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Chapter 1
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2024-11-10 12:23:20The grand ballroom of the Caldwell Estate glittered under the glow of crystal chandeliers, and the air was thick with the scent of champagne, designer perfumes, and the murmur of high society.
Everywhere she looked, Sarah Miller saw faces turned not to her, but to the dazzling figure just steps ahead.
Victoria Reed, the girl everyone believed was Eleanor and Richard Caldwell's daughter, moved through the crowd with the ease of someone who knew she belonged.
Her dress, a sleek midnight blue silk that fit her like it was made for her alone, shimmered with every step.
The Caldwell name was attached to her life, to her past, to her future, or at least, it had been until three months ago.
In stark contrast, Sarah stood beside her countryside mother, Mary, in a modest cream colored dress that felt wrong against the opulence surrounding her.
The dress was too simple, too plain, a stark reminder that she’d only just learned to navigate the chaos of a city’s department store, let alone the high fashion world of the Caldwell family. Still, she was here, however out of place she felt.
She was here because, against everything she knew to be true, she was their daughter. Or rather, she was the "other daughter," the one who had lived eighteen years on borrowed time.
Mary’s hand squeezed hers, and Sarah felt the weight of her mother’s words. “You don’t have to be here.”
The ache in Mary’s voice echoed in Sarah’s chest. She knew her mother meant it with every fiber of her being. And yet, she couldn't leave. Not tonight, when she needed to show everyone, even herself, that she was more than just a misplaced pawn in someone else’s life.
“Mom, I’m okay,” Sarah whispered back, though she wasn’t sure if it was true.
Her gaze lingered on Victoria, watching as her “sister” laughed, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder, all the while ignoring Sarah as if she were no more than a shadow.
Sarah’s stomach tightened. She knew what the people around her were thinking, the whispers that trailed through the crowd like smoke,
"Why couldn’t they have just left the poor girl where she was?"
"Why disrupt everyone’s lives for this awkward country girl?"
For the last three months, Sarah had heard every cutting remark, every sideways glance, every word of pity mingled with disdain.
The city, with its lights and high rises, had felt like an alien world, and the Caldwell mansion was no different. It wasn’t home, not to her.
Her heart still yearned for the winding country roads, the little house she’d grown up in, the small joys of her old life.
She looked down at her shoes, scuffed at the toes, and a pang of shame stabbed at her.
She could feel the eyes of the crowd, judging her, comparing her to the flawless socialite only a few feet away.
“Oh, Victoria is so charming, isn’t she?” someone said near her, loud enough for Sarah to hear. “What a shame this… this mix up had to happen. It’s so disruptive.”
Sarah bit the inside of her cheek, the words hitting like stones.
She wanted to disappear, to slip into the shadows of the grand room and pretend she wasn’t there. But she didn’t move. She stood, her chin up, a quiet defiance settling within her. She wouldn’t let them see her break.
Victoria’s laughter rang out again, clear and musical, drawing every eye.
She glanced in Sarah’s direction, her smile briefly tightening. For a split second, Sarah thought she saw something dark pass across her sister’s face, a flicker of anger, or perhaps disdain. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by a smile so dazzling it seemed impossible to question.
“Welcome, everyone!” Victoria’s voice silenced the murmurs, commanding attention as she raised her champagne glass. “Tonight is about celebrating family,” she declared, her gaze flicking to Sarah with a calculated warmth that barely masked the glint in her eye. “Family is everything to us Caldwells, isn’t it?”
A wave of murmured agreement rippled through the crowd.
Sarah’s chest tightened, she could feel the weight of the gazes around her, sizing her up, wondering if she’d somehow turn out to be worthy of the family’s name.
As Victoria continued her speech, Sarah caught sight of Richard and Eleanor Caldwell, watching her from the edge of the room.
Eleanor’s mouth was drawn tight, her expression unreadable, but her eyes were locked on Sarah.
Was it curiosity?
Disappointment?
Sarah couldn’t tell, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
Her adoptive mother’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Sarah, we can leave if this is too much.”
Mary’s hand tightened, grounding her.
They will never truly understand me, Sarah thought, but then she met her mother’s eyes, and she knew that someone here did.
Mary, who had loved her when no one else had, would always understand.
“No, Mom,” Sarah said softly. “I’m staying. I have to.”
Across the room, Victoria’s speech ended, and she handed her glass to a waiter, her eyes cutting through the crowd until they landed on Sarah. With a saccharine smile, she started toward her, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
The chatter in the room dimmed as everyone watched Victoria’s approach.
“Sarah,” Victoria greeted, her voice as smooth as honey. She leaned in, lips curving into a whisper only Sarah could hear. “Enjoying the party? I hope it’s not too much for you.” She paused, her voice turning cool. “I know this is all very new to you.”
Sarah’s pulse quickened, but she forced a calm smile. “Thank you, Victoria. It’s… a lot to take in.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow, the faintest smirk playing on her lips. “Yes, well, some things aren’t meant for everyone to take on, are they?” Her gaze dipped briefly to Sarah’s dress, and Sarah could practically feel the judgment prickling her skin.
Before she could respond, Victoria turned back to the crowd, her charm back on display. But the words had hit their mark, lodging themselves like barbs in Sarah’s mind.
She clenched her fists, the fabric of her dress twisting beneath her fingers as she fought to hold herself steady.
As Victoria swept away, drawing everyone’s attention with her, Sarah let out a shaky breath.
She’d known tonight would be difficult, but she hadn’t expected it to feel this...
Every part of her ached to run, to return to the simple life she knew, but she forced herself to remain still.
The voices of the guests blurred around her, but she could make out fragments, whispers of her name, and the phrase she was coming to dread, the other daughter.
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Few days later, Eleanor Caldwell’s footsteps echoed sharply against the marble floor of her study as she paced, her anger spiraling.She tightened her grip on her phone, unable to tear her eyes from the blaring headlines that flashed accusations, mockery, and speculation with every scroll."Socialite Scandal: Victoria Caldwell’s Secret Fling Caught on Camera!""Perfect Heiress or Perfect Disaster? Victoria Caldwell’s Latest Entanglement Raises Eyebrows"The photographs left little to the imagination, Victoria, in a sleek dress, entwined with a man unmistakably familiar to those who kept tabs on high society romances.Victoria's ex boyfriend, a notorious playboy with an appetite for risk, and an unrepentant grin on his face.They were pictured just outside a bar, oblivious to the camera’s gaze, Victoria’s hand resting on his chest, the implication clear.It was an unforgivable slip, one Eleanor knew could easily incite even the family’s closest allies to pull back, or worse, to whisper
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Eleanor and Richard Caldwell read through the impeccably printed letter resting on the table between them.Gold embossed on ivory paper, it was from the Blake family, the wealthiest and most influential family in the city.Their son, Alexander Blake, though recently confined to a wheelchair, was still hailed as the most eligible bachelor.The letter's formality masked what was truly an opportunity, a marriage proposal that could secure the Caldwells’ reputation, possibly even repair the damage caused by Victoria’s recent scandal.“This could be the answer we’ve been waiting for,” Eleanor murmured, her gaze intense as she scanned the letter for the third time. “It would bring stability to our name. Imagine... the Caldwells united with the Blakes.”Richard, seated across from her, nodded with a sigh of relief.The stress of recent weeks had deepened the lines on his face, and the prospect of finally securing Victoria's future, and the family’s reputation, brought a glimmer of hope to hi
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Eleanor hesitated before answering, the slightest crack in her voice betraying a hint of pity. “It’s a lot to ask of her, Richard. She’s only just begun to adjust here.”“Adjust?” he repeated, sounding almost amused. “This is her adjustment. She was born into this life, Eleanor, and maybe… maybe this is her true calling. We owe her parents nothing but gratitude for raising her well. Now, she must learn to fulfill the role she was meant to play.”In the silence that followed, Sarah’s hands shook, her grip on the doorframe tightening as she felt the sting of tears she refused to let fall.Her life, a transaction, a fix to save a family she’d only recently met.She’d known her place here was tenuous, yet hearing it spoken so coldly laid bare the isolation she’d felt ever since stepping into the Caldwell world.Then, Eleanor’s sigh reached her again, softer now, almost resigned. “And what if Sarah refuses?”“She won’t,” Richard said, his tone dismissive, as if he’d never even considered t
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She answered but remained silent, letting Cecilia break first.“You little snake,” Cecilia hissed. “You recorded me?”“What can I say? I like to be prepared,” Victoria replied, feigning innocence. “You were so quick to abandon me, I had to make sure I had a safety net.”“Delete it. Now.”Victoria chuckled, savoring the desperation in Cecilia’s usually controlled voice. “Why would I do that? You’re the one who tried to pin everything on me. Do you think Alexander won’t find out what you did?”“Victoria,” Cecilia's voice dropped into a dangerous whisper. “If you send that to anyone...”“What? You’ll come after me?” Victoria interrupted, her voice hardening. “Like you tried with Sarah? Or will you run, just like you did with Alexander?”Silence stretched between them.“I want a deal,” Victoria continued. “If you want this recording to stay buried, you better make sure Alexander’s focus stays away. I need to clean this up, and you’re going to help me do it.”Cecilia exhaled sharply. “What
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Sarah stepped into her office, the scent of fresh lavender lingering in the air.The space was just as she had left it, elegant, minimalist, and filled with sketches and gemstone samples neatly arranged on the shelves.It felt both familiar and foreign after the chaos she had been through.Taking a deep breath, she walked around her desk and settled into her chair. Without missing a beat, she picked up the office phone and pressed the intercom button."Get me all the documents that need my attention. I want everything on my desk within the next five minutes," she said, her voice steady and authoritative.The response came immediately. "Right away, ma'am."As she set the receiver down, Raven plopped onto the couch, stretching her legs over the armrest. She looked around, then raised a brow at Sarah. "So… what exactly am I supposed to do here?"Sarah glanced at her with amusement. "Nothing."Raven blinked. "Nothing?"Sarah shrugged. "Just chill, have fun. Maybe go through my snack drawe
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The room fell into a heavy silence after Alexander and Sarah left.The only sounds were the rhythmic beeping of Seb’s heart monitor and the occasional shuffle of footsteps outside the hospital corridor.Mrs. Hargrove, who had been quietly assessing the situation, finally turned toward her son, her sharp gaze filled with both concern and disbelief.“Sebastian,” she said in a voice that was deceptively calm. “What exactly is your connection to that girl?”Seb’s lips curled into an exhausted smirk, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes, something unreadable.He shifted slightly, wincing at the pain, before replying, “That girl? You mean Sarah?”Mrs. Hargrove’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes. Who is she to you?”Seb let out a slow exhale, staring at the ceiling for a moment before finally answering, “She’s Alexander Blake’s wife.”The silence that followed was deafening.Mrs. Hargrove’s breath hitched.Mr. Hargrove’s eyes darkened.“You mean to tell me,” Mr. Hargrove fin
