Chapter 2

"Mom, I believe Aurelia didn't hurt me on purpose. Once she marries into the Anders family, she might stop making things difficult for me," Kendra said, tears streaming down her face.

But her thoughts betrayed her.

"Stupid old woman. Why is she not making a move? Hurry up and get rid of her!"

My mother, as though gripped by a poisonous snake, suddenly shoved Kendra away, her voice sharp. "What... What did you just say?"

She was trembling with anger, her face darkening.

She pointed a shaking finger at Kendra, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if she were about to faint.

Kendra collapsed to the floor, her face full of feigned innocence. "Mom, what... what's wrong with you?"

Her expression was desperate, but her thoughts revealed her true nature.

"What the hell is this crazy bitch doing? Has she gone mad and about to die? Oh, that's great. Those two loyal dogs will be much easier to control."

My mother's chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot from the fury boiling inside her.

Before I could enjoy more of the drama, someone suddenly knocked on the door, and a servant informed us it was time to go to the banquet hall.

Leonard stepped forward, helping my mother catch her breath.

My father pointed to a set of high-end formal wear on the sofa bed, his tone reluctant. "Change into this dress and join us in the banquet hall. Remember, your name is Aurelia Miles."

Only then did I realize I was still wearing my black fishing outfit.

Once they left, two beautiful ladies came in to help me. One quickly touched up my makeup while the other helped me into the formal gown.

After the preparations, I was escorted into the banquet hall, where my parents and brother were already mingling.

On the way here, from Kendra's thoughts, I learned that this banquet was supposedly my engagement to the son of the richest man in Priemon.

However, the heir had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident five years ago, unable to walk.

Originally, Kendra had been the one promised to him, but she refused to marry a cripple. Not to mention that her husband's mother, Regina Anders, had a notorious reputation for being ruthless.

This heir wasn't a first-time groom; he had two previous fiancées, both of whom had mysteriously died not long after their engagements.

Kendra always suspected that Regina was behind their untimely deaths.

So, rather than marry a cripple, Kendra had chosen to expose her identity and find me to take her place.

Coincidentally, my mission was here in Priemon. Since she had found me, I had to play along.

The banquet hall was packed with Priemon's most influential figures.

Now, I needed to find the man with a wolf-head tattoo on his wrist.

I casually picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant's tray, staying alert as I moved gracefully through the crowd, my eyes scanning every corner.

Suddenly, a group of exquisitely dressed women, whose cheap airs were unmistakable, closed in on me, sizing me up with condescending glances.

"You must be Kendra's sister, Aurelia?"

The ringleader was one of Kendra's closest friends, Monty.

"Kendra told us that when she found you, you were fishing in the river."

Monty laughed out loud, a high-pitched giggle escaping her lips as she dramatically covered her mouth with her hand.

"You still smell like fish! So foul! You've completely ruined this beautiful banquet."

The others immediately stepped back, sneering as they fanned their noses and exaggeratedly sniffed the air.

Kendra, hiding among the crowd, watched from a distance, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

As they spoke, I was herded away, pushed into a secluded corner of the hall.