Chapter 1 Uninvited

Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the Davenier family's grand ballroom. Laughter floated through the air-hollow, rehearsed-mingling with the scent of expensive perfume and sweet wine. The capital's elite had gathered, not just for a party, but to welcome back the Davenier family's long-lost daughter.

And yet, it was through the back entrance that another girl slipped in unnoticed.

No one greeted her.

Not the butler. Not the maid who looked up, caught her gaze, and quickly looked away. And certainly not the woman waiting at the bottom of the grand staircase: Kendall Bond, draped in white silk and a fresh layer of betrayal.

"Well, well," Kendall said, lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I wondered if you'd show."

Esther didn't slow. "Move."

Kendall stepped in her path, one hand resting gracefully on the marble banister. "I just thought I'd say it face-to-face. We're not friends anymore."

Esther stopped-not out of shock, but at how well-rehearsed it sounded, as if Kendall had practiced the line in front of a mirror, over and over again.

"Do you remember who pulled you out when your family was drowning in debt?" Esther said quietly. "Who kept your name from landing in bankruptcy court?"

"I remember," Kendall replied, tone cool. "But gratitude doesn't change the fact that you're not the real daughter of this family."

Silence stretched between them.

Then Esther smiled-small, sharp.

"Return everything I ever gave you. Then we're even."

Kendall blinked. "You're serious?"

"I'm more than serious. I'm recording. If I don't get my stuff back, I'll post it online" Esther lifted her phone, the screen lit. "Try me."

The color drained from Kendall's face.

Esther brushed past her without another word. This so-called best friend-who had once promised to stand by her forever-was quick to switch sides the moment the real Davenier daughter came home. How predictable. How pathetic.

In the ballroom, the celebration was in full swing. At the center, Alan Davenier himself stood with a glass raised high, his hand resting lightly on Chloe's shoulder.

"Today, after twenty-four years, my daughter has returned. The Davenier family is whole again."

Thunderous applause followed.

Esther stood at the edge of the room like a ghost, unnoticed. She picked up a glass of champagne and held it, untouched, letting the room's warmth press against her skin without sinking in.

"Is that... her?"

"Esther Davenier? She actually came?"

"I heard she's not even legally a Davenier anymore. Why hasn't she changed her surname yet?"

"This is just the beginning. Now that they've revealed the true daughter, what's next-taking back Esther's fiancé?"

"What fiancé? The Westvale family would never stoop that low. They've already moved on. Evander has two kids now, doesn't he? Probably found someone better."

"Still, now that the Daveniers have a beautiful daughter again, they'll latch on to the first noble name they can find."

"Poor Esther. Her birth parents threw her away, the Westvale family rejected her, and now even the Daveniers want nothing to do with her."

"The Westvales? Marry an orphan with discarded blood? Please. They wouldn't risk polluting their bloodline."

"Shh!"

The gossip cut off all at once when someone from the next table hissed, "Shh!"

"Wait... is that Levi? Oh my god, Evander's assistant! What's he doing at a banquet like this?"

"No way, that's really Levi. Isn't Evander totally against the Davenier family? Why would he send him here?"

People craned their necks for a better look.

For a family like the Daveniers-barely holding on to their noble title-having someone like Levi show up was huge. Most of the guests tonight were small-time nobles and social climbers trying to stay relevant. Levi showing up was like Evander Westvale himself walking through the door. Exciting... and terrifying.

"Is he just here to show face or...?"

Before anyone could finish the thought, Alan stepped forward with Chloe by his side, smiling like he'd just won the lottery.

"Assistant Levi, thank you so much for coming to my daughter's welcome banquet," Alan said warmly. "Your arrival truly honors us. We're doubly blessed-"

"I'm not here for any Miss Davenier's banquet," Levi cut in, polite but firm.

Alan blinked, caught off guard.

Levi continued, calm as ever, "And I'm not here to meet Miss Davenier, either."

He looked at Chloe for half a second, then turned back to Alan.

"This event has nothing to do with Mr. Westvale," he said clearly. "We don't care about the Davenier family's celebrations."

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone heard it loud and clear: the Westvale family wanted no part of this.

The moment those words dropped, the whole ballroom fell into dead silence.

Alan looked like someone had just slapped him across the face, then thrown him to the floor and stepped on him for good measure. Esther, standing closest, caught the exact moment his face went from red... to green... to ghostly pale. She had to bite her lip to stop from laughing.

Sweet.

Everyone always said Evander Westvale was cold, emotionless-like some human-shaped calculator who only cared about profits. But who would've guessed his assistant could be this entertaining?

Whatever trace of sadness Esther had been feeling earlier disappeared. She almost burst out laughing. And she wasn't the only one. A few people nearby were already snickering under their breath, while a couple of social climbers-clearly from the lowest rungs-started quietly pulling out their phones to record the moment.

Then suddenly-

"How could I have nothing to do with Mr. Westvale?"

Just as Esther was enjoying the show, someone nudged her from behind. She turned-and saw Chloe.

Dressed in a sleek, white satin gown that clung to her like it was custom-made (because it probably was), Chloe stepped forward with a soft little smirk.

"Our families-the Daveniers and the Westvales-have always had a close relationship," she said, loud enough for the room to hear. "There's even a marriage agreement between us. I'm the rightful daughter of the Davenier family-and his fiancée."

She gave Levi a pointed look, all sugar and venom.

"So for Assistant Levi to say something like that... is he trying to make the Westvale family look ungrateful?"

***