Crowned in Her Own Name

The entire ballroom erupted. Shock and disbelief were written all over every face.

Winston was the first to snap out of it. He stepped forward, practically shouting.

"Sam, do you even hear yourself? Have you lost your mind?!"

His defense steadied Louise instantly. The panic drained from her face, and she slipped out from behind him, suddenly looking all wounded and aggrieved.

She glared at me, eyes shining with tears.

"Don't listen to him. He's lying! Sam, you think no one can see what you're really after? You couldn't have Winston, so you snapped. You'd even call your own sister fake just to tear me down. You don't care about anything anymore. You're so sick and twisted. It's disgusting!"

Her voice rose, thick with emotion.

With all that thrown at me, and every eye in the room turning strange, I just let out a quiet laugh.

I looked at Winston, his face dark, and asked evenly, "Do you remember when you and Louise were rushed to the hospital when you were eight?"

The question came out of nowhere.

Winston froze, his voice stiff. "I remember. Why are you bringing that up?"

I didn't answer him. My gaze shifted back to Louise, a faint edge of mockery in it.

"That was because Louise is allergic to mango. You snuck her into the kitchen and gave her some they were using for dessert. Her throat swelled up so badly that she almost suffocated. Louise, I just handed you a mango pudding. You ate plenty of it, and nothing happened. Care to explain?"

It clicked for Winston. His grip on her loosened without him even realizing it.

Louise's eyes flickered, then she shot back sharply, "Explain what? It's just an allergy. It's not a problem anymore! You said it yourself, that was when I was eight. After that, I got treated overseas with the latest desensitization therapy. It's been cured for years."

"Wrong again."

I gave a soft, almost amused shake of my head.

"I lied. That didn't happen when you were eight. It was seven. It happened the day after your birthday party. Right, Winston?"

Louise's eyes went wide. She never thought that was my real trap.

She turned instinctively toward Winston.

He didn't answer directly. But in front of everyone, he looked at her, then slowly stepped back, putting a good couple of feet between them.

That said enough.

The room shifted, the air tightening as whispers spread.

Louise faltered for a second, but she still forced herself to hold on.

"That was over ten years ago! Who remembers something like that perfectly? Besides, everything you've said is just guesses and word games. Where's your proof? Without real evidence, all you're doing is trying to trap me with your words."

She took a breath and looked around at the crowd.

Wronged, but refusing to back down, she straightened her spine.

"Fine. Since everyone's doubting me, let's settle this here. I swear to God, I'm the real Louise. Sam, show them your evidence.

"But let me make one thing clear. I knew you'd come after me the second I came back. I came prepared. And if this proves you're lying…

"I won't just make you apologize. I'll have you begging for forgiveness. And you can forget about ever stepping foot in Anderson Corporation again!"

I nodded, satisfied.

"Sure."

I was done wasting time on her anyway, so I agreed without hesitation. I lifted a hand slightly toward my assistant in the crowd.

"Josh, since everyone's waiting, bring it up."