7
we
adopted you. See for yourself if that’s you at three years old.”
Leo watched the video without blinking, his face turning ashen.
“So… I really am the adopted one..
Jessica burst into hysterical sobs. I thought I was going to be a rich man’s wife! I thought I was set for life! Why? Why is Leo a fake? Why do I have deadbeat parents and a mentally hand-
icapped brother, while Camille gets to be the real, only daughter?!”
She laughed and cried at the same time, completely breaking down. The
è guests and bridesmaids all shrank back, afraid of my father’s wrath.
My father’s voice was cold as steel “Leo, as of today, you are to get out of our house and never return.”
Beads of sweat rolled down Leo’s face.
“Dad, Mom, you’re just angry at me for what I did today, right? You’re lying to teach me a lesson, aren’t you?” He ran a hand through his hair, his face a mess of tears and confusion. “Dad, please don’t be angry. I’ll apologize to Camille right now. I’ll never treat her like that again. You can punish me however you want, just… just don’t lie to me!”
Leo stumbled over to me and dropped to his knees with a thud. He started slapping his own face, crying.
“Camille, I was wrong! I’m so sorry! Please, hit me, scream at me, I’ll never do it again!”
I leaned against my mother, my voice calm. “No, Leo. You’re not sorry because you realize you were wrong. You’re sor
lose your status as the young master, that you’ll lose this life of luxury.”
My words hit their mark. He gritted his teeth, then stood up and yanked Jessica over.
“Apologize to my sister! This was all your stupid idea!” he snarled. “You were jealo ed her for stealing the jewelry!”
because you’re afraid Mom and Dad will kick you out, that you’ll
of her houses, jealous of her life, so you came up with this stupid obedience test! You deliberately fram-
“You said it would force her to sign the houses over to me, with your name on them too! And that even if it didn’t work, we would at least ruin her reputation! Or get a huge payout from
her!”
“This was all your idea!”
The live chat exploded.
“So the ungrateful brat teamed up with a wicked witch to frame the real daughter! Unbelievable!”
“Miss Vaughn is so kind! Even knowing he wasn’t her real brother, she still wanted her parents to give him shares in the company! Hey, Miss Vaughn, are you looking for another brother? I promise to be good!”
“Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn are the real victims here. They worked so hard to raise that boy, and he repays them by assaulting their real daughter!”
My mother, seeing my condition, was ready to leave. I knew that as soon as we got home, the reckoning would begin.
In that moment, Leo’s love–sickness was miraculously cured. Seeing Jessica just standing there, he kicked her sharply behind the knee.
“Kneel and apologize to my sister!”
Hessica’s eyes were red with unshed tears. She bit her lip and choked out an apology. “Camille… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have schemed against you.”
I said nothing. My mother stepped forward and, with all her strength, slapped Jessica across the face.
A bright red handprint instantly appeared on her cheek.
“When you and Leo decided to get married, I didn’t stand
your way,” my mother said, her voice trembling with rage. “The dowry, the wedding banquet, we gave you ed! Our family gave you the respect and dignity you deserved!”
verything you want.
“And in return, you plotted to steal my daughter’s properties! I bought those houses for her! If you want a house, you should go home and ask your own mother to buy you one!”
Jessica didn’t dare argue
back. Shohishal
I kept whispering, “I’m sorry, Mom, Camille, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Don’t you dare call me Mom!” my mother snapped. “From this day forward, the Vaughn family is cutting all ties with Leo!”
Now Leo was truly terrified. He rushed forward. “No, Dad, Mom, don’t kick me out! I can take care of you when you’re old!”
My father waved I a hand, and the bodyguards moved in, dragging Leo away.
do
“Who the hell
you think you are, teaming up with outsiders to bully Camille? We’ll be placing a formal notice in the papers! Don’t you ever come near our family again!”
My father scanned the room. The bridesmaids all lowered their heads and tried to disappear into the background.
He left them with one final, chilling promise.
“We are not finished with this.”
I followed my parents out. As I turned, I caught a glimpse of Leo’s face. It was a mask of pure hatred, as if he were already plotting his revenge.
