Chloe, silencing everyone present.

Moments later, the bodyguards dragged them back in, broken and unconscious, and dumped them onto the floor.

I had a bucket of water thrown over them. Chloe’s eyes darted to me, wide with fear.

Richard shook, his voice quivering. “Mr. Hughes, I was wrong! Please, forgive me!”

“Save your breath! Where is Bella?”

“I… I sent her to St. Mary’s Institute!”

“St. Mary’s? What kind of place is that?”

Someone in the crowd muttered, “It’s a so-called finishing school for girls. But years ago, it was exposed—people said students came out mentally broken. Especially the girls. Most were ruined for life.”

At that, I slammed my palm on the table and tossed a gold bar at the speaker.

“Adrian, bring her back to me. I want to see her with my own eyes!”

“Whoever harmed her—cripple them!”

“My daughter will not be disgraced!”

Adrian gave a sharp nod, dispatching his men immediately.

Richard tried to defend himself. “No, it’s not like that. It’s a good school—I only wanted her to learn proper manners. Don’t listen to their lies!”

I ground my heel into his broken hand, drawing a hiss of pain.

“Richard Carter, you vile coward. You dared send her there to ‘learn manners’? If anyone in this house needs discipline, it’s this cuckoo—this impostor!”

Chloe’s eyes burned with hatred. “Hmph! Bella never knew her place. If she had, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have treated her that way!”

My lips curled in a savage smile. “Bella is kind, gentle, and obedient. What crime did she commit to deserve such cruelty from you?”

“I know.”

A middle-aged maid, trembling, spoke up. “It was Chloe… she framed her! Miss Bella once cooked dinner, and Chloe laced it with capsaicin. It triggered Mr. Carter’s illness. I saw it with my own eyes, but Chloe threatened me with dismissal if I told anyone!”

Another servant cried out, “And Bella’s designs—Chloe stole them, then accused her of plagiarism!”

A third added, “I saw it too! Bella only exchanged a few words with Daniel Miller, but Chloe grew jealous and drugged her, forcing them into the same bed. Then she claimed Bella seduced her future brother-in-law!”

Margaret was stunned. “That’s not what you told me before. Why didn’t you say it earlier?!”