Chapter 1

"Look! It's the engagement party between the Shaws and the Clarkes!"

On an early summer night in Magnoria, a giant LED screen beneath the pedestrian bridge livestreamed the engagement party that people around the world were watching.

Crowds of passersby stopped and gathered to watch.

At the engagement party, Vincent Shaw, now the head of Magnoria's most powerful family and known in business as its apex predator, wore a black tuxedo. With close-cropped hair and sharp, chiseled features, he looked striking and carried himself with a quiet, regal air that turned heads.

Beside him stood Juliana Clarke in a white, diamond-studded gown. She was the beloved heiress of Magnoria's other powerhouse family, the Clarkes, and his fiancee for the evening.

They were the perfect match, the kind of couple that made everyone jealous.

Meanwhile, just past the crowd by a fortune-teller's booth, Amelia Clarke and her son, Oliver Clarke, were crouched on the curb under the giant screen in matching custom robes.

Oliver wore a grubby yellow duck-shaped backpack, his round little face scrunched up. "Amy, turns out Juliana's fiance is my dad! He's your guy!"

The longer he stewed, the madder he got. He jabbed a finger at Vincent on the big screen, his voice catching. "I busted my ass trying to find my dad, and before I could even meet him, he's already picked a stepmom for me!

"Amy, Juliana stole your life and won't let us come back. Now, she's coming for your guy. Are you really gonna take that?"

Amelia never imagined it would get this dramatic. She was Oliver's mother, but she had never known who his father was.

A week ago, her senior, Roger Walter, finally sent her the paternity test results. They showed that Oliver's father was Vincent Shaw, the newly named head of the Shaw family, Magnoria's most powerful family.

Amelia had come down from the mountains to bring Oliver to Vincent, only to learn about Vincent and Juliana's engagement.

Amelia and Juliana were switched at birth. Amelia had grown up thinking she was an orphan and was raised in a monastery by her mentor.

She had only recently learned she was the Clarkes' long-lost heiress. For years, Juliana had been living in her spot as the family's golden child.

Worse, Amelia's birth parents seemed spellbound. They planned to bring her home but wouldn't send Juliana away.

Amelia's mentor told her the birth switch wasn't an accident. Someone had swapped Amelia's and Juliana's fates on purpose.

Unless Amelia could reverse the switch, she would end up carrying Juliana's lifetime of bad luck. The whole Clarke family would get pulled into it and never know peace. No one would come out okay.

Amelia's mentor had told her that once she came down the mountain, she should wait at the base. Her parents would find her and take her home.

So, she figured that after she brought Oliver to Vincent, she could stay with the Clarkes, find a way to undo the swap, and drive off the misfortune.

The mother and son never imagined they'd spend seven days at the foot of the mountain with no one showing up. Then, Amelia learned that Vincent and Juliana were engaged.

Everything felt unreal, like something out of a soap opera. Even so, she wasn't about to let Juliana become Oliver's stepmother.

Seeing Oliver in tears, Amelia softened. She smoothed his hair with a hand. "Don't be upset, Ollie. Your dad and his fiancee won't last."

His eyes lit up. "Really?"

She nodded, dead serious. "Yeah. Juliana isn't right for him."

Oliver's mood brightened right up. "That's awesome! Amy, help me win Daddy back so that the three of us can stay together for good, okay?"

Amelia hesitated.

The three of them?

She had decided to go back to the Clarkes and help Oliver find Vincent, but starting a family wasn't on the table. She still had to save herself and the whole Clarke family, and it was going to be a long haul.

Either way, no matter who Oliver chose to live with, she'd still be his mother. She'd respect his choice.

Worried it would all go sideways again, Amelia knew she couldn't wait around. She took Oliver's small, chubby hand. "Looks like no one's picking us up. Why don't we head straight to the engagement party?"

Oliver practically bounced, his eyes shining. "I know which hotel it's at. Amy, hurry, or Daddy's gonna spend the night with that witch!"

…

Half an hour later, Amelia and Oliver arrived at the entrance, already drenched in sweat. They were about to walk into the ballroom when a security guard stopped them.

"What do you think you're doing here? No beggars allowed. Keep it moving. Don't crash the engagement party!"

"Beggars?"

Amelia looked down at her threadbare robes, then at Oliver, who was dusty from head to toe. She realized the guard had mistaken them for beggars.

"You've got it wrong. I'm not a beggar. I'm here to find my father!"

Oliver, ever the scene-stealer, piped up, "Me too. I'm here to find my father!"

The security guard gave them a slow, judgmental once-over, as if he had just heard the punch line. "What was that?"

"My father's name is James Clarke!" Amelia said.

"My father's name is Vincent Shaw!" Oliver said, doing his best to mimic her.

Reporters clustered outside the ultraluxe hotel, and the whole group burst out laughing when they heard it.

"Whoa, whoa. So anybody can just barge in and claim they're family now? A beggar and a mini-beggar. They're nuts!"

"It's Mr. Shaw's big day, and they picked today to make a scene."

"Mr. Shaw's 30 this year. He's a total germaphobe and has never been seen with women. No way he had a secret fling and has a kid this grown."

"Then again, I heard the Clarkes have a missing daughter... You don't think that con artist posing as a seer is her, do you?"

"Yeah, I heard that too. They say the Clarkes' lost daughter grew up in the mountains and has been running scams since she was a kid. She's a deadbeat and supposedly had a kid out of wedlock. Sounds like her to me!"

"Once someone goes bad, it eats them from the inside. Look, she's even teaching that little bastard to call Vincent 'Dad.' Vincent's basically going to be her brother-in-law. She just got back, and she's already trying to steal her sister's fiance!"

"Ugh. Has she even looked in a mirror? Any guy would know who to pick!"

Amelia and Oliver's arrival drew a crowd. Jeers and taunts broke out, and contemptuous stares came at them from all sides.

Chapter 2

Oliver couldn't help it and snapped at the crowd, "Knock it off! Amy and I aren't beggars. You have no idea how incredible she is. If I tell you all the things she can do, you'd freak out!"

Someone snorted and jeered, "Kid's barely grown and already running his mouth."

Oliver wanted to smash their faces in, but Amelia caught his arm.

She scanned the area, and a heavy hush fell over everyone. A chill slid down their spines.

"What are you staring at? Did we say anything that isn't true? Like Vincent would ever pick you. Even Mr. Clarke would regret ever calling you his daughter if he saw you like this!"

Amelia took in the woman, Paula Feeley, a loudmouth racking up bad karma. Trouble was already coming for her. Amelia didn't even need to lift a finger. The universe would handle it.

She smirked and offered a friendly warning, "You're about to have a terrible night!"

"Are you cursing me? You're a jinx!" Paula lunged at Amelia, but she tripped and went down face-first. Blood poured down her face, and half her teeth were gone. She snapped and roared, "Amelia Clarke!"

The commotion drew the entire Clarke family's attention. Word spread that two beggars had shown up to reunite with their fathers.

James Clarke, the head of the Clarke family, hurried out with his wife, Miranda Lowe. Right behind them were Vincent and Juliana, the stars of tonight.

Miranda had been sick with worry about Amelia. Even though Amelia's face was so filthy that she was nearly unrecognizable, Miranda recognized her at once.

Ever elegant, Miranda hitched the skirt of her rhinestone-studded couture gown and hurried to Amelia. Her red-rimmed eyes made her look heartbreakingly beautiful. She pulled Amelia into a tight hug. "Amelia? Is that you? What took you so long?"

The sudden hug caught Amelia off guard, but it warmed her a little.

Amelia was wrapped in Miranda's arms, taking in the faint scent of her perfume. Her heart clenched as she said, "My mentor told me you'd send someone to meet me at the base of the mountain. I waited for seven days, and no one came. So I..."

Miranda's heart broke at that. Her eyes were filled with tears as she turned to James, frowning. "Honey, didn't you say you had arranged for someone to pick up Amelia? You said she'd be back a few days later because she was busy with something. How did they botch it and leave her waiting this long?"

Amelia's tattered clothes told the story. She'd been having a rough time, scrounging for meals and taking a beating from the elements.

James chimed in, "Yeah, that was incompetent of them! I'll make sure they're punished!"

A month ago, the Clarkes learned they had brought the wrong daughter home. What they didn't expect was that Amelia had grown up in a monastery, had never attended school, and had a child who was born out of wedlock.

Either way, her reputation wasn't exactly stellar.

In Magnoria, the Clarkes ranked second only to the Shaws among the top four families. James and Miranda lived glamorous lives, and they took pride in their sons and in Juliana, the daughter they had mistakenly claimed.

James was embarrassed when Amelia, his daughter with a bad reputation, turned up out of nowhere, but he still agreed to Miranda's wish to bring her home. Miranda was the love of his life, after all.

With Juliana and Vincent's engagement coming up, James knew half the city would be watching. Some would be jealous while others would be ready to sneer. He couldn't risk a misstep, so he decided to wait until it was over before bringing Amelia and Oliver in.

He planned to coach Amelia on high-society etiquette first so that she wouldn't embarrass herself, so he lied to Miranda. He didn't expect Amelia to show up on her own.

Seeing Amelia in a thin, threadbare robe, so small and frail, Miranda felt a wave of guilt. "This is on me. I'm sorry, Amelia. I put you through this. But you're home now, and I won't let any of you be treated unfairly again."

When she was done, she caught sight of a little figure out of the corner of her eye. "Is this Oliver? He's adorable! Come here. I need a hug and some kisses!"

She hugged him so hard that he could barely breathe, and he coughed twice. "Grandma, you're gonna kill me! Help!"

Miranda's heart melted right then and there.

James frowned at Miranda, who didn't seem to mind that the dirt on Oliver was smudging the evening gown he'd had custom-made overseas for her.

With his jaw set tight, he shut it down. "Alright, alright, stop standing around. It's Vincent and Juliana's big day. The spotlight should be on them. Amelia, you and Oliver must be beat from the trip. I'll have someone drive you both home so that you can rest."

Amelia read the room and knew right away that James wasn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.

Miranda nipped it in the bud. "Why send them home? It's a happy day!"

She took Amelia's hand with a gentle, affectionate squeeze. "Come on, Amelia. Let me introduce you. This is your sister, Juliana. And this is your future brother-in-law, Vincent Shaw. Say hello.

"From now on, we're family. Juliana, Vincent, since Amelia just got here, I'm counting on you two to look out for her."

Miranda was already paving the way for Amelia.

Vincent inclined his head. He was stone-faced, and his bearing was regal and almost untouchable. That cold, dangerous charisma had every woman in the room spellbound.

In a luxurious princess gown and crystal heels, Juliana looked elegant from head to toe, a stark contrast to Amelia, who was grimy and disheveled.

Juliana had just learned she wasn't James and Miranda's biological daughter, but the Clarkes had doted on her since she was little.

James and Miranda couldn't bear the thought of Juliana leaving the Clarke family, so they told everyone she was their daughter and that they had just welcomed their other daughter, Amelia, home.

Juliana was also about to marry Vincent, the most powerful and most eligible man in the country. The contrast between her and Amelia was impossible to miss.

But Juliana didn't judge Amelia. With wet eyes, she smiled and opened her arms. "Amy, welcome home. From now on, what's mine is yours."

Before Juliana could reach her, Amelia snapped up her fortune-teller sign, raising it between them like a barrier.

Amelia leveled her with an icy stare. "No thanks. Save the phony kindness."

The moment the words left her mouth, a ripple of shock swept through the crowd.

James, already unhappy with Amelia, went stone-faced as anger simmered beneath him. "Amelia, you don't talk to Juliana like that! That's rude. Apologize to Juliana!"

Juliana looked stunned and hurt. "Amelia... I mean it. I'm glad you're back!"

"That's right, Amelia," Miranda chimed in.

Amelia was her daughter by blood, but Juliana was the one she had actually raised. She genuinely wanted them to get along. She hadn't expected Amelia to be so hostile to Juliana.

Miranda took Amelia's hand, her voice gentle as she tried to smooth things over. "Maybe you've misunderstood Juliana. She's always been sweet and level-headed, a devoted daughter. Everyone in our circle adores her.

"When she heard you were coming back, she offered to pick you up herself. She even cleared out the room she grew up in so that you could have it!"

Amelia bit her lip, meeting Miranda's hopeful gaze. She didn't want to upset her or put her on the spot, but dragging this out would only make things worse. She had to stop today's engagement party.

Chapter 3

Amelia played it cool, hoping Miranda would get the hint. "I didn't misunderstand. We just met today, but I knew the second I saw Juliana. The version of Juliana you're seeing is an act, and it's exactly what she wants you to buy into. The truth is, she never wanted me back."

When she finished, Amelia turned to Juliana and studied her face. On the surface, Juliana looked like she was born into money and status. But a closer look at her and her birth chart said otherwise. Trouble followed her, and there was a dark streak in her.

Someone like Juliana could steal Amelia's fate—even her life—but at her core, she was still a walking jinx. If left unchecked, the Clarkes would be drained of every last bit of their luck.

Amelia was grateful she'd gotten here in time.

Tears streamed down Juliana's cheeks within seconds. She looked wounded. "Amelia, you've misunderstood me! We're family. I'm getting married soon, and after the wedding, I won't be around to keep Mom and Dad company. I couldn't be happier you're here!"

Amelia had no patience for phonies. She smirked. "You know better than anyone if it's a misunderstanding or not."

She held Juliana's gaze, calm and unflinching. "In the seven days we waited at the base of the mountain, Ollie fell into the river, got lost, and was kidnapped. We lived through three attempts on our lives, and even the cash we brought for the trip was stolen."

"Amelia… You think I hired someone to do that?" Juliana asked, trying to look innocent. Disbelief was plain on her face.

Amelia held her gaze. "Wasn't it you?"

She stared hard, and Juliana's confidence wavered.

Juliana bit her lip, masking her panic. "It wasn't me... Maybe it was an accident. Or maybe you've made too many enemies."

Amelia smiled without a word and turned to Vincent, Oliver's father. It was her first time meeting him.

She had no idea how they ended up with a kid, but she still gave him a heads-up. "Mr. Shaw, whether you believe me or not, you shouldn't marry her."

Vincent pressed his lips together, idly turning the antique watch around his wrist. "Give me a reason."

At that, Oliver, peeking out from behind Amelia, finally let out all that pent-up longing for Vincent.

Oliver lunged and latched onto Vincent's leg. "Daddy, I'm the reason! I finally found you, Daddy! Please don't marry her. Please don't give me a stepmom!"

The temperature seemed to dip.

Vincent's brows knitted together, and his expression went cold. He was a total germaphobe. His jaw tightened, and his lips were pressed into a thin line. He spat out each word, "Let go!"

Oliver clung to Vincent's leg and didn't budge. He tipped his grubby little face up, smearing dirt across Vincent's crisp, perfectly pressed, and insanely expensive dress pants.

"I'm not letting go! I'm not!"

He looked up at Vincent, eyes bright with hope. "Daddy! I really am your son! I'm not lying!"

Everyone thought Vincent was about to throw Oliver out. Instead, Vincent grabbed him by the collar and hauled him into a hug.

"You little punk! What makes you think you can go around calling people 'Daddy'?"

Oliver clung to Vincent, feeling his strength and choking back tears. "Daddy, you're my dad. I'm not lying! If you don't believe me, I have the paternity test results right here!"

Gasps rippled through the room. To everyone watching, it looked like Amelia had come to blow up the engagement party and blackmail Vincent. She had even come armed with fake paternity test results.

With everyone watching, Oliver pulled a paternity test report from his yellow duck-shaped backpack.

Vincent motioned to his secretary, David Logan, to bring it over.

David skimmed it, and his eyes went wide. "Mr. Shaw, the report lists a 99% biological match. It's from the World Medical Union (WMU)."

At that, Vincent's expression hardened. Juliana clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms, tears gathering in her eyes.

She gave Amelia a wounded look, as if something had just clicked. Then, she said, "So, you set this up to smear me because you don't want Vincent to marry me?

"This is my engagement party. I was glad you came back, but the minute you walked in, you dragged my name through the mud and waved a fake paternity test around, trying to make Oliver call Vincent 'Dad!'"

She was so upset that she could barely hold it together, and her shoulders shook as tears fell.

"You're being naive! I don't even know what I've done to make you refuse to see me as your sister. Do you honestly think the Shaws would let you marry into their family after you ruined me, especially with Oliver in the picture?

"You're just putting Mom and Dad in an impossible spot and making the Clarkes the laughingstock of the city!"

Juliana cast herself as the victim and staked out the moral high ground. A few teary lines later, everyone was ready to pile on Amelia.

"Exactly! Mr. Clarke, it looks like the outside world has turned Amelia rotten. Get rid of that shabby fortune-teller sign she's waving around. If word gets out that the Clarkes' heiress is running cons, your family will be the laughingstock of the town!"

"Yeah, she's so manipulative, and her big mouth keeps stirring up trouble. It's even rubbing off on her kid!"

"Juliana's a gem! Meanwhile, Amelia won't stop running her mouth about Juliana being out to get her. Is she paranoid or what?"

"So, Amelia's whole plan is to steal Juliana's fiance? Does she really think being back with the Clarkes suddenly bumps her into high society?"

Everyone was piling on Amelia like they wanted to bury her in curses.

Paula, who had just gone toe-to-toe with Amelia and face-planted, was fuming. "Yeah, she literally just cursed me and said I'm in for a terrible night! Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, she's a walking disaster—a total jinx!

"You should send her back up the mountain. Bring a daughter like that home, and it's only a matter of time before she brings your entire family trouble!"

At that, everyone recoiled, eyeing Amelia like she was contagious.

The Clarkes had the worst luck. They had brought Amelia home on what was supposed to be a happy day.

The Clarkes' fourth son, Melvin Clarke, saw everything go off the rails the second Amelia walked in and lost it. "Mom, Dad, we should just send her back for now!"

Chapter 4

Juliana perked up like she finally had someone in her corner. "Melvin!"

Melvin stepped in front of Juliana, putting himself between her and Amelia. "Juliana, don't be scared. I'm right here. I won't let her mess with you, and I'm sure as hell not letting her take anything from you!"

Miranda's health had always been frail. After all that commotion, she could barely stay on her feet.

She had finally found Amelia after more than 20 years. Miranda kept telling herself it didn't matter what Amelia had been through, so long as she came back in one piece.

If Amelia could finally settle down, Miranda would have all the time in the world to raise her right. But Amelia had gone completely off the rails. The moment she returned, she embarrassed the Clarkes.

"Amelia, I'm very disappointed in you," Miranda said.

James remained stone-faced. The Clarkes were a big name in Magnoria, and they'd never been this embarrassed.

With his jaw set, James said, "Everyone, this engagement party has turned into a mess. I'm sorry you had to see it. Please head home for now. I have to deal with some family matters. Once we've sorted it out, I'll come see each of you and apologize in person."

The Clarkes had brought home a walking jinx, and people couldn't get away fast enough, afraid her bad luck would rub off. As soon as James finished speaking, they bolted in seconds.

Juliana smirked to herself, quietly pleased.

Just as everyone started to head for the exit, Amelia said, "Wait!"

Everyone froze, glancing over their shoulders with a spooked expression. Amelia headed straight for Juliana, steady and unhurried.

She was tall and slender. She carried an untouchable air even in plain canvas flats instead of the crystal heels Juliana wore. Even with her hands shoved in her pockets, Amelia looked every inch a queen.

"Nothing stays buried, Juliana. Everything you do leaves a trail."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Amelia took her time pulling out a document from her pouch. "Nineshade, the local kingpin in Notusford, was acting on your orders, wasn't he? He's careful. To stay alive, he always leaves a trail.

"Here's what he handed over. Your call log with him and the transfer records, including the money you sent through the daughter of your maid, Matilda Higgins."

No way! How was that even possible?

Everyone stood there, stunned. None of them had ever imagined Amelia really had proof.

Amelia held the document out to Juliana.

Juliana's face went chalk-white, and the papers trembled in her hands. She flipped through them, panicking. When she looked up, tears streaked her face.

She shook her head, quick and firm. "I have no idea how you got this. I didn't do it, Mom. I don't even know anyone named Nineshade..."

Her face went even paler.

Frowning, Miranda and James took the document to check if it was real.

Juliana turned to Vincent with panic in her eyes. "Vincent, say something! You believe me, don't you? I'm being framed. Don't listen to her. She's just jealous that I'm about to marry you!

"She's even claiming you're Oliver's father. You didn't even know her before this. How could you possibly have a child with her?"

But Vincent just frowned and said nothing. He looked every inch the cold, untouchable aristocrat as he brushed off Juliana's hand. He was tall and sharp. Even with Oliver clinging to him, he stayed ice-cold.

He studied Juliana and spoke in a low, flat voice that made everyone shiver. "Where did this paternity test report come from?"

Juliana's blood ran cold.

Amelia smiled, calm and composed. "The sign-off's clear. It's from the WMU. Nothing gets past you, Mr. Shaw, so it should be easy for you to verify this report."

Vincent's gaze darkened as he looked her over, as if he could see right through her. "As far as I can remember, I've never been with any woman."

Amelia wasn't surprised. She didn't remember how Oliver came about either. "Looks like you're in the same boat as me, Mr. Shaw. You don't remember how Ollie came into the picture, do you?

"As strange as it sounds, things don't just come out of nowhere. Since he's here, something must've happened. Mr. Shaw, Ollie really is your son. You can look into this yourself. If I'm lying, I'll take whatever comes."

She continued, "Don't get the wrong idea. You may be Oliver's father, but that doesn't make you responsible for me. I'm not asking you to be. And I'm not saying you can't marry Juliana."

He stared at her, disdain plain in his eyes. The diamonds on his bow tie caught the light with a cold, hard gleam. His lips flattened into a thin line.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

With everyone watching, Amelia walked up to Vincent and, in a voice only he could hear, said, "Mr. Shaw, you're in a hurry to marry Juliana because you were warned a calamity will take your life at 30, right?

"And someone told you the Clarkes' daughter was born under a lucky star and was destined for good fortune, so she could keep it at bay.

"Look at you. You look terrible. You haven't slept in days, and when you do manage to sleep, the nightmares won't let up, right? One wrong move and you're on borrowed time.

"You're Oliver's father. I don't want him to find you only to lose you again. That'd be cruel. But Juliana isn't right for you, and she won't get you through this calamity."

Vincent had sharp features and was usually aloof, giving off a cool, untouchable calm. He let Amelia finish for one reason. She was right.

He really was marrying Juliana because of that damn calamity, but only a handful of people knew about it—just his inner circle, including his grandfather. So, how did a woman fresh out of a monastery on a mountain know?

Vincent noticed Amelia's pouch, where bold letters read "Fortune-Teller". Something flickered in his deep-set eyes.

Was she the real deal? Maybe she could actually read him. If she was telling the truth...

Vincent studied her for a long moment. "If even one thing you said today is a lie..."

Amelia looked up at the man who stood at six feet three with clean-cut features and keen eyes. She held his gaze and said, "Then, my life is yours!"

Vincent's expression went unreadable. He glanced at David. "Rerun the paternity test immediately. I want the results by tonight."

"Yes, Mr. Shaw," David said right away.

Vincent hitched Oliver higher on his hip. "And you, little man, you're coming with me."

"Really? Daddy, you believe me now? You're taking me home? I'm so happy! Can Mommy come too?"

Vincent snorted. No way was he letting this con artist of a woman out of his sight.

He turned to the Clarkes. "Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, I'm taking Amelia and Oliver with me tonight. If she's lying, I'm sorry, but there will be consequences. If she's telling the truth, I'll bring her back safe and sound to the Clarke residence."

Chapter 5

Everyone was stunned.

Who would have guessed that the all-powerful Vincent would actually believe Amelia's words? He was ready to ditch his fiancee, Juliana, and bring Amelia and Oliver home with him.

What on earth did Amelia whisper to him? Could Oliver really be Vincent's kid? Did Juliana actually try to hurt Amelia?

In that instant, Juliana went pale, and her knees buckled. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Vincent, her expression raw with hurt and desperation.

"Vince, are you really throwing me aside? Please, just listen. I'm innocent. I didn't hurt Amelia. Is Oliver actually your son with her? If that's true, I might as well be dead!"

Even Amelia objected to it. She'd meant to head back to the Clarke residence, not some stranger's place.

She rolled her eyes at Juliana's theatrics and put some space between herself and Vincent. "You can take Ollie home, but I'm not going with you. I just got back, and I want to spend the night with my mom. Let me know when the paternity test results are back. Relax, Ollie's with you. I'm not going anywhere."

She had barely finished when Vincent yanked her by the waist, lifted her, and shoved her toward his bodyguards behind him. "Tie her up and take her with us. If she keeps mouthing off, gag her!"

As soon as Vincent gave the order, he slung Oliver over his shoulder and strode out of the ballroom. A wall of bodyguards fell in line behind him, hauling Amelia along.

"Vincent... Don't go..."

Juliana stumbled after them, but her gown was too long, and she was so distraught that the hem caught on something and she went sprawling.

When she looked up again, she caught the snickers and whispers. She also saw Oliver craning his neck, making a goofy face at her.

Right then and there, Juliana wanted nothing more than to watch the world burn. She wished Amelia and Oliver would just drop dead.

…

Set on 16 acres, Shaw Mansion was Magnoria's oldest and grandest property. The design blended foreign flair with a modern edge. The place felt lavish and imposing.

The moment Amelia and Oliver were brought in, Vincent had them thrown into the pool. A dozen maids scrubbed them down and styled them.

Vincent was a germaphobe who couldn't stand so much as a speck of dirt in his house, so job number one was "disinfecting" them.

Half an hour later, Oliver popped out, swaddled like a little burrito in a towel. The maids carried him over to Vincent. "Daddy! I'm squeaky clean now! Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Vincent sat on the living room couch, skimming a contract worth tens of billions of dollars. At the sound, he looked up, just as Oliver knocked the papers from his hands and burrowed into his arms.

Vincent looked down and found himself staring at a face that could've been his own. Oliver's big, round eyes might as well have had little hearts in them.

"Well? Don't I look just like you? I told you I'm your real son, but you wouldn't believe me!"

Vincent hadn't expected that once he was cleaned up, Oliver would look so much like him—or like his younger self, to be exact.

Oliver had rosy lips, pearly white teeth, and big, clear eyes. He was all charm and impossible not to like. Even though Vincent had never been big on kids, he found himself reluctant to set Oliver down.

Vincent's eyes gave nothing away as he ruffled the two little curls on top of Oliver's head. "Where's your mom?"

"You mean Amy? She just got out of the shower and went back to her room. She said if you want a good night's sleep, you should go see her. She'll fix you right up!"

Vincent had plenty he wanted to ask Amelia. He glanced up at the corner room on the second floor, set the file down, and took his time fastening his cuffs. He rose and headed upstairs. "Lead the way."

Oliver kept his excitement in check. "You got it! Right this way, Daddy!"

…

Amelia was brought to Shaw Mansion in restraints, and Vincent had handled her pretty roughly. Still, seeing how happy Oliver was, she let him off the hook.

After her shower, she returned to the guest room, pulled the towel off, and reached for the nightgown the maid, Felicia Campbell, had set out for her.

She wasn't big on flashy things, but since her robe was dirty, she put on the nightgown out of courtesy. The nightgown was pure white and soft. Its straps rested on her shoulders, and the fabric skimmed her slim figure.

She had just washed her hair, and a few strands had caught in the back zipper. No matter how she tugged, it wouldn't budge, and the more she pulled, the more it stung.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Oliver called from the hallway, "Amy!"

"Brat, get in here."

A second later, the door swung open. Amelia stood in the middle of the room with her bare back to the door. Her skin was flawless and breathtaking. As she turned her head, a strap slipped off her shoulder.

Without thinking, Amelia called out, "Ollie, give me a hand, will you? I don't even know how my hair got stuck. It hurts…"

Before he knew it, Oliver shoved Vincent through the doorway. Grinning, he locked the door from outside.

Inside the room, Vincent didn't know what had gotten into him. As if under a spell, he moved forward until he was behind Amelia.

His hand trailed up her spine, and from behind, he eased her zipper down, freeing the strands caught there. A rose-shaped birthmark came into view on her back, so striking that his pulse spiked.

Amelia was about to ask why Oliver had gone quiet, but when she turned around, she came face-to-face with Vincent, who was ridiculously handsome up close.

Instinctively, she tried to shove him away, but he caught her wrist in an iron-tight grip. He yanked her forward by the wrist and pinned her to the couch. He was built, with every muscle sharply defined.

Amelia's pulse hammered, but she ran through her calming mantra and told herself that this was wrong. The flush in her cheeks soon faded. "Mr. Shaw, what do you think you're doing?"

"Better question yet, what are you doing? You had Oliver bring me to your room. Was that the plan? To seduce me?"

Amelia pressed her palms to Vincent's chest. "What are you even talking about? You barged in on your own. How exactly am I seducing you?"

A shadow rippled through Vincent's eyes. "If you're not trying to seduce me, why are you dressed like this? You might as well be wearing nothing."

Moonlight spilled through the window, and he finally saw Amelia's face clearly.

She wasn't wearing makeup, but her skin was flawless, and her features were refined and striking. Her rosy lips and clear, unguarded eyes were so beautiful that it was hard to look away.