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"Why can't I? It was mine! Gavin should be mine! She stole my life! I'm back, she should go! I'm your real daughter!"
Mr Wright clutched his chest. I quickly gave him his beta-blockers.
He looked at me, ashamed.
"Amelia, I failed you. Are you... really leaving?"
I lowered my gaze.
"Yes. Thank you for raising me. From now on, the company... will need your full attention."
Isabella scoffed.
"Hmph! We have me now. The Wright fortune is mine. You, an outsider, are done."
Gavin walked over, taking Isabella's hand protectively.
"Exactly, Mr Wright. Have faith in Isabella. She has your genes. Our families combined will surpass even the Hamiltons."
The Hamiltons were corporate royalty. The Paynes were newcomers, hailed as geniuses – Gavin believed it.
Only I saw through him.
Mr Wright saw my resolve and didn't argue.
I moved out, back to my long-missed private estate. No one to fight over rooms. Bliss.
News exploded with "Fake Heiress" vs. "True Heiress" stories. Tabloid gold for days.
Leo called me:
"Amelia, still hiding? The media calls you a fake heiress, kicked out in disgrace."
"The Vances hate the scandal, blaming me, demanding I dump you. Annoying."
I swirled my glass of wine, relaxed.
"No rush. I'm enjoying the peace in my estate. Thanks for the ring stunt, though. Saved my face."
Leo's voice turned shy.
"Ah, no need. Told you, I saw it coming."
I laughed, remembering something.
"Oh, right. Gavin and I are done. Pull our investments from his key projects."
"Wow. Cold. Pull all those anchors? Payne Corp sinks fast."
"People are right. Never cross a woman."
He complained but acted fast.
I was that kind of people whose feelings shifted quickly.
I dated Gavin because our families were close. Mr and Mrs Wright valued status.
It was... fine. Gavin loved grand romantic gestures. Time bred affection.
Then Mr Payne handed him the reins. That's when I saw his incompetence.
He "reformed" instantly – fired veterans, hired rookies, bleeding clients. Payne Corp teetered within a year.
To soften the blow, I funded his company secretly with massive, billion-dollar projects, sending him a top-tier manager.
Within two years, Payne Corp rebounded, stronger.
Gavin credited himself entirely. He never saw the help.
