After Driving Away the Fake Heiress, The Family Went Bankrupt

Isabella was still laughing with the card in her hand, drifting closer to dangle it in my face.

"Thanks, sis. I'll make sure to enjoy being a Connolly heiress on your behalf."

Laugh while you can. I didn't even bother to look up, just kept watching the stock price fall.

Isabella hooked her arm through Margaret's and turned, a sudden flush spreading across her cheeks, eyes full of barely-contained excitement.

"Mom, I came back today to see you and Dad, but I also have the most incredible news."

She glanced toward the bedroom door. The half-open door swung wide from outside, and Corey Harrison walked in with his arms full of red roses.

He was my fiancé. We'd been together for three years, and our wedding was two months away.

The moment I saw him, something in me unclenched. He was here to help.

I took a step forward without thinking.

He walked straight past me and pressed the roses into Isabella's arms. Ninety-nine of them, the exact same count he'd used when he confessed to me three years ago.

My feet stopped.

Corey slipped his arm around Isabella's waist and glanced back at me with an expression I'd never seen before.

"The Harrisons don't marry imposters. Ivy, our engagement is over as of today."

Margaret didn't say a word in my defense. She stepped forward beaming and clasped Corey's hands. "Corey, you always knew what was right. Only Isabella, real Connolly blood, is worthy of the Harrison name. That fake could never measure up."

The words hit me like a fist to the chest.

Isabella leaned into Corey's side, tilting her head in my direction, then slowly pulled back the collar of her blouse. Below her collarbone was a pattern of red marks, plain as day.

"Don't be mad I didn't warn you ahead of time." Her voice was honeyed. "Last night at the Harrison estate, Corey and I, well... you know how it goes, right?"

She raised her wrist and slowly turned it for me to see.

An emerald ring caught the light, throwing green flickers across the room. I knew that ring. It was the Harrison family heirloom, passed down as a betrothal gift through generations.

On Christmas Eve last year, Corey had gone down on one knee in the snow-covered garden and slipped it onto my finger himself. He said he'd only ever give it to one person.

Now it was on Isabella's hand, and it felt like a slap across my face.

"What's wrong? Does it hurt to look?" Isabella pushed her wrist closer. "Can't help it. Turns out being the real deal has its perks. Corey knows quality when he sees it."

Corey pulled Isabella back against him, chin resting on her shoulder, looking at me like he was inspecting something he'd already discarded.

"Ivy, you took twenty years that belonged to Isabella. Time to give it back." He tipped his chin up. "Get on your knees and bow to her. Call it penance. And when you're done, use the back door. Don't dirty the front entrance on your way out."

I stared at the two of them, back and forth, and bit down hard enough that I tasted blood, metallic and sharp, spreading across my tongue.

My phone buzzed again. I glanced down.

Breaking News: Connolly Group's core real estate portfolio in full collapse. Losses exceed two billion dollars. Federal regulators have launched an investigation.

I locked the screen and looked up. I was done talking.