Chapter 3

“Having fun talking about me?”

Preston and Sloane both turn around.

I point at the staff behind me.

“They heard everything you just said.”

“Want me to go to the Hayes house and tell Preston’s mother exactly how you talk about me behind my back?”

Sloane goes pale.

Preston glares at me.

“Don’t make things up.”

“Sloane and I are just friends. You’re the one making it dirty.”

But with several staff members watching him, he doesn’t stay long. He turns and leaves.

Sloane looks annoyed, but she points to the limited-edition designer bag on the table.

“You misunderstood. Preston only came to bring me this.”

She runs her fingers over the gold clasp, looking pleased with herself.

“I doubt you saw things like this very often with the DeLucas.”

When I don’t react, she touches the diamond earring at her ear.

“This is from Preston too.”

“Now that you live with the Morelands, you should learn to dress properly.”

I glance at the designer bag, then at the diamonds on her ears.

“Keep them.”

I look back at her.

“What I wear is none of your business. Worry about yourself.”

For the next few days, Sloane keeps her distance.

Then the Morelands’ charity gala approaches.

Catherine announces that she will formally introduce me as the daughter they finally found.

The night before the gala, the housekeeper brings a deep red gown to my room.

I check it and quickly find that the stitching at the waist has been cut halfway through from the inside.

A few steps in that dress, and it will split open in front of everyone.

I don’t touch the damaged stitching. I leave it exactly as I found it.

Sloane walks in.

“Does it fit? Mom picked it herself.”

I put the gown back down.

“Perfectly. Tell her thank you.”

Sloane smiles and leaves.

I quietly follow her.

When she gets back to her room, she tells a young maid,

“Tomorrow during the gala, put this in Tessa’s room.”

She hands her a diamond bracelet.

I recognize it.

It’s Catherine’s Moreland family heirloom.

The maid goes pale.

“Miss Sloane, I can’t. If they find out, I’ll lose my job.”

Sloane looks at her coldly.

“Who’s paying for your mother’s treatment?”

The maid freezes.

“I can keep paying, or I can stop.”

Tears fill the maid’s eyes.

“Please don’t stop. I’ll do it.”

I hear every word from outside.

The gown was only the first step.

The bracelet is the second.

This time, I don’t confront Sloane.

I let her finish what she started.

Then I quietly tell two staff members I trust to keep their eyes on her and the maid until tomorrow night.

The next evening, luxury cars fill the drive outside the Moreland mansion.

Guests pour into the ballroom.

I walk in wearing a sharp black tactical-style outfit.

The noisy room goes quiet.

Catherine sees me and immediately frowns.

“Tessa, why are you dressed like that?”

“Do you know what kind of event this is?”

Whispers spread around us.

“That’s the Morelands’ missing daughter?”

“I heard she was raised by the DeLucas.”

“No wonder she has no manners.”

Sloane quickly walks over.

“Mom, don’t blame her.”

“Tessa’s never been to a gala like this before. Of course she doesn’t know what to wear.”

I let her finish.

Then I pull away from her and gesture to one of the staff.

“Bring me the gown that was delivered to my room last night.”

A moment later, the dress is placed in my hands.

I grab the waist and pull.

The cut lining and damaged stitching are exposed in front of everyone.