Crown Stolen, Crown Reclaimed

Right before the call connected, Violet finally cracked. She lunged forward and grabbed my hand, panic flashing across her face.

Everyone around us froze, watching closely. Someone even whispered that she was scared.

I looked at her with a faint, knowing smile.

Violet quickly pulled out her phone and shoved a screenshot of a schedule in my face.

"Mr. Neel's in a critical meeting right now," she snapped. "If you mess up this deal, can you take responsibility for it?"

Jim snatched the phone and turned it toward the crowd, raising his voice like he was putting on a show.

"This kind of private schedule isn't something just anyone can get," he said. "Who else but family would have access? You say you're the real heiress? Then prove it! Stop pretending, you shameless fake!"

Everyone lit up as if they had just been handed proof, excitement buzzing through the room.

I just watched, calm and silent.

This was exactly what I had been pushing for. I wanted Violet to show her hand.

Jim had it wrong. Not only could the family get their hands on the itinerary. The only other person who could…was the driver.

My father's driver was a distant relative from his hometown. He had the same last name, Neel. Violet was his daughter. That driver used to take me to school every day before I left the country.

No wonder Violet looked familiar the moment I saw her.

Of course, no one else here knew any of that. To them, it looked like I had just been exposed.

The crowd shifted completely to Violet's side.

"She's got some nerve, showing up at Neel Corporation with a lie like that! I bet she's been pretending to be the heiress outside, too."

"We had to go through three rounds of interviews to get in here. She shows up out of nowhere and lands a manager role? Please! She probably slept her way in through Piers."

"You're a fraud, a nepotism hire! Get out of Neel Corporation!"

Someone even splashed a cup of hot coffee at me.

The heat hit my skin instantly, sharp enough to make me flinch. It dripped down from my hair, soaking into my white blouse, the fabric clinging just enough to show the faint outline of what was underneath.

I turned toward my office, planning to grab a spare outfit.

Jim moved faster. He rushed in ahead of me and started throwing my things out into the hallway.

Most of it, I didn't care about.

Except for the antique ornament my father had bought at auction for millions. It hit the ground at my feet and shattered into pieces.

I slowly lifted my eyes to Jim. "You'd better be ready to answer for that. That's not something you can afford to replace."

Jim kicked the fragments aside like they were trash, then stepped closer, jabbing a finger into my chest again and again.

"A fake like you thinks she can act tough in front of me? You've already been kicked out of Neel Corporation by Violet. This office is mine now! I can deal with whatever trash is in here. That includes you."

He stressed the word "trash", his tone dripping with contempt.

"But before you get out, you're paying for my bag. One million."

A wave of sharp breaths swept through the crowd. Even Violet frowned slightly.

"Jim, forget it," she said. "If you like it that much, I'll buy you another one."

"Violet, you're being too nice," he shot back. "She'll just think we're easy to push around. That bag was your anniversary gift to me. It's brand new, limited edition, and made of rare leather. I barely even use it. What she did wasn't just throwing a bag; she was stepping all over what we have, trying to humiliate me. You're really okay with that?"

As he spoke, his expression turned strangely dramatic, almost wounded. It was enough to make my stomach turn.

And somehow, Violet bought it.

She hesitated for a second, then nodded, signaling security to shut the floor doors, as if she was afraid I would run.

I glanced at the obviously fake bag on the floor.

Calling it cheap would be generous.

A million dollars? I wouldn't even pay a hundred for it.