Chapter 5
Calix Quinn strode into the ballroom with his entourage, commanding attention without effort.
In his arms was an adorable little girl who immediately started scanning the room urgently, as if searching for
someone.
“Daddy, put me down! I need to find Mom. She said she’d be here.” The child squirmed impatiently.
The notoriously stern businessman knelt down, gently setting her on the floor with a tenderness that surprised everyone, affectionately ruffling her hair.
A bodyguard instantly positioned himself behind the little girl, vigilant as a hawk.
The room buzzed with realization–this must be Karina Quinn, Calix’s fiercely protected daughter who’d been kept out of the public eye for four years.
And from what she’d just said, the enigmatic Mrs. Quinn was somewhere in this very room.
Business–minded guests were already discreetly texting assistants to arrange gifts. Everyone in their circles knew
that Mrs. Quinn was Calix’s one weakness–impress her, and doors would magically open.
Sylvia pushed through the crowd, grabbing a handful of chocolates from a nearby table before approaching with her most dazzling smile. “Hi there, sweetie! Aren’t you just precious? I’m Sylvia. Would you like some candy?”
Karina studied her with surprising intensity before her face scrunched up in disapproval. “Mom says never take food from strangers. Besides, you smile like those people on TV who try to kidnap kids. I don’t like you.”
Publicly humiliated, Sylvia seethed internally while maintaining her frozen smile. Before she could respond, Ronan quickly pulled her back.
He turned to Calix, his tone automatically shifting to one of deference. “Uncle, glad you could make it. I see my little
cousin is here too, but where’s Aunt?”
“She arrived earlier,” Calix replied with raised eyebrows. “You haven’t seen her?”
Ronan looked completely lost. What was that supposed to mean?
How could he be expected to recognize an aunt he’d never met?
While he stood there confused, Karina’s clear voice cut through his thoughts. “Mom said she was coming to her old
friend’s wedding. Don’t you recognize your own friend? I have a better memory than you do, and I’m just a kid! I saw you once in our family album and knew right away you were my cousin who pretended to be dead.”
Ronan’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“If you didn’t really die, why did you lie for five whole years? Even I know lying is wrong, and I’m only four. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
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Chapter 5
“Since it’s your wedding, can you help me find my mom?”
Before Ronan could process this, Sylvia quickly jumped in. “Sweetie, we haven’t seen your mom, but there’s a nasty woman here pretending to be her.”
“She’s wearing a fake copy of your mom’s special ring, trying to steal your daddy away.”
Calix’s expression instantly hardened to granite.
Emboldened by his reaction, Sylvia pressed on. “Uncle Calix, you wouldn’t believe how pathetic this woman is. She showed up wearing a knockoff of your wife’s ring. I warned her that you’re devoted to your wife, but she actually claimed she’s married to you. Can you imagine?”
Ronan frowned, something about Sylvia’s words triggering alarm bells. He sensed she was crossing a dangerous
line.
He moved to stop her, but Calix’s lips curved into a smile–one so cold it made everyone within sight shiver.
“Tell me exactly who this woman is.” His voice was deceptively soft.
“She’s Ronan’s ex–fiancée, my sister, Anya.”
The moment those words left Sylvia’s mouth, everyone in Calix’s entourage tensed visibly.
Completely oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, Sylvia continued proudly, “Ronan has amnesia now and only loves me. She crashed our wedding to make a scene. She claims to love Ronan, but wears a copy of your wedding ring–obviously trying to get your attention. Talk about desperate!”
“She may be my sister, but she’s always been manipulative and jealous. She tormented me growing up–I put up with all that. But I couldn’t stay silent when she impersonated your beloved wife.”
“Don’t worry though, we’ve already taken care of her. Ronan cut off her finger with that fake ring. I threw it out the window where it’ll never be found. If you want to punish her further, go ahead–don’t hold back on my account.”
“Who do you think you are to deserve any consideration from Mr. Quinn?” Calix’s assistant immediately moved in front of him while security whisked Karina away from the unfolding scene.
Calix’s expression was apocalyptic. Sylvia, completely misreading the situation, thought his rage was directed at me and prepared to pile on more accusations.
Finally sensing impending disaster, Ronan grabbed her arm and hissed, “Shut the hell up!”
The mysterious Mrs. Quinn had arrived early. The only people here were those Ronan had personally invited.
The only exception was me.
And then there was Karina’s face–bearing a striking resemblance to my own.
A terrible, unthinkable suspicion began forming in Ronan’s mind.
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Chapter 5
His chest tightened as if an invisible force was crushing him, growing heavier with each passing second.
No, it couldn’t possibly be…
