Chapter 3

The car eventually pulled up to a high-end private club.

Only then did Arthur speak up. "Amber is a thoughtful girl. She was worried you'd be depressed, so she threw a Welcome Home party for you. She invited all your friends and the Carters. She wanted to give you a surprise."

I struggled, trying to get out of the car. I knew Amber had nothing but malicious intentions.

But Brandon pressed his hand firmly on my arm, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"Amber did this out of the goodness of her heart. If you don't show up, wouldn't you be throwing her kindness back in her face?"

"Besides, with your condition, going to a party and socializing will help clear your mind!"

Defeated, I let them wheel me into the banquet hall.

They called it a "Welcome Home party" for me, but Amber was dressed in a stunning, custom white tulle gown, her makeup flawless.

Meanwhile, my face was heavily bandaged, and the exposed cuts looked like hideous, jagged centipedes. My presence only served to make her look like a pristine princess.

Amber was chatting with Logan's grandmother, making the old lady laugh so hard her wrinkles creased.

But the moment Mrs. Carter saw me, her expression soured. "Why did you bring this cursed girl here? After what happened to her, if she actually married into our family, the Carters would become the laughingstock of the city!"

She held Amber’s hand, looking more pleased by the second. "Our Amber is so sweet and sensible. Unlike some people who still have the nerve to show their faces after being ruined. Don't bring your bad luck near us."

My "loving" father and brother stood by, doing nothing but catering to Amber. Neither of them said a single word to defend me.

Brandon merely whispered, "Mrs. Carter is just blunt. Don't take it to heart."

The other guests began to point and whisper at me. "That's her, Logan's original fiancée. They said she was the only true heiress of the Mitchell family, but she's not even comparable to the illegitimate daughter now."

"An heiress? She’s just damaged goods. Didn't you see the news? If I were her, I'd have killed myself out of shame instead of showing my face here."

I forced back the tears burning in my eyes.

I looked over at Amber. She was locked in a passionate embrace with Logan, my former fiancé. They looked like a match made in heaven.

Arthur and Brandon looked on with proud, beaming smiles.

Though Amber was born out of wedlock, she now had everything.

Looking at my broken, scarred body, the contrast between us was like heaven and earth.

Is this what you all wanted to see? I thought bitterly.

I told them I wasn't feeling well and wanted to rest.

Amber walked over gracefully, putting on her fake, angelic act. "It's my fault for not being considerate enough. Chloe, you haven't recovered yet, you must be exhausted. Let me take you to the VIP lounge."

She wheeled me into a private room.

The moment the door closed behind us, her sweet smile vanished, replaced by a venomous sneer.

"How does it feel to be despised by everyone? Do you still think you're the proud, shining jewel of the Mitchell family?"

"You're nothing but damaged goods that everyone looks down on now!"

"Logan is madly in love with me, and Mrs. Carter prefers me over you."

I glared at her. "So what? I'm still better than a cheap, scheming mistress's daughter."

She froze for a second, then smirked triumphantly. "Oh, you don't know? To make sure my social status matches Logan's, Dad is going to officially announce my identity in two days. He's transferring his and Brandon's shares to me."

"Once Dad and Brandon publicly claim me, do you think anyone will care that I was born out of wedlock?"

She laughed hysterically.

I couldn't believe my ears. Before my mother died, Arthur had promised her that he would never remarry and that I would be his only daughter.

But now, he was going to legitimize Amber. How could he face my mother? How could he do this to me?

Amber leaned in close, whispering in my ear, "Chloe, I actually prepared another surprise for you."

Just then, a man walked into the room carrying a glass of water.

The moment I saw his face, my pupils dilated. My entire body began to shake violently, and my lungs felt like they were being squeezed shut.