My Daughter Is Actually the Fake Heiress

: A Good Idea

2.

Anya Morley's pale lips were pressed into a thin line, her cold, hostile gaze fixed on me.

"What are you looking at? This is my mom!"

Jasmine Quinn snapped viciously, like a small beast guarding its food.

The scorn in Anya Morley's eyes deepened.

She seemed to know who really called the shots in this family, so she kept her eyes fixed on me without saying a word.

Quentin Quinn sneered. "Trying to extort money, are you? Name your price. I'll pay it."

"You. Are. So. Shameless."

I heard Anya Morley enunciate every word, and I sized her up, a bit surprised.

'So young, yet so sharp-tongued, huh?'

'I actually admired her spirit.'

Then my pot-bellied husband's face flushed with anger, and he began to shout, "Butler, are you dead?! Get her out of here this instant!"

The butler gave me a troubled look. "Madam, what are your instructions...?"

"She stays."

I beckoned to Anya Morley. "Come here. Keep me company for a bit, and tell me how you've been."

"Mom, are you out of your mind?!"

I saw the defiance and disdain in Anya Morley's eyes, but before she could voice her scorn, Jasmine Quinn was the first to fly off the handle, starting to wail, "If you let her stay, then what does that make me?!"

"Throw her out this instant!"

Quentin Quinn chimed in, his face twisted into a snarl, looking for all the world like he was ready for a fight.

I found it almost laughable and raised a meaningful eyebrow. "Quentin, I just want her to stay and chat. Why are you getting so worked up?"

Quentin Quinn's expression stiffened.

I smiled at him. "Or could it be that Anya Morley is telling the truth, and it's hitting a little too close to home?"

"That's nonsense!"

He retorted, his voice tight. He shot a dark look at Anya Morley and me, but at least he stopped shrieking and shouting like a buffoon.

Jasmine Quinn wiped away her tears, sobbing her heart out. "Mom, how could you believe an outsider over me?"

"I'm your real daughter..."

"If you doubt me, you can get a DNA test!"

"Mm."

I nodded. "An excellent idea. We'll do it."

At that, the wailing Jasmine Quinn froze in place, staring at me in disbelief.

On her face, which bore no resemblance to me but looked a good deal like Quentin Quinn, a trace of venom and cruelty far beyond her years began to show.

It was Anya Morley, however, who stared at me in shock. "Celeste Sterling, are you insane?"