Chapter 3

Marcus's face darkened immediately, and he looked panicked as he tried to throw the underwear into the nearby swimming pool to destroy it.

Unfortunately, Scarlett beat him to it, taking the underwear and having it examined.

After seeing the obvious stains on it, her face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Her gaze swept over my unremarkable chest, then she backhanded a slap directly across Marcus's face.

"I remember everyone who's been breastfeeding my daughter. It's definitely not her!"

"Who is that bitch?"

Marcus's face was scratched bloody by the ring on Scarlett's hand, but he didn't dare show even a hint of anger.

He could only lock his venomous gaze on me and continue throwing dirt on me.

"Who says people not in their lactation period can't have this scent?"

"I've heard of people with special gifts who secrete milk even when not lactating, and they carry a unique fragrance on their bodies."

"No matter how fussy a child is, they'll stop crying when near such a person and can't help but feel close to them."

"She's so young yet earning a $50,000 salary as a maternity nurse at the Harper house. Maybe it's precisely because she has this exceptional quality."

"The owner of that underwear is her!"

Marcus spoke with such conviction that Scarlett demanded I undress on the spot to prove my innocence.

Naturally I refused, taking out my phone to call the police.

But Marcus snatched my phone and smashed it on the ground.

"If you say it's not you, just have someone verify it! Why keep avoiding it? I think you're guilty!"

I wasn't backing down either.

"I didn't do it, so I didn't do it! Just because of baseless slander, I have to use this humiliating method to prove myself? Well then, I say you're impotent!"

"Why don't you take off your pants and prove it to everyone?"

Marcus was left speechless, but Scarlett's brow furrowed tightly.

She told me, "Marcus would never slander someone randomly. Since you say this underwear isn't yours, then find a way to prove it."

"Or else, go in and have a chat with Shadow."

"I believe facing Shadow's fangs, any liar will become honest."

Scarlett was forcing me.

Either strip to prove my innocence, or enter the cage to be fed to the dog.

The Harper family's bodyguards had already surrounded me.

If I showed any sign of trying to escape, they would immediately swarm forward, capture me and stuff me into the dog cage, making me a wronged soul under that hunting dog's claws.

Taking a deep breath, I made my choice on the spot.

I pulled out my credentials from my carry-on bag.

A graduation certificate from a top German university, a doctorate degree in economics.

And an employment certificate as Chief Securities Analyst for Oceanic International Corporation.

But I didn't take that one out. I didn't want to mix business with personal matters.

Showing the two certificates, I told Scarlett.

"Miss Harper, I studied at university in Germany. Anyone knows how difficult it is to study there."

"I spent six years working myself to the bone to become a finance doctorate from a world-class institution, with a million-dollar annual salary."

"Do you think I would work day and night for a measly $50,000 monthly salary taking care of a crying child and constantly watching out for ill-intentioned men in my employer's household?"

That last sentence was deliberate.

I wanted to tell Scarlett that I looked down on her $50,000 maternity nurse position.

Only a wealthy heiress like her—born into privilege but with an underdeveloped brain—would believe the lies of a man like Marcus who constantly ran his mouth.

Sure enough, Scarlett's gaze at me softened after seeing those two certificates.

No matter how stupid she was, she should understand the value of a German doctorate.

Her sharp gaze fell back on Marcus, but then a woman rushed forward and slapped me three times, screaming.

"Sophia Clark, have you lost your mind! Forging credentials to deceive the wealthy heiress."

"Aren't you afraid of being exposed and dragging our whole family to hell with you!"