Chapter 2

She grabbed a fistful of my hair, forcing me to look up at her. "You’ve got some nerve, don’t you? You know Mr. Johnson has me by his side, but you still come here to seduce him? You must have a death wish!"

Behind her, a woman, Anya Mason, chimed in, "Exactly! Don’t you get it? Our Marion is going to be Mrs. Johnson one day. Who do you think you are?"

The whole group glared at me like they were ready to tear me apart.

So, Joanna had been right. This woman wasn’t just a secretary; she was out to win over my dad.

Knowing it wouldn’t help to fight back right now, I swallowed my anger and tried to explain calmly, “I’m not Mr. Johnson’s mistress. I’m his daughter.”

Marion let out a sharp laugh, as if I’d told a joke. “You expect me to believe that? You look way too much like me to be his daughter. Couldn’t even come up with a better lie?”

The truth was that I looked just like my mom and could practically her double. Marion, on the other hand, only had a strong resemblance.

Another woman behind her, Rachel Lawrence, pulled on her sleeve. “Marion, I think Mr. Johnson does have a daughter. She might be telling the truth.”

Marion scoffed. “A daughter? Who doesn’t know Mr. Johnson’s single? All these years, have any of you seen him with a kid?”

Due to my illness, I’d spent most of my life in hospitals, and with Dad’s busy schedule, he rarely had time to visit.

Only his previous secretaries knew I existed, since they handled a lot of my arrangements.

However, Marion was different. She’d been hired while I was in the hospital, and when I got out recently, Dad took time off to be with me.

We hadn’t met yet.

“Marion, what if she got surgery to look like you? Maybe she saw how valued you were by Mr. Johnson.”

Anya came beside her, staring at me with disdain. “She just wants to replace you!”

Marion’s expression darkened, and in a flash, she kicked me hard in the stomach, knocking me over, wheelchair and all.

“A dirty trick for a dirty girl,” she hissed. “Just like her filthy schemes.”

The recent heart surgery I’d had left me fragile; even the smallest shock could put me at risk.

Clutching my chest, I struggled to breathe as a stabbing pain shot through me. My vision blurred.

Marion stormed toward me, her voice dripping with fury. “So that’s it? Faking illness to get Mr. Johnson’s attention? Because of you, I haven’t seen him in a week!”

She slapped me across the face again and again. “I’ll make sure you know what happens to girls who try to steal Mr. Johnson!”

The stinging pain on my cheeks was overwhelming, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, making me feel faint.

Finally, she seemed to tire out and paused.

I spit out the blood, my voice weak. “Aren’t you worried Mr. Johnson will find out?”

She sneered, “You think you can threaten me with his name? Pathetic.

“Let me tell you something. I could kill you right here, and Mr. Johnson wouldn’t lift a finger against me.”

She squinted, looking me over with cold, assessing eyes. “Actually, maybe I’m not done with you yet. I think you need a bit more color!”

Turning to the two women behind her, she snapped, “Get me a knife. I’m going to ruin this little vixen’s face.”

Gripping my chin hard, she smirked. “Thought you’d seduce him with this face? Let’s see how you’ll do that after I’m done with it!”

I struggled to move away, but with my heart condition, my legs felt completely useless.

Marion laughed, watching me try to crawl back.

“You really think a cripple like you can compete with me?” Then, turning to the bodyguards behind her, she ordered, “Hold her down!”

Two men moved in, their grip like iron as they held my shoulders and arms, pinning me in place. Anya and Rachel advanced with knives in hand.

Fear gripped me, and I screamed, “I really am Mr. Johnson’s daughter! Ask him if you don’t believe me!”

Marion’s eyes were colder than ever. “You think I’m stupid enough to fall for that?”