During the five years my grandfather Patrick Landon and I spent abroad on archaeological expeditions, Sarah Edwards—a scholarship student funded by my father—somehow transformed herself into Serena Landon, the wealthy heiress of the Landon family. Even more ridiculous, she had the audacity to assume my identity and host a grand engagement party with Charlie Anderson, the wealthy heir to the Anderson family. At the party, she glided through the guests with ease, dressed in haute couture and adorned with priceless jewelry. When she spotted me, she mocked, “The Landon family never mistreated you, so why do you look so miserable? Are you trying to play the victim again to get my father to fund you?” With that, she had me thrown out. “Why are you letting just anyone in? Even the cheapest tile on this floor is worth more than her entire outfit!” In my previous life, I might have foolishly argued with her about who was real and who was fake, only to be ridiculed by all the guests. But this time, I walked right up to her and slapped her across the face. “Stop dreaming! Let’s see who gets kicked out of this house tonight!” ***** All the guests gasped in shock. Serena clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief, and screamed, “How dare you slap me?” In an instant, several black-suited security guards surrounded me, awaiting Serena’s orders. I couldn’t believe that after only five years away, I had become a stranger in my own home. Charlie positioned himself protectively in front of Serena, his brows furrowed and eyes blazing with anger. “Who is this country bumpkin? Do you realize this is my engagement party with Serena? Do you understand the consequences of causing a scene here?” Serena nestled into Charlie’s arms, feigning distress. “She’s that scholarship student I told you about. She claimed she wanted to study archaeology and tricked my father into funding her. “I never imagined she’d show up in rags to ruin our engagement party! I should have convinced my father not to be so generous!” In my previous life, she used the same excuse, pretending I had come to congratulate her while criticizing my shabby appearance. Back then, I earnestly reflected on my actions, thinking I should have first inquired about the family situation. However, my polite explanations only led to her slandering me, ultimately causing me to die unjustly at the bottom of a freezing lake. Now, I looked at her coldly and sneered, “You think changing your name gets you into high society? Sarah!” The surrounding guests immediately began whispering, casting contemptuous glances my way. “Who’s Sarah? For the past five years, Mr. Ethan Landon has been bringing Miss Serena Landon to all major social events. How could she be fake?” “Perhaps she went mad during her archaeological work and actually believes she’s the heiress. How ungrateful!” Serena pretended to be magnanimous, sighing, “I was too angry earlier. On such an important day, you showed up dressed like this, and I lost my temper. “But with your current attitude, I’ll have to ask my father to stop funding you and expel you from the Landon family!” I laughed coldly, pointing at myself. “You’re saying he should kick me out of the Landon family?” Charlie looked at me as if I were insane and mocked, “What else? Should he kick Serena out instead? How can you be so shameless? “Mr. Landon is very busy today, so he’ll be arriving a bit late. I suggest you leave now before you lose any chance of future funding!” I raised an eyebrow, found a chair, and sat down casually, even leisurely tasting a cherry. “Fine. I’ll wait right here. I want to see who exactly will be kicked out.” Serena trembled with rage and lunged forward to slap me. During these years, I had lived a rugged life with Patrick, frequently moving equipment and tools—completely unlike this girl who spent her days at balls. I caught her wrist and twisted it slightly, causing her to burst into tears from the pain. “You hurt my hand! Jasmine! Do you have a death wish?” Having died once already, her threats had absolutely no effect on me. Instead, my smile grew even brighter. “So you do remember who I am. Did you enjoy impersonating me?” Charlie rushed forward to shield Serena in his arms, glaring at me. “You crazy woman! Should I have you committed to a mental institution right now?”
When our family initially arranged the marriage alliance with the Anderson family, my father did mention it to me, but I was busy exploring newly discovered ruins with Patrick, so I refused without giving it much thought. Seeing my firm stance, he thought it would be better to give this opportunity to Sarah instead. It was then that my father suggested changing Sarah’s name and officially adopting her as his daughter. He said she came from a poor background and that we should help her more. Yet here was Charlie, truly believing he was with a rich girl, playing out some hero-saves-damsel scenario. I glanced at him like he was an idiot and asked, “Are you blind? Haven’t you noticed how similar Mr. Landon and I look?” Charlie sneered, “I’m not blind. Serena resembles him more than you do. Who knows if you got plastic surgery to look like her?” Serena sighed, feigning pity as she said, “Jasmine, weren’t you always jealous of my beauty, wanting to share the same face as me? Did you use the money my father gave you for plastic surgery, trying to replace me?” Seeing Serena’s shamelessness, I was about to slap her other cheek, but before I could move, the crowd suddenly stirred. “Mr. Landon is here!” I thought, “Finally, the truth will come out.” But as I turned around, before I could see who had arrived, I unexpectedly received a slap across my face. “Did you bully my daughter Serena? How dare you?” I frowned at the man before me—it was my father, Ethan Landon, but he seemed not to recognize me at all. Ethan stood protectively in front of Serena, glaring at me impatiently: “Why are you back again? Have you already spent all the money I gave you?” With just two simple sentences, he had cast me as the greedy scholarship student. “I’m late because work was hectic today, but I never expected to arrive and find my daughter being mistreated. I apologize for the scene everyone has witnessed!” At that moment, a man stepped forward from the crowd. “Mr. Landon, I spoke with the elder Mr. Landon just a few days ago. He mentioned that his granddaughter—the true heiress of the Landon family—is currently exploring ruins in the great desert with him.” This man must be Henry Clinton, the antique dealer Patrick had mentioned before, who had been closely following the excavation work. “Miss Jasmine Landon looks exhausted, more like someone who has just returned from an archaeological site. What exactly is going on here?” Ethan had changed his surname after marrying into the Landon family. After my mother passed away, although he managed company affairs, Patrick was the one who actually held power. However, Patrick had temporarily gone to oversee the archaeological team at his friend’s request. Cold sweat formed on Ethan’s forehead, but he still pretended to be calm as he defended himself: “Elder Mr. Landon is very kind. Since this girl was willing to follow him on archaeological expeditions, it’s not surprising that he casually referred to her as his granddaughter, is it? “Perhaps she’s just putting on an act to gain sympathy. Not only is she ungrateful, but now she’s also bullying my daughter while I’m away!” My gaze shifted between Ethan and Serena, and I suddenly understood why he was so protective of her. In my previous life, I hadn’t waited for him to arrive before Serena incited everyone to verbally abuse and bully me, ultimately driving me to drown myself in the lake. Now, however, I was prepared and had specifically waited for him to appear, but I never expected he harbored such intentions. Actually, I should have seen it coming long ago.
Ethan adopted Serena specifically to arrange her marriage with the Anderson family. Once Patrick dies, even if his will puts me in charge, Ethan could team up with the Anderson family to remove me. He’s truly cunning and devious. No wonder I always felt Ethan’s smile was extremely fake when I was young—he’d been planning to replace me all along. His words pinned me to a pillar of shame like a sharp knife. Some guests even started hurling insults directly at me: “How can there be such a shameless woman in this world! They kindly supported her, but she repaid their kindness with betrayal, delusional enough to think she could replace Miss Landon!” “Miss Landon is just too kind-hearted. If I were her, I wouldn’t waste charity on this tramp!” A flash of satisfaction crossed Serena’s eyes, but she feigned pity and said, “I felt sorry for her when she first came begging at our house in rags, but I never imagined she would be delusional enough to try replacing me!” Ethan waved his hand, and several security guards immediately stepped forward to grab me, ready to throw me out. I remained completely calm, looking coldly at the man so eager to get rid of me. “Why such a hurry? Do you think after kicking me out, Sarah can legitimately become the Landon family heiress?” Cold sweat broke out on Ethan’s forehead, but he still pretended to be composed, harshly ordering the guards: “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and throw out this ungrateful liar of a charity case!” “Something’s not right!” Henry, who had spoken up for me earlier, frowned and eyed Ethan suspiciously. “With Mr. Landon’s discerning character, how could he casually adopt a girl as his granddaughter? “Besides, when I wanted my son to meet Miss Landon before, Mr. Landon said he would personally oversee his granddaughter’s marriage. Why is he absent from the engagement party today?” Henry’s words made Ethan even more flustered. Ethan glared at Henry. “Mr. Clinton, what are you implying? Are you suggesting I can’t recognize my own daughter? Or do you have some secret arrangement with this girl?” Charlie immediately chimed in: “How dare you question a father’s ability to recognize his own daughter? I think you must be conspiring to ruin my engagement party with Serena!” Now even Henry, who had spoken up for justice, was being baselessly accused by everyone. Seeing everyone taking his side, Ethan visibly relaxed, looking at me with disgust. In truth, I’d always known he disliked me since childhood, but I never depended on him. Now I see he probably never loved my mother, though he pretended to love her deeply, swearing never to marry another woman. “Will you leave on your own, or should I have someone throw you out? I was too kind-hearted before, but today I finally see your true intentions!” I laughed coldly and retorted, “I also see your true intentions! “Who are you to tell me to leave? You’re the one who should get out!” Ethan trembled with rage, stepped forward and slapped me again. “You’re telling ME to leave? I supported you to achieve your dreams, and you dare speak to me like this?” He hit me so hard my ears rang and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I spat out the blood and stared at this man I’d called “Dad” for over twenty years, saying, “Shouldn’t a man with no blood relation to my family get out?” My words seemed to infuriate them. Serena leaned against Charlie, pouting, “Charlie, is it because you’re so amazing that she fell in love with you and wants to steal you from me?” Ethan rubbed his furrowed brow and said, “Sir Landon took you in out of pity, yet you dare to act so presumptuously!” “Security! Drag her out of here!” If I were truly taken away by his men, I might have died here today. He was determined to have Serena replace my identity. Once I was dead, he could legitimately propose to Patrick that Serena become the Landon family heir. I thought, “Hmph, he’s dreaming!” So I shouted, “Who dares to touch me? Don’t all of you know who truly holds power in the Landon family now?” The security guards froze in place, and the surrounding guests began whispering among themselves. “She seems so confident. Could she really be the Landon family’s daughter?” “Mr. Landon appears to be in charge on the surface, but everyone knows Sir Landon is the one who truly makes decisions behind the scenes. Both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Landon have mentioned keeping her by his side, so perhaps what she’s saying is the truth.” A flash of panic crossed Serena’s face. She tugged at Ethan’s sleeve, feigning distress: “Dad, look at her! She’s threatening me with my grandfather again! Everyone knows my grandfather is obsessed with his academic pursuits and has no time for these trivial matters!” Ethan immediately caught on and sneered, “Indeed, she’s full of lies! Now she even dares to use Patrick as her backing!” “If Patrick knew you were bullying his own granddaughter here, do you think he would still favor you?” I calmly watched them twist the truth as I slowly raised my phone and scoffed, “Why do you think I’m so certain my grandfather will return?” Ethan pretended to remain composed, but his hands trembled slightly beyond his control. Patrick had always been dissatisfied with Ethan, and Ethan both respected and feared him. Ethan immediately ordered his men to grab my phone. “Today is my daughter’s engagement party. How can I let an outsider cause trouble here?” “If anyone grabs her and throws her out, I’ll triple their salary!” Charlie also nodded to his security guards. “Help the Landon family remove this troublemaker! No one can ruin the union of our two families today!” As soon as he finished speaking, more than twenty black-suited security guards surrounded me. Several of them roughly seized my phone and smashed it violently on the floor. Then, a few more restrained my arms with such force that I could barely breathe. Finally, they even pulled out a black bag, preparing to stuff me inside and throw me out of the banquet hall. “How dare you impersonate Miss Landon? We won’t let you off easily today!” I heard Ethan snort coldly, “How could someone like her possibly be my daughter? Charlie, don’t you know what Serena is really like?” Charlie immediately agreed, “Exactly! Serena is gentle and considerate, unlike her in those ragged clothes, nothing like a wealthy young lady.” Henry was still trying to speak up for me. “Of course she looks like this after returning from an archaeological expedition. Even if she’s lying, you shouldn’t treat a girl this way.” Serena mockingly said, “Mr. Clinton, I am Sir Landon’s granddaughter. Why are you so stubborn about this? If my grandfather knew someone was bullying me, he wouldn’t just throw her out!” “Is that so?” “Then I want to see who’s bullying my granddaughter!” Just as I was about to suffocate, I finally heard Patrick’s authoritative voice.
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