Chapter 3

Atticus froze for a second, then let out a hearty laugh. "What are you talking about? I'm a law-abiding, upstanding citizen."

Sophia studied his roguish expression. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't picture him as upstanding.

"Don't just stand there. Come on, let's go home." Atticus slung an arm around her shoulders, practically dragging her toward the car.

Even after she slid into the passenger seat, Sophia felt dazed. For a moment, she half-wondered if she'd been kidnapped.

Then Atticus dropped a folder onto her lap.

She opened it to find a paternity test report, complete with photos. One of them was definitely Atticus.

She relaxed. A little.

"Can I ask you something?" Sophia ventured quietly.

"Shoot."

"I heard our family is... kind of broke."

Atticus thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, pretty broke. Last time I asked Dad to buy me an island, he said we didn't have the money."

What?

An island?

"I also heard Grandpa's health isn't great," Sophia tried again.

"Oh, that? He insisted on taking the family's mega-yacht out and crashed it into an iceberg. Spent a month in the hospital."

They owned a mega-yacht?

"What else did you hear?" Atticus glanced sideways at her.

"N-nothing." Sophia clamped her mouth shut. If she kept asking, she'd probably find out her family owned half of Silverlight City.

After nearly an hour's drive, they finally arrived at the Douglas estate.

The moment Sophia stepped out of the car, the mansion—no, the palace—took her breath away.

Six stories of opulent architecture stretched before her, grand and imposing. The front lawn seemed to go on forever.

While she stood there, stunned, a group of suited men rushed forward and formed two perfectly straight lines in front of her.

She jumped.

"This is my long-lost sister," Atticus announced, gesturing lazily at the men. "Say hello."

In unison, their voices rang out: "Welcome home, Miss Douglas!"

Sophia winced. This was so awkward.

Maybe she'd been ignored at the Russell house for so long that this sudden warmth felt foreign. Overwhelming, even.

She opened her mouth, stumbling over her words. "L-let's just... go inside."

The second Sophia crossed the threshold, a stunningly dressed woman rushed forward and pulled her into a crushing hug. "Sweetheart! You're finally home! I've missed you so much!"

Sophia could barely breathe. When the woman finally released her, she took a good look.

The woman was gorgeous—elegant, poised, and she looked no older than thirty.

Sophia turned to Atticus. "I have a sister too?"

Before Atticus could answer, the woman laughed, her voice bright and musical. "What a sweet thing to say! I'm your mother, darling. Elysia Seymour."

"What? You're my mom? You look so young!"

"Oh, sweetheart, I already love you!" Elysia hugged her again, then took her hand. "Your name is Sophia Russell, right? Well, not anymore. From today on, you're Sophia Douglas—the most precious princess of the Douglas family."

Right. If she was back with her real parents, of course her last name would change.

"Thank you, Mom!" Sophia found herself warming to this beautiful, vibrant woman instantly.

"Come on, sweetie. Your father's upstairs getting your room ready. Let's go see him."

Sophia followed her mother up the grand staircase and through a door at the far end of the hall.

A tidal wave of pink hit her the moment it opened.

Lace. Bows. Ruffles. The entire room looked like a Disney princess suite brought to life.

In the middle of it all stood a man in a tailored suit, carefully arranging stuffed animals on the bed. He looked hilariously out of place.

This had to be her father, Wesley Douglas.

"Dad..." Sophia said tentatively, hoping she wouldn't embarrass herself again.

Wesley turned around. When he saw her, he smiled—warm and natural. "You're home. I wasn't sure if you'd like this style."

His tone was so casual, so fatherly, that Sophia's nerves melted away.

"I love it." She nodded eagerly. Her parents had designed this themselves. Even if it were a shack, she'd love it.

Wesley reached into his pocket and pulled out a bank card. "I wasn't sure what to get you as a welcome-home gift, so here's twenty million dollars. Use it however you like. If you need more, just ask."

Sophia's fingers trembled as she took the card. She'd never seen this much money in her life. "Isn't this... too much?"

"Not at all." Elysia ruffled her hair affectionately. "We're throwing you a debut party soon. Use this to buy yourself some beautiful dresses."

What kind of dresses cost twenty million dollars?

Still, she couldn't refuse their kindness. She tucked the card away carefully.

Thinking back to her previous life—how she'd lived worse than a dog at the Russell house—Sophia's eyes began to sting.

Thank God she'd been reborn. Otherwise, she never would have known she could be this happy.

A month later, news spread like wildfire through Silverlight City: the Douglas family, the most powerful clan in the city, had found their long-lost daughter.

Everyone was dying to know who the lucky girl was.

The Douglases sent invitations to every prominent family in the city, inviting them to the debut party for their beloved daughter.

The Russells received one too.

"Mom, does this suit look okay?" Victor adjusted his new jacket in front of the mirror.

Amara nodded approvingly. "You look very handsome. I'm sure you'll catch Ms. Douglas's eye."

Victor frowned. "Should I bring her a gift? You know, to make a good impression?"

"Good idea. I have some jewelry in my room. Pick something, get it wrapped nicely, and give it to her."

"Wait—used jewelry? Won't that look bad?"

"It'll be fine. Jewelry doesn't look old. Besides, your father's company is having some financial trouble right now. We can't afford to buy anything new and expensive. If we go too cheap, the Douglases won't even notice."

Amara sighed at the thought of the Russell family's current situation.

Victor patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, Mom. Once I'm the Douglas family's son-in-law, Dad's company will be fine."

"Yes. Yes, that's right." Amara's face brightened.

Neither of them could have imagined that the Douglas heiress they were so eager to impress was the same girl they'd thrown out without a second thought.

The day of the debut party arrived.

The Russells dressed to the nines and drove to the Douglas estate. Brielle wore her most expensive gown.

If Victor's target was Ms. Douglas, then Brielle's was the Douglas heir. She had complete confidence in her looks.

When they pulled up to the estate, their jaws dropped.

The palatial mansion loomed before them, framed by ornate iron gates and a winding tree-lined driveway. Manicured lawns stretched endlessly. The cream-colored main building gleamed in the sunlight, its floor-to-ceiling windows glinting softly. A fountain bubbled in the side courtyard.

Everything screamed old money and impeccable taste.

"This is how rich people should live," Victor murmured, already imagining himself living here.

As he admired the estate, a familiar figure flitted past in his peripheral vision. Before he could get a good look, the person disappeared through the front doors.

Victor rubbed his eyes.

That silhouette... why did it look so much like Sophia?