The Fake Ring and the Hidden Heiress

“Well then, clearly I'm not worthy.”

I'd specifically had them transfer an extra five million just to see how far this family's stupidity would go.

They did not disappoint. Hopeless, every last one of them.

Five million might not buy your way into high society, but it could absolutely buy you a life sentence.

Ella laughed even harder, practically giddy with herself.

“You know what, forget the money. Just leave the little bastard behind. Jacob's younger brother is intellectually disabled—can't exactly find a wife, can he? This kid's decent-looking enough. We'll take her home, raise her a few years, and she'll make a perfect child bride!”

That crossed my final line.

I pulled my sobbing daughter into my arms and held her until her crying eased, then let my gaze sweep slowly from Ella to Jacob.

“Ella, this is Kingsport. I'd suggest you think very carefully about consequences before you open your mouth again.”

“Cross the wrong person here, and the consequences will bury you.”

I held on to my last thread of patience. “Don't worry about me walking through your family's door. I won't. We've always been from two different worlds, and after today, we won't cross paths again.”

“As for the redevelopment money you keep going on about, I couldn't care less. This circus ends now.”

Before Ella could get a word out, Jacob's expression changed first.

Disbelief edged into his voice. “What do you mean, 'two different worlds'?”

“I grew up in a village, sure, but I got into college on my own merit. I have a real job. I've never so much as looked at another woman. I never once held your record against you, and now you're going to talk down to me like that?”

“Say what you actually mean.”

What I'd actually meant was to end this relationship with some dignity intact.

I hadn't expected Jacob's pride to flare up so fast, twisting my words into some imagined slight.

If I really had a superiority complex, a man like him wouldn't have gotten within arm's reach of me without me lowering myself first. He could work hard for another hundred years and still never earn the right to speak a single word to me.

I was too tired to even be angry. “What I mean is, we're breaking up. We're not right for each other.”

That was when Jacob actually lost it.

The words came tumbling out. “What part of what Ella said was wrong?”

“Before my brother's accident, he was the most promising kid in the whole village—tall, good-looking, on track for college. And with that five million plus the redevelopment payout? Your daughter's pampered, she's frail—if my brother weren't disabled, where would you even find someone with conditions like that?”

“Roberta, can you stop being so selfish and just think about someone other than yourself for once?”

Twice in a single afternoon, someone had laid claim to my daughter like she was theirs to dispose of. And both times, they'd said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I couldn't have dreamed this up if I'd tried.

I was done talking. I took out my phone right in front of them.

“Notify the Legal Department. Investigate exactly where the redevelopment funds went. If anyone embezzled a single cent, file charges immediately.”

“And send word down: the South Bay Village redevelopment project is permanently shut down.”

Ella doubled over laughing, clutching her stomach, and tugged at Jacob's sleeve.

“Jacob, did you hear that? She's still playing pretend! Go ahead, really shut it down. Oh no, I'm so scared!”

When she'd finally laughed herself out, she turned back to me, face dripping with contempt.

“You cheap little tramp. Who the hell do you think you are, trying to break up with Jacob?”

“Fine, you want to leave? Good. We don't keep trash around anyway. But my brother's a virgin. He's not getting used for free by some secondhand slut like you. Five hundred thousand in damages. One penny short, and you don't walk out of here alive.”

I genuinely had not imagined that hiding my identity to date someone could attract this level of insanity.

I swallowed the fury rising in my chest and gave it one last try.

“Jacob, do you also think I tainted you? That I owe you compensation?”

Ella stepped in front of Jacob, sneering one cold laugh after another.