After my grandmother passed away, I returned from my countryside home to Oberis City, ready to tidy things up and prepare for my wedding.

But no sooner had I arrived at the wedding planning company, ready to book an extravagant, luxurious wedding, than the staff there delivered a piece of news that struck me like a thunderbolt. The groom—my groom—had already gotten married.

Three months ago, Cain Bassett, the eldest son of the wealthiest family's conglomerate, tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart, the daughter of the mayor of Lith City—Mary Schindler.

Now here I stood, frowning in front of the grand gates of Cain's villa.

But the thing is, I am Mary Schindler, the daughter of the mayor of Lith City.

I stood in front of the grand gates of Cain's villa, the chill of the situation biting harder than the morning breeze. The butler, stiff and curt, didn't even let me inside.

"Mr. Bassett has made it clear," he said, "whoever dares to impersonate his wife has some nerve. He's known his wife since childhood—they grew up together. How could he ever mistake someone else for her?"

Beside me, my younger cousin Hailey's face flushed with anger, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mary, what is going on here? Why are they accusing you of being an impostor? Wasn't it always decided that you and Cain would marry? Didn't we come here to prepare for your wedding?"

I raised a finger to my lips and hushed her. The truth was, I had returned to Oberis City ahead of my parents to get a head start on the wedding preparations. They were tied up with work and couldn't accompany me, so I thought I'd take care of the arrangements myself—after all, weddings are no small feat.

But things took a turn for the bizarre as soon as I arrived at the wedding planning company. I'd just finished discussing the basic concept with the lead designer when she glanced at a photo of my fiancé on my phone. Her expression soured immediately, like she'd bitten into a green persimmon.

"Miss Schindler, this… this is Mr. Bassett?" she stammered.

"Yes, of course. He's my fiancé," I replied, puzzled.

Her face crumpled further. "But… Mr. Bassett got married three months ago. Our company organized the wedding."

For five years, I'd been back in my countryside home, taking care of my grandmother as a full-time granddaughter while she battled her illness. I hadn't set foot in Oberis City during that time.

When Grandma passed away, my mother summoned me back to fulfill the long-standing engagement between the Bassett family and ours—a union arranged since childhood. With both of us nearing thirty, there was no more time to delay.

The moment I uncovered the truth, I marched straight to the Bassett family's doorstep, demanding answers, only to be met with cold disdain.

The arrogance of the Bassett household and Cain's outright dismissal of me made me scoff. Mistake? You better hope you haven't made a mistake.

With Hailey at my side, I stormed through Oberis City's luxury stores, purchasing everything that caught my eye. Every bill, every receipt, bore the name of the Lith City mayor's daughter—Mary Schindler.

By midday, the entrance of Cain's company was swarmed with representatives from Oberis City's top luxury brands. They came bearing goods, invoices, and demands for payment.

"Mr. Bassett, this is your wife's signature. Surely you can't deny that?"

"Indeed, everyone knows Mrs. Bassett's name. Are you suggesting someone's impersonating her?"

"Mr. Bassett, your wife spent 130,000 dollars at our store. Kindly settle the bill."

"If funds are tight, perhaps Mrs. Bassett could refrain from shopping for a while? Or maybe return the black pearl necklace? Another client's interested—it's worth 80,000 dollars, after all."

"Yes, if you can't afford it, don't let your wife shop recklessly. Buying and not paying is no way to do business!"

"Exactly! We let your wife sign and take it first because, Mr. Bassett, you're such a prominent figure in Oberis. Surely, you wouldn't default on the payment."

The crowd buzzed louder, their frustrations rising with the noon sun. I sat at a nearby café, sipping coffee, watching the chaos unfold. From afar, I could see beads of sweat forming on Cain's brow as he faced the irate brand representatives.

I smiled to myself. Didn't he marry Mary Schindler? Then let him deal with everything that comes with her name.

Just as the scene reached a fever pitch, a woman emerged from the company's entrance. She was draped in designer clothing, her frail frame and teary eyes giving her the air of a delicate damsel. Her voice, soft and wavering, called out to him, "Honey, what is all this about?"

The woman was none other than the so-called Mrs. Bassett—the "Mary" everyone had been talking about.

Her gaze fell on the invoices in the salespeople's hands. She shook her head and said, "This wasn't me! Someone must be pretending to be me!"

The brand representatives were having none of it. "You think we'll believe that? If you say it's not your signature, prove it!"

She lifted her chin and said confidently, "I've lived abroad since I was young. I can read Reindese, but I've never learned to write it. These signatures aren't mine."

Before Cain could step in to stop her, her words quickly sent a ripple of disbelief through the crowd.

"The mayor of Lith City's daughter can't write Reindese?"

"Didn't she recently donate a calligraphy piece at a charity gala? How could she not know how to write?"

"She'll say anything to avoid paying, won't she?"

Cain hurriedly explained, "This is a misunderstanding. Recently, Mary injured her hand and can't write. She is a member of the Schindler family, and the Schindlers highly value calligraphy. She has a beautiful, delicate hand with a fine style, so of course she can write."

"Then let Mrs. Bassett write her name so everyone can see if it matches the signature on the bill," I said, stepping forward from the crowd, smiling as I looked at him. "Mr. Bassett, don't you think that would be the easiest way to clear things up? That way, everyone will be convinced."

"That's right! Lith City's mayor's wife is a well-known calligrapher," someone chimed in. "Their daughter could write at three, and by five, her calligraphy works won multiple national awards. Who doesn't know that?"

His gaze turned icy as he glared at me. "Who are you? What business do you have meddling in the affairs of my family?"

I shrugged, taking a step back. "Just a concerned citizen ensuring fairness. Surely a little truth can't hurt."

Mrs. Bassett clung to his arm, her voice trembling. "Honey, I can't… I can't write." She hesitated, then added, "My right hand is injured—I can't write right now."

I chuckled lightly. "Mary has been practicing writing with both hands since childhood. If your right hand is injured, surely your left hand can write just as well. Don't be shy, Mrs. Bassett. We'd all recognize your handwriting no matter which hand you use."

"Exactly!" someone in the crowd jeered. "You're not claiming both hands are injured, are you? I just saw you carrying something earlier!"

Mrs. Bassett's eyes brimmed with tears, but I stepped forward, unfazed. "Hailey, bring the pen and paper. Let's not keep everyone waiting."

With a flourish, I added, "I once purchased a piece of calligraphy at an auction signed by Mary Schindler herself. This is Mrs. Bassett's handwriting. We'll know soon enough if it matches."

From my bag, I pulled out a paper I'd written on just that morning while waiting at the coffee shop. The handwriting on the paper mirrored the signatures on the sales receipts down to the last stroke.

The paper made its way through the crowd, eyes narrowing as it passed from hand to hand. The murmurs grew louder.

"Mrs. Bassett," one bold onlooker pressed, "please begin."

Cain's expression darkened like a brewing storm. He turned to me, his tone sharp. "Who are you? Do you even know where you are? This is not a place for troublemakers like you. Leave at once."

Before I could respond, Hailey pushed forward, her voice ringing out with indignation. "What's wrong with you, Cain? My cousin is just standing up for justice, speaking on behalf of these folks! Are you trying to bully her because you're out of excuses?"

"Is there no justice left in this world? No law?" Hailey's cry rallied the crowd.

"Yeah, pay up!"

"You think you can just weasel out of this?"

"If you don't want to settle, we'll see you in court!"

Overwhelmed, Mrs. Bassett shouted, "Enough! Fine, I'll write!"

A staff member handed her the pen and paper, and she began to scribble. Her "Mary Schindler" signature was clumsy, uneven, and downright embarrassing.

The crowd studied the paper, comparing it to the elegant strokes on the paper.

"This… is supposed to be the same person's handwriting?" someone questioned, incredulous.

I couldn't suppress a dry laugh. "To avoid paying the bill, Mrs. Bassett will go to any lengths—even this charade. But who are you trying to fool? Unless…" My voice grew colder. "Unless you're not Mary Schindler at all. So tell us, Mrs. Bassett—who are you?"

Panic flickered across her face as she stumbled back a step, her voice rising in a desperate screech. "Nonsense! If I'm not Mary, then who is? I'm the daughter of the mayor of Lith City, Cain's wife! Who do you think you are, barging in here, spreading lies? Security, haul her out!"

Her command summoned the security guards, who charged forward like wolves to a carcass.

Hailey rushed to shield me but was roughly shoved to the ground.

Cain barked orders, his voice sharp with authority. "Enough of this nonsense! You come here making baseless accusations—I'll deal with you myself!"

Mrs. Bassett followed, emboldened by the guards surrounding me. She tore the mask off my face, her expression shifting the moment she saw me. Jealousy burned behind her eyes, quick and sharp.

Hailey, held back by security, shouted at the top of her lungs. "Let go of my cousin! Do you have any idea who she is? When my uncle arrives in Oberis, he'll make sure none of you walk away unscathed!"

Mrs. Bassett's hand lashed out, striking Hailey hard across the face. "You little wretch! How dare you speak to me!"

I struggled to protect Hailey but was shoved back, rage surging as I stood my ground. "Mrs. Bassett, isn't the Schindler family known for their humility and grace? And yet here you are—quick to violence, entirely unreasonable. Is this how a well-bred lady behaves?"

She sneered, satisfaction dripping from her tone. "I'm Mrs. Bassett. Who are you to question me? Do you have any manners at all? Perhaps I should educate you on the spot."

With a single, vicious motion, she slapped me hard. My cheek stung and swelled instantly.

From childhood to now, my parents had never so much as scolded me, and yet this imposter had struck me?

Hailey's eyes filled with tears of anger. "Mrs. Bassett, do you even know who you've just hit?"

Mrs. Bassett leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "And if I slashed your lips right now, what would you do? What can you possibly do to me?"

I stepped back, evading her, and raised my voice for all to hear. "You're not Mary. I am Mary Schindler. And I'm calling the police."

The crowd erupted into chaos.

Cain, who had stood back, his face a mask of indifference, suddenly blanched at my words. Grabbing Mrs. Bassett, he tried to quiet her.

I pulled free of the guards and retreated a few steps, my tone icy and firm. "Mr. Bassett, you've known of this marriage agreement with Mary since childhood. Yet three months ago, you married this woman instead, parading her as me. Answer me this—when you registered your marriage, did the certificate bear the name Mary Schindler?"

Cain took another step back, his face pale as snow.

Mrs. Bassett stepped forward to shield him, her voice trembling. "I grew up with my husband! Our marriage has nothing to do with you!"

I let out a sharp laugh, reaching into my bag to pull out my identification. Clear as day, my name, my photo, and my identity were spelled out: Mary Schindler.

"I'll be contacting my lawyer," I said, "to hold you accountable for impersonating me, stealing my identity, and using my name for your schemes to climb the social ladder."

The crowd burst into an uproar.

"No wonder that Mrs. Bassett's handwriting was so terrible! I was thinking—how could a Reindan not know how to write their own name in Reindese?"

"And come to think of it, wasn't it odd that no one from the Schindler family showed up at their wedding? That struck me as strange at the time."

"The whole wedding was so shabby for someone marrying into wealth. I heard it was just a few friends, no grandeur at all. I remember thinking, 'Why would the son of the richest family have such a low-key ceremony?'"

Mrs. Bassett dabbed at her eyes with a silk scarf, her tears glistening as she sobbed pitifully. "The marriage between the Schindler and Bassett families was meant to be dignified and discreet. I didn't want any fanfare—it could've affected my father's reputation. And yet now, it's become fuel for everyone to slander me..." She paused, her voice trembling. "But no matter what I say, none of you will believe me. You'd rather trust the words of this stranger."

She turned her teary gaze toward me, her tone shifting to one of accusation. "Or have you been secretly coveting my husband? Are you trying to ruin my name and drive me out of this family? Young lady, do you even understand what reputation means to a woman?"

Her voice cracked with desperation as she declared, "I see there's no way to clear my name except through death!" With that, she staggered toward the glass door, intending to hurl herself against it.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

"What are you doing, darling? Don't be foolish over some nonsense spouted by a stranger!" Cain cried as he caught her just in time, pulling her into his arms. Mrs. Bassett collapsed against him, weeping uncontrollably, her frail figure trembling.

His face darkened with rage as he barked, "Security! Arrest this woman for spreading rumors and slandering my wife's name! I'll make her regret setting foot here!"

Just as the guards lunged toward me, Hailey broke free from their grip and shielded me with her body. But her defiance was short-lived; two burly guards struck her down with brutal force. Another pinned her to the ground, delivering slap after slap to her face.

"Where did this crazy girl come from?" one guard sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "How dare you cause trouble at the Bassett residence?"

Two more guards moved toward me, but I quickly grabbed a pen from my pocket and pressed its point against my neck.

"Anyone who dares come closer will regret it," I said through gritted teeth. "I'm the real Mary Schindler. My father will be back in three days. If anything happens to me, let's see how you all explain yourselves then!"

The guards hesitated. They glanced nervously at Cain, who stood fuming.

Cain's face turned a menacing shade of red. "If I let you off without punishment, everyone will think the Bassett family is easy to bully. How dare you tarnish my wife's reputation? Get her! If something happens, I'll take full responsibility!"

They surged forward, their strength overwhelming. The pen slipped from my hand as they twisted my arms behind my back. A sharp pain radiated from my wrist, and I felt a warm trickle of blood on my neck where the pen had nicked me.

"You're just a girl—how dare you cause trouble here?" one guard spat, shoving me roughly.

I struggled against them, glaring at Cain. "You lay a finger on me, and my father will make you regret it. I'm not lying—she's the one impersonating me!"

Cain's expression twisted with cruelty. "We'll see if your father can save you in time. Hit her! Let's make her think twice before spreading slander again!"

"No! This is too much—hitting a young girl like this?" someone in the crowd murmured.

"Record it! Post it online! Let everyone see how the Bassett family abuses their power!"

"Shouldn't someone call the police?" another voice chimed in.

"I can't bear to watch. That girl looks so delicate—this is unbearable!"

The guards tightened their grip as one of them slapped me hard across the face. A sharp sting spread over my cheek, and I felt the swelling start immediately.

"Don't hurt her!" Hailey cried, her pale face filled with desperation.

They stuffed something into my mouth to silence me, and I could only let out muffled cries.

Cain's gaze was as cold as ice. "She needs to learn her lesson. Keep hitting her!"

The guards raised their hands again, their palms poised to strike. I braced myself, knowing there was no escape.

But before the blows could land, a thunderous voice cut through the chaos.

"Stop! I wanna see who dares lay a hand on my daughter!"