My parents stood speechless.
Samuel's adjutant stepped forward, holding a stack of documents. "It's all been uncovered. Jennette Shepherd was the result of the concubine's affair with a groom, while you..." He met my gaze. "You are the sole heir to the Shepherd shipping empire."
The concubine screamed hysterically, "Impossible! I switched them myself!"
A deathly silence fell. Realizing her blunder, she clapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late.
I gave a low, hollow laugh. Just as she had confessed on her deathbed in my past life, she was barren. Both my sister and I were children abducted for her schemes.
I yanked the carriage curtain shut. "Get out. Don't foul my path."
Father pounded on the window, his voice desperate. "Jessica! The Hodgson family demands the betrothal gif
