A Slap to the Face

As I thought about this, my palms involuntarily clenched into fists. All that supposed deep love between husband and wife—it was nothing but a joke!

In my past life, my mom died from severe blood loss after giving birth to me. I had always thought Don blamed her death on me, which was why he adopted Nevaeh—to deliberately torment me.

I trod carefully for years, obeying Don's every word. When he told me not to publicize my identity, I silently endured it.

When he refused to take me to banquets, I dared not utter a word of complaint. Yet what did I get in return?

Nevaeh used the opportunity to impersonate me, flaunting her false status and lording it over me. She even orchestrated my death, stealing everything that rightfully belonged to the Saccone family.

As for Don, it wasn't my mother's death that made him despise me—there was another reason altogether.

Unfortunately, I only discovered the truth when I was on my deathbed. But now that fate had given me a second chance, I wasn't going to let any of them off the hook.

"In that case, let's just call Dad over," I said coldly while glaring at the performing Nevaeh as I held up my phone.

"I've already told him everything. He should be here any minute."

A flicker of unease crossed Nevaeh's face. She knew better than anyone how much Don favored her and loathed me.

She also knew how I respected Don, to the point where even sending him a message felt like walking on eggshells.

And yet now, here I was, daring to call Don to this banquet. I was practically forcing him to choose between me and her.

Nevaeh's smile faltered as she leaned in close to me and whispered, "Mag, this is just a trivial matter.

"Dad is so busy with work. Why bother him over something so insignificant? If you're still upset, can't we talk about this calmly after we get home?"

I stepped closer to her, grabbing her hand tightly. "You keep claiming I'm the fraud, but now that you have the chance to prove it, you're backing down instead?

"Or is it that you're afraid Dad will expose you in front of everyone when he arrives? And he'll throw you out of the house in his fury?"

Nevaeh's expression darkened. She raised her hand to strike me, but I was quicker. I slapped her first, sending her sprawling to the ground.

The next second, a furious voice rang out from the doorway. "Magnolia Saccone! What the hell are you doing?"

Don stormed into the room. His face was livid, and he immediately rushed to help Nevaeh to her feet. "Are you alright, Nev?"

I watched coldly as Don carefully helped Nevaeh to her feet. A faint smile curved my lips as I said, "Dad, you've finally decided to show up.

"Apparently, it takes your precious adopted daughter getting hurt for you to come running. I suppose your biological daughter is worth nothing in your eyes."

Mrs. Scott Senior quickly interjected upon hearing this, "Mr. Lacey, did you hear what she just said? Nev just wanted to retrieve the birthday gift, and this wild child had the audacity to throw her down!

"She even went as far as falsely claiming Nev is adopted and accusing Cam of lying. Now, she's openly proclaiming in front of you that she's your biological daughter!"

Don's face turned slightly pale at her words, but he quickly barked out in anger. "What nonsense! I only have one daughter, and that's Nev. Who does she think she is?

"She's nothing more than someone I took pity on and adopted all these years, yet she dares to act so shamelessly!"

His words immediately solidified Nevaeh's position in the eyes of everyone present. Those who had been quietly observing jumped in eagerly, presenting their "evidence" of my wrongdoing.

"Mr. Lacey, you finally made it! You wouldn't believe how Magnolia humiliated Ms. Nevaeh earlier."

"Exactly! She even dared to lay hands on her in front of everyone!"

"Honestly, someone like her has no place in the Saccone family. She should be thrown out and left to fend for herself!"

Nevaeh, now back on her feet, looked at me with an air of meekness and gently spoke, "Mag, please apologize to everyone. Don't make Dad any angrier.

Ignoring her, I picked up a nearby wine glass, swirling its contents as I asked, "Dad, I'll ask you one last time.

"Are you certain that your biological daughter, the sole heiress of the Saccone family, is Nevaeh and not me?"

My persistence drew mocking laughter from the crowd. Right then, Don puffed out his chest and replied firmly, "Of course! How could I possibly mistake my own daughter?"

Before his words even finished, I hurled the wine glass straight at his forehead, shattering it against him. I then turned and slapped Nevaeh across the face without hesitation.

No one had anticipated me lashing out so suddenly. The entire room froze in stunned silence.

"Magnolia, are you insane?" someone shouted.

"The Saccone family took care of you for so many years, and now you dare to hit your own father?"

At that moment, a cold, aged voice rang out from the doorway. "If he can mistake his own biological daughter for someone else, I'd say she didn't hit him hard enough!"