Chapter 103
Chapter 1
I was born with something like a curse.
Anyone who makes false accusations about me eventually sees those accusations turn back on them.
In high school, a male classmate spread rumors that I had been involved in illegal activities-that I’d been “passed around” by older men.
That very same day, he disappeared. By nightfall, he was the one being dragged into scandals involving those same men, his reputation completely destroyed.
In college, when I started dating, my boyfriend’s so-called childhood friend accused me of being the woman in an explicit video circulating online.
By that evening, every copy of the video had mysteriously changed.
The face in it was hers.
After that, no one dared whisper another word about me.
Not until I was brought back to my biological family-the Ashcrofts, one of the city’s old-money families.
At the gates of the Ashcroft estate, Celeste Whitmore-the girl who had been raised as the Ashcrofts’ daughter in my place-looped her arm through mine with practiced warmth, smiling sweetly as if we were
close.
“Arden,” she said softly, loud enough for everyone to hear, “I heard you got pregnant while you were away… and that the child’s father was a convicted criminal p>
Her eyes sparkled with concern.
“Since you’re finally home, why didn’t you bring the child with you? We’re family. No one here would judge
you p>
The air went still. Dad’s face darkened instantly.
“You have a child?” he demanded. “An illegitimate one p>
He stared at me as if I were a stranger.
“Arden Ashcroft! How could you disgrace the family like this p>
As he spoke, I caught the faint upward curve of Celeste’s lips-gone in a blink, replaced by shock. She
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covered her mouth as if she’d said too much.
“Oh my God… you never told Dad p>
“I’m so sorry, Arden. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken p>
She turned to him, her voice trembling with sincerity.
“Please don’t be angry with her. She was alone for so many years… she must have had her reasons p>
Then she faced me again, eyes soft, almost earnest.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you keep this quiet. I won’t let anyone talk behind your back p>
Before I could respond, a woman rushed out of the house and pulled me into her arms.
“Arden! My daughter-“she sobbed. “I finally found you p>
She clutched me tightly, crying until she finally noticed the unnatural silence around us.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, confused. “Why is everyone staring at Arden? What were you talking about p>
Celeste spoke quickly, flashing Dad a meaningful look.
“It’s nothing, Mom. Arden’s been traveling all day-she must be exhausted. Let’s go inside p>
She looked every bit like someone trying to shield me from embarrassment.
I spoke calmly.
“She said I gave birth to a criminal’s child. That I got pregnant under false circumstances p>
Margaret’s face drained of color. “What? Arden, you p>
“I didn’t,” I said evenly. “She’s lying p>
“Arden!” Celeste cried, her voice rising sharply as tears spilled over.
“I was only trying to help. How could you say I’m making things up p>
She staggered back half a step, choking on her sobs.
“Do you really want me to say everything out loud? All those… disgraceful things p>
She bit her lip, glancing hesitantly at Richard and Margaret.
“What else is there?” Dad snapped, veins standing out on his forehead.
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“Celeste, say it. Everything. Right now p>
She looked as if she were gathering courage, then bowed deeply toward me.
“I’m sorry, Arden. I know you wanted to hide it. But our parents deserve the truth p>
She exhaled slowly.
“When I heard Arden was coming home, I tried to learn what she liked… what she had been through p>
“And by accident, I found out p>
She hesitated, as if the words hurt to say.
“That since high school… Arden has been involved in illegal escorting p>
The room erupted.
Dad shook with rage.
“You disgraceful creature! How could the Ashcroft family produce someone like you p>
Mom stumbled backward, staring at me as if she didn’t recognize me at all.
I merely smiled faintly at Celeste.
“Are you sure that’s true?” I asked. “You know false accusations have consequences p>
“Of course it’s true! You p>
She didn’t finish.
She suddenly gagged violently, bending forward as if struck by nausea.
For a split second, everyone froze.
Her stomach… looked slightly swollen.
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