Chapter 2

"Claire... the safety deposit box... password is your birthday... call... save your..."

Claire didn't understand what Nina meant. She wanted to ask more, but Nina had already closed her eyes, for the last time.

Before she could react, two bodyguards who had been lurking nearby rushed out and forcibly tried to take Nina's body away.

Years ago, Claire's parents died in a car crash on the very day they were driving to bring her home. It was ruled an accident.

Nina had just turned eighteen. Claire was sixteen.

To prevent their greedy relatives from seizing control of the family fortune, the Harringtons claimed that Nina and Claire had been switched at birth. They named Graham Harrington-the company-raised "son" who had been shadowing the business-as the successor.

From then on, the real heiress, Nina, became a "fraud" in the public eye, while Graham-the true imposter-enjoyed unchecked power under the Harrington name.

And Claire... Claire regretted everything.

If only she'd listened to Nina. If only she'd stepped up, taken control, held that power in her own hands.

If she had, they wouldn't have ended up like this.

Once the pampered darling of Westrington's elite, Claire now looked like a lunatic, kneeling on the floor, desperately trying to keep a lifeless body from being taken away.

One of the bodyguards grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face to the floor. The skin on her delicate cheek scraped against the rough floor, leaving lines of blood.

She gritted her teeth. "Let go of me! I'm Claire Harrington-the Harrington heiress. If you lay a hand on me, I swear you won't last another day in Westrington!"

The guards didn't even flinch. Pain burned across her cheek. She could feel her skin peeling away, her blood soaking into the floor, but no matter how she screamed or threatened, the two men remained unmoved.

Just when she was on the verge of breaking, someone appeared in front of her in a white coat. Gavin.

Claire looked up like she'd just seen her last hope come to life. "Gavin, please-help me. It hurts so much... they're taking Nina's body-"

Her voice caught in her throat.

Standing beside Gavin, looking perfectly composed in a designer dress, was Marissa. She stood so close, leaning sweetly against his arm.

Claire was a mess-covered in blood, her face swollen, her once-glossy hair tangled and matted like straw. Compared to Marissa, she looked like a beggar.

"Claire," Gavin said coolly, "she's gone. There's no point fighting for the dead. Marissa is my real sister. Her adoptive father raised her with everything he had-I can't repay kindness with betrayal. Nina is already gone. Even if she took the blame for everything, no one's going to press the issue. At most, a few people will curse her name. But you... you can still be my wife. I'll treat you just like I always have."

The guards released her shoulders. Pain radiated through her back and down her arms, leaving her dazed.

Twelve years ago, Claire had buried Gavin's sister-Jade Fulton-with her own hands. How could she be back from the dead?

Back then, Claire was still living in that rural village-the one known for human trafficking.

Jade had been fifteen when she was kidnapped and locked inside a pigpen at Claire's foster father's house.

She was clever. The moment Claire brought her food, Jade knew she was the one most likely to help her escape.

She knelt and begged immediately, her voice trembling. "Please, help me. My brother's powerful. Once I get out, he'll come for you. He'll give you money. I swear, just please, let me go."

She handed Claire a small silver locket as proof of her promise. It was only then that Claire gritted her teeth and risked her foster father's wrath to let her go.

Unfortunately, Jade's luck ran out. A landslide hit during her escape. She was crushed before she could make it to the road.

Later, Claire was found and rescued by the Harringtons. That mountain village was raided and wiped out by the police.

She had escaped hell. And over time, she'd buried the memory.

Until she saw a family photo at Gavin's home... and realized the girl she once saved was Gavin's sister.

To spare him the pain, she'd hidden the locket and never told him the truth.

She never imagined someone would dare impersonate Jade Fulton now, after all these years.

Claire's eyes were bloodshot. She raised her hand and slapped Marissa hard across the face.

Then she snapped at Gavin. "Jade is dead. Open your eyes and take a good look-she's nothing but a fraud!"

Marissa didn't flinch. She took the slap without even raising a hand to defend herself.

Gavin, unfazed by Claire's fury, pulled Marissa gently into his arms and scolded her with concern, "You silly thing, why didn't you dodge?"

Then he looked coldly at Claire. "Apologize to her."

Claire's heart twisted painfully. Just last night, Gavin had stroked her hair gently and promised to get off work early so they could have dinner together. Now, it felt like she'd woken up in a different world.

But her pride refused to let her bow her head. Lies always came unraveled-if not now, then eventually. Marissa's act wouldn't last forever.

"I did nothing wrong. I won't apologize." Without waiting for a response, she shoved past Marissa and wheeled Nina's body away by herself.

She hadn't gone far before Marissa's sweet voice rang out behind her. "Don't be mad, Gavin. She's just emotional. I'll kneel and beg her for forgiveness. Don't let this hurt your relationship."

Gavin's tone turned icy. "She's the one in the wrong. You have nothing to apologize for. As long as I'm here, I won't let you suffer another day of injustice. You've endured so much over the years, and she never once tried to understand you. So why should I show her any mercy?"