bChapter /bb361 /b

“I never admitted anything. I’m just sticking up for my brother,” Genevieve shot back, giving Charlotte a hard look. “Now that he’s sicki, /iiyou’re /iall dolled up and on the prowl for your next rich husband. Charlotte, iyou /ireally are shameless.”

Charlotteughed, unfazed. “Funny. When I wasn’t talking about divorce, you couldn’t wait for me to leave your brother. Now that I’ve brought it up, suddenly I’m a gold–digger? Whatever. Since you’re so fond of talking, better get it all out now–after tonight, you might not have the chance.”

“You-” Genevieve’s retort died as her gazended on Loretta, who was trying to melt into the crowd. This was the Rayburn family’s heiress, yet here she was, hiding like a coward.

Shoving past Charlotte, Genevieve marched straight over. “Miss Rayburn, this is your wee party, after all. Even if the Rayburns didn’t care about the guest list, how could you let a woman like her sneak in just for

the free food and drinks?”

Genevieve didn’t raise her voice, but everyone nearby heard. All eyes

turned to Loretta.

“That’s the Rayburn heiress?”

“No iway/i. She looks nothing like Mrs. Rayburn. Just look at her–so in and ordinary.”

As the whispers grew, Loretta’s face went pale. She’d hoped to keep her head down until the party officially started, wait for Charlotte to make a fool of herself, and then swoop in to y the hero, Only then could she hold onto her spot in the Rayburn family. But now, thanks to Miss Howard, her n was ruined.

When Loretta ignored her, Genevieve pushed into the crowd, grabbed her by the arrn, and hauled her out. “Miss Rayburn, I’m talking to you! Why are you pretending not to hear?”

Loretta’s face turned an ugly shade of green. She shot a desperate look at

b12.39 /b

Charlotte.

Charlotte just swirled her wine, clearly not nning ito /ie to the

rescue. Loretta bit her lip, shook off Genevieve’s hand, and muttered, “I’m

not-”

Genevieve caught her nce in Charlotte’s direction and actuallyughed. “You’re the Rayburn heiress! Why are you looking to her for help? What, is she going to threaten you?”

Charlotte’s voice was cool. “Miss Howard, she’s not my sister. You don’t need to waste your breath trying to persuade her.”

At that moment, Wesley and Judd entered, with Sean following close

behind.

Genevieve turned to Wesley, but her eyes soon drifted to the man at his side. Wait–wasn’t that Charlotte’s infamous ‘lover‘? But with everything happening, she barely registered it. Wesley’s words echoed in her mind: “…She’s not the Rayburn heiress?”

Genevieve spun back to Loretta and demanded, “You’re not the Rayburn daughter?”

Loretta’s eyes dropped, rimmed red, humiliation written all over her face.

As the murmurs grew louder, Sean finally stepped forward. “There’s been a mix–up on my part, a simple misunderstanding. This youngdy–Miss Donovan–is not my daughter.”

Genevieve red at Loretta, teeth clenched. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“Then who’s the real Miss Rayburn?” someone in the crowd asked.

Sean moved to Charlotte’s side. “It’s her. Charlotte is my daughter.”

A hush fell.

“It’s her?”

“Well, that makes sense. She’s got the looks and the presence. That

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Donovan girl can’tpare.”

At the back of the room, a man in a mask stood silently by a cocktail table, long fingers absently tracing the rim of his ss. He seemed indifferent to the scene unfolding, but his ears missed nothing when it came to news about one particr woman.

As everyone digested the fact that Charlotte was the real Rayburn heiress, only he remained unmoved, sipping his wine as if nothing had happened.

Genevieve was more stunned than anyone else. Shocked, disbelieving. “That’s impossible… She’s supposed to be the Sterling family’s

daughter…” Her voice wavered.

Wesley didn’t bother to soften his words. “It doesn’t matter whose daughter she is. Doesn’t give any of you the right to treat her like dirt. All those years she spent suffering, half of it was thanks to your Howard family.” He nced at the stunned crowd, making no effort to spare Genevieve or her family’s pride. “Now she’s the Rayburns‘ beloved daughter. What do you have to say for yourself, Miss Howard?”