Chapter 2

The taxi brought me to the seaside. This wasn't a tourist spot, just the wind whipping against the waves, with the occasional car roaring past on the distant road.

I needed a quiet place like this. I took off my high heels and walked barefoot on the sand, the sea breeze carrying its salty taste.

The white wedding dress hem was already soaked with mud and sand, dirty as a rag - just like my foolish belief in love.

I thought I could finally have a home. But at what should have been the happiest moment, he abandoned me.

Forget it. Maybe my coming into this world was a mistake from day one. They should've just left me in that run-down village to fend for myself - probably would've been better off that way.

After all, ignorance is bliss. When you've never seen paradise, you don't realize you're living in hell.

Yes, I'm the Browns' flesh and blood, but in their hearts, Sophia - the changeling they raised as their daughter - will always be more important than me.

Accepting that your parents don't love you is hard for anyone, but not for me.

Before I turned thirteen, I wasn't Emma Brown. Back then, my name was Ella Garcia, and my mom wasn't that polished or elegant, either. She was just the Browns' live-in nanny.

Both babies were born around the same time, and I ended up being the unlucky one in a cruel twist of fate - the real daughter raised in poverty while the imposter lived in luxury. The woman who raised me barely gave me a proper name, probably figuring I wouldn't make it anyway.

I was dumped in that village, growing up surrounded by beatings and abuse. Later, I learned to fight back, to resist, growing wild and untamed.

When my mom showed up in front of me wearing high heels and a beautiful dress, I had my hands wrapped tight around the neck of Tommy, the chubby kid from our neighborhood, demanding he tell me who the bastard was.

She seemed scared by my fierce and savage appearance, quickly stepping back. A man in a sharp suit stepped in and pulled us apart. Seeing my bloodshot eyes, she whispered, asking me to call her "mom".

I can't remember what expression I had at that moment. I only remember feeling dizzy, like I was dreaming. I had seen my own mother before - her crudeness was worlds apart from this woman's elegance. She used to grab my hair and call me a bastard, not gently ask me to call her mom like this.

Later, I discovered I was the true heiress, deliberately switched at birth. Sitting in a luxury car I’d never laid eyes on, I finally left the mountain village I had never been able to escape. Then, in a beautiful villa, I met Sophia in her white dress.

But no one understood better than me what kind of evil thoughts lay beneath that pretty, innocent face.

It doesn't matter anymore. If she wants it so badly, she can have it all, my parents’ love, my brother’s protection, even Gregory’s affection. I don’t want a single piece of it.

The sky gradually darkened. I sat by the shore, lifting my face. The salty wind on my skin had lost its initial stuffiness, carrying a hint of coolness.

Tears still slipped silently down my cheeks. Sophia was right - no matter how hard I tried, with just one word from her, I could be knocked right back to square one.

She bowed her head, tears falling in silence, as my parents, already dressed for the ceremony opted not to show up. With just one look from her, my brother - who was supposed to give me a ride - immediately straightened up and backed off. And with just one phone call, my groom-to-be, who should have been waiting for me at the altar, appeared right by her side.

The tears on my cheeks felt ice-cold. I'm only human - I still can't help but care.

A sound behind me pulled me from my sadness.I spun around, but before I could register anything, a cloth soaked in chemicals was slammed over my nose and mouth. The world spun, and I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke up again, everything was pitch black. My hands and feet were tied tight, and the moment I moved, sharp pain shot through my wrists.

Had I been kidnapped?

Fear coursed through me, freezing every muscle. Kidnappings were either for money or something far worse, so which was this? I forced myself to move cautiously. My eyes must have been covered with cloth - I couldn't see anything. The air was thick with mustiness, and damp wooden floorboards pressed under my hands. The distant crash of waves told me I was still close to the ocean.

I struggled hard, trying to break free from the ropes on my arms. The faint noise alerted my captors. The cold tip of a knife pressed against the artery in my neck. The icy touch of the blade on my skin made my heart tremble.

A man's voice, low and hoarse: "If you want to live, you better not move."

Questions burned on my tongue, but I couldn’t form them, who were they, why had they taken me, and how could I ever escape? But my mouth was sealed tight with tape - I could only make muffled sounds, not even a chance to negotiate.

"She's awake now, but the client hasn't shown up yet. What do we do?" another man said.

The first man seemed to pause for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked right past me. "Watch her. I'm going to make a call. We've delivered the goods - whatever happens next is not our problem."

So I understood - my kidnapping wasn't random. Someone had ordered it.

But who? And why kidnap me? If it were for money, they were going to be disappointed. No matter if it was the Browns or the Lopezes, I doubt either of them valued me much.

A hand suddenly reached over inappropriately, moving slowly down from my face. "Well, well, look at this rich girl - not bad at all. Look at that face, smooth as silk. Damn, I bet the rest of her is just as soft."

A large hand reached into my collar and squeezed my chest hard. It made me want to vomit.

Ignoring the pain in my wrists, I struggled violently. My foot seemed to kick something - the sound of breaking glass. I heard someone rushing in from outside, a dull thud, and the disgusting hand on me suddenly disappeared.

"Keep your damn hands to yourself. We're only here for the money, not to hurt anyone." The newcomer appeared to shove the other man aside, murmuring a warning. Then, faintly through the phone, a familiar voice asked, “What’s wrong?”

"Nothing, just warning my guy not to touch her..." He spoke as he walked back out.

Every drop of blood in my veins turned to ice. I was paralyzed with disbelief. That voice… if I wasn’t imagining it, it was Sophia on the line.

Had Sophia kidnapped me?

Why would she kidnap me? If she just wanted Gregory, hadn't she already won? With one phone call, she could even call away the groom on his wedding day. What more could she want?

"Damn it, look but don't touch - what a waste." THe slammed his heel into my shin, and the searing pain forced me to double over.

Fortunately, he was soon called out, and the room fell quiet. I slowly moved my body.If my memory served me right, the sound of shattering glass had come from nearby. If I could free myself from the ropes, I might stand a chance at escape.When I heard the door open, I had just touched a piece of broken glass. I quickly gripped it in my palm, ignoring the burning pain as it cut my skin, and listened carefully, trying to figure out what was happening.

The sound of high heels approached, step by step, coming toward me. I smelled a familiar perfume - it was Sophia.

A cold knife pressed under my chin before tracing slowly along my skin. Its icy glide across my cheek sent shivers crawling down my spine.

"Emma, I've been waiting so long for this day. I told you I'd give you a big gift today. I hope you'll like it." Her voice was as sweet as an angel's, dripping with honey.

"Gregory said you're already his wife.I was furious when I heard it. I knew him before you did, so why does he treat you like this?” Is it because of this pretty face? Tell me, if I ruin your face, if you're ugly, will he still like you?" Her words were venomous, but they slipped from her lips in the twisted tone.