I Am No Pawn in a Marriage Alliance
The corner of the report had been rubbed so much it was creased, and the words "Probability of non-biological relationship: 0%" felt like a cold stamp, seared into my heart for a whole week.
Three months ago, when my foster parents were cleaning the attic, they accidentally discovered a half jade pendant engraved with the character "Scott" hidden inside the swaddling clothes I was wrapped in as a baby.
The pendant's texture was smooth and warm, with faint wear marks along the edges, clearly carefully preserved by someone.
Knowing how curious I was about my origins, my foster parents followed the pendant's clue, asking around, and unexpectedly it led to the local famous real estate tycoon — Hector Scott, who, biologically, is my real father.
"Ms., do you have an appointment?" The security guard at the door wore a sharp black uniform and respectfully stopped me, his gaze carrying a faint, almost unnoticed scrutiny.
His eyes swept over me, from my faded jeans to the old canvas bag on my shoulder. The disdain in his look was like a thin needle, lightly pricking me.
Just as I was about to explain, a clear, mocking laugh rang out from behind, full of blatant superiority and as sharp as shattered glass: "Well, if it isn't Mia Shaw, the campus belle. What's she doing here as a visitor at our place?"
I suddenly turned around and saw Maggie Scott walking toward me, linking arms with a familiar figure.
Their fingers were tightly intertwined, the couple bracelets on their wrists sparkling in the sunlight, and their intimate posture was so glaring it made my eyes ache.
That guy was Finn Jones, my ex-boyfriend of six months, who had broken up with me just two weeks ago, giving the casual excuse, "We're not compatible."
Maggie deliberately shook her wrist where she wore a silver limited-edition bracelet, its links adorned with tiny star charms.
That was the gift I bought for Finn last month on my birthday, after saving two months' pocket money. Back then, he even smiled and said he'd wear it all the time. But now, this bracelet is actually on Maggie Scott's wrist.
"Looks like you still don't know, huh?" Maggie leaned close to Finn, her voice sickly sweet, "Finn and I are together now."
No wonder—when you were chasing Finn back then, wasn't it all about throwing money at him?
Buying him a computer, clothes, and even staying up late to organize his postgraduate entrance exam materials, right?
Now that he's found someone he truly loves, of course he's breaking up with you.
Finn Jones's face flushed slightly, and the tips of his ears turned an unusual shade of pink, but he didn't deny Maggie Scott's words. Instead, he lowered his head and whispered, "Mia Shaw, we've already broken up. Don't keep bothering Maggie."
I looked at this so-called "perfect couple" in front of me and suddenly found it kind of funny.
Back then, Finn's family was struggling; his father was bedridden, and all of his tuition was covered by student loans.
I was afraid of hurting his pride, so I never dared to help him directly. I always came up with excuses, like, "A friend of mine has an unused laptop; since you're preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam, you can borrow it for now.""There's a sale at the mall—buy one, get one free on this jacket. It's too big for me, why don't you try it on and see if it fits?" He said he wanted to take the postgraduate entrance exam. I asked a relative who works at a university to get review materials from a top tutor, stayed up late organizing clear notes, and then pretended it was "something I found online" before sending them to him.
But now, he's standing with another woman, holding the money I gave him, and he's actually accusing me of "stalking."
"Stalking?" I raised an eyebrow, my voice rising a few tones without meaning to. "Finn Jones, last month you said you wanted to buy the new game console. I transferred you five thousand that very day—so why don't you call that stalking?"
Your mother was hospitalized, and the surgery fees weren't covered. I secretly fronted you 30,000 for the medical costs. Why don't you call that harassment?
Now you're using my money to date another woman, and you still dare to say I'm harassing you?
The security guards and servants nearby stopped what they were doing and gathered around to watch the scene unfold.
People whispered quietly, their eyes flickering between Finn Jones and Maggie Scott.
Finn's face instantly turned a deep shade of liver red, flushing from his cheeks all the way down to his neck. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word.
Maggie Scott immediately stepped forward like a mother hen protecting her chick and stood in front of Finn, glaring at me, "Mia Shaw, stop slandering us here!"
Finn is not that kind of person!
You can't even keep your own boyfriend and still come here to slander us—really lack class!
"Lack class?" I sneered, the coldness in my eyes almost spilling over. "Maggie Scott, do you even know how your mother married Hector Scott?"
My mom had only been dead for three months when your mother, already heavily pregnant, married into the Scott Family. You're only four months younger than me—is that what you call class?
Those words hit like a bomb, instantly stunning everyone there.
The walkie-talkie in the security guard's hand dropped to the floor with a sharp "pop," and the servant's mop froze mid-air.
Maggie Scott's face went pale in an instant, her lips trembling as she pointed at me, unable to speak: "You... you're talking nonsense!"
My mom married my dad openly and honestly!
It was because your mom was seriously ill—that's why she passed away early!
"Openly and honestly?" I pulled a neatly folded document from my canvas bag and slammed it down on the step in front of her with a sharp "snap."
The files were scattered open, revealing yellowed letters and photos inside. "This is the evidence I found at the Xavier Family's Residence. Your mom was my dad's secretary back then, and when my mom was pregnant with me, she had a complicated relationship with him."
My mom had planned to wait until I was born to have a proper talk with him, but your mom kept causing trouble at their home every day and even spread rumors at my mom's company. My mom had no choice but to go abroad to give birth. Unfortunately, due to emotional stress, she developed complications and didn't make it...
My voice caught in my throat. The stories I'd heard from the Xavier Family's relatives felt like a knife repeatedly cutting into my heart.
My mom is the eldest daughter of the Xavier Family. Years ago, she married Hector Scott against her family's wishes. She thought she was marrying for love, but in the end, it all turned out like this.
Just then, the villa's gate creaked open, and Hector Scott stepped out with his current wife, Melody Lewis.
Melody wore an expensive silk dress, her hair perfectly styled. When she saw me, her face instantly darkened, as if covered in ice. "Who are you? What nonsense are you spouting here?"
Security guard, get her out of here!
Don't let her pollute the air around here!
"Get me out?" I didn't look at Melody Lewis; instead, I fixed my gaze on Hector Scott. "Mr. Scott, don't you recognize me?"
We just did a paternity test at the hospital last week, and you said I was your biological daughter.
Hector Scott's eyes flickered, his pupils contracting slightly—he clearly didn't expect me to come straight to him.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound fatherly, but his tone was awkward. "Mia Shaw, I know you're upset, but let's talk inside. Don't cause a scene here."
This is the Scott Family's turf; it's not good for outsiders to see it.
"Embarrassing?" I sneered, my voice thick with sarcasm, "Compared to what your Scott Family has done, my words are nothing."
Back then, you took the five percent shares my mother brought from the Xavier Family, then turned around and married your secretary. Now the company's in trouble, and you want me to marry Caleb Lopez, the playboy of the Lopez Family. Do you think I'd agree to that?"
Hector Scott's face instantly darkened, his brows knitting into a tight frown. "How did you find out about the arranged marriage? Who told you?"
"If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself." I crossed my arms, my eyes as cold as ice. "Who does Caleb Lopez think he is? Who in our circle doesn't know him?"
Since he was eighteen, he's been obsessed with car models and chasing internet celebrities, changing girlfriends faster than changing clothes. Just last month, he got arrested for drunk driving.
You want me to marry him—how is that any different from selling me off?
Melody Lewis immediately cut in, her tone tinged with impatience: "Mia Shaw, don't be ungrateful!"
What kind of family is the Lopez Family?
Do you even know how much power they hold around here?
Marrying into the Lopez Family is your good fortune!
Maggie is the precious gem of the Scott Family, spoiled since she was a child. How could she marry someone like that?
So you're just pushing me out to be the scapegoat? I looked Hector Scott in the eye and asked carefully, "Mr. Scott, when my mother married you, she brought with her ten percent of the Xavier Family's shares, plus several sets of jewelry left by my grandmother. Those things are all in your hands now, right?"
Now that I'm back, isn't it time those shares and jewelry were returned to me?
Hector Scott's face flushed pale and then red, looking as grim as a color palette.
He coughed twice, his tone stiff: "That's a testament to the love between your mother and me. How could I give it to you?"
"Those shares are the result of hard work your mother and I built together. They now belong to the Scott Family and have nothing to do with you."
"Testament to love?" I sneered, tears nearly falling, "My mom's been dead for a month, and you're already registered to marry Melody Lewis? Is that what you call love?"
Hector Scott, if you're sensible, return the shares and the jewelry to me. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to expose the Scott Family's scandals to the media—let's see if the Scott Group's stock price survives."
Hector Scott was so stunned he couldn't say a word, his face flushing bright red.
But Melody Lewis wouldn't back down. She stepped forward, pointed at me, and said, "Mia Shaw, don't push your luck!"
Those shares belong to the Scott Family now. What does that have to do with you, an outsider?
If you keep causing trouble, we'll call the police!
Let the police decide who's in the right!
"Call the police?" I took out my phone and hit the record button. The red light blinked on the screen. "Go ahead and call. I want the police to hear how you're seizing my mother's estate and forcing me into an arranged marriage for Maggie Scott."
I also have evidence of you spreading rumors at my mom's company back then. Want to take it to the police together?
Melody Lewis's face instantly went pale, her fingers trembling slightly, no longer daring to mention the word "police."
Just then, Finn Jones suddenly spoke, his voice pleading: "Mia Shaw, stop this!"
Maggie truly likes me. Just let us be.
As for the arranged marriage, the Lopez Family is truly a good family. You won't lose out marrying into them. The Lopez Family can offer you far more than the Shaw Family.
I looked at Finn Jones and suddenly felt a wave of sadness.
How did I ever fall for someone so clueless?
He eats my food, wears the clothes I purchased, uses my things, and now he's siding with outsiders, even urging me to marry a notorious playboy.
Finn, you eat my food, wear the clothes I purchase, use my things, and now you're siding with outsiders. Don't you have any conscience? My voice wavered, not from sadness, but from anger.
Finn lowered his head, staring at his shoes, avoiding my eyes.
Seeing this, Maggie immediately linked her arm with his and said sweetly, "Finn, don't waste time arguing with her. Let's go inside."
Talking any more with people like that is just a waste of time.
I stopped them, holding out my hand to block the doorway. "If you want to go in, say your piece first."
Hector Scott, the shares and the jewelry—are you going to return them or not?
If I don't get an explanation today, no one gets in.
Hector Scott took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he fought to contain his anger.
He glanced at the servants watching nearby, then at the phone in my hand, and finally relented. "Mia Shaw, come in with me. We need to talk this through properly."
If there's something to discuss, let's close the door and talk. Don't make a fool of us out here.
I followed them into the villa, and the lavish living room decoration dazzled me.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting dazzling light; the walls were adorned with expensive oil paintings; the sofa was made of genuine leather, soft and smooth to the touch.
But all of it felt unbearably cold, without a trace of warmth or a sense of home.
Hector Scott sat on the main sofa, Melody Lewis and Maggie Scott on single sofas beside him, while Finn Jones stood behind Maggie like a servant, holding her bag.
"Mia Shaw, I know you don't want this arranged marriage, but it's for your own good." Hector Scott tried to play the emotional card, softening his tone a little. "The Lopez Family holds great power in the business world. If you marry into them, you'll have a strong ally in the circle."
Whether it's resources or connections, it will all work in your favor.
As for the shares, I can give you some, but not all. After all, the Scott Family still needs to grow, and the company has many employees to support."
"Some?" I raised an eyebrow, my anger flaring up again. "Mr. Scott, do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"
The five percent shares my mom gave you back then have now multiplied in value dozens of times with the Scott Group. Those shares are worth hundreds of millions.
You only gave me a portion? Isn't that too unfair?
Maggie snapped back sharply, "Mia Shaw, don't get greedy!"
Those shares were earned by my dad through his own efforts. What does that have to do with you?
You grew up in an orphanage abroad. If my dad weren't soft-hearted, you wouldn't even be allowed through the Scott Family's doors!
It's already a big deal that you're back in the Scott Family. And now you're asking for shares?
You must be dreaming!
So what if I grew up in an orphanage? I looked at her with utter contempt. "At least I didn't steal someone else's boyfriend or make my mom a homewrecker who destroyed another family!"
Maggie Scott, do you really think you're so special just because you're the eldest daughter of the Scott Family?
In my eyes, you're nothing.
Everything you have was stolen by your mom's scheming; you don't deserve any of it.
Maggie trembled with anger, tears instantly streaming down her face. She threw herself into Hector Scott's arms and whimpered, "Dad! Look at her! She's bullying me! She even insulted Mom! Please, make her stop!"
Hector Scott's face darkened, and his tone grew stern: "Mia Shaw, how can you talk like that?"
Maggie is your sister. No matter what, you share the same blood. How can you treat her like this?
"Sister?" I sneered as tears finally fell, "I'm not someone who steals another woman's boyfriend's sister."
If my mom knew, the daughter she sacrificed everything for back then now has to call the mistress's daughter her sister, she'd be devastated.
Hector Scott, I'm asking you one last time: will you return the shares and the jewelry or not?
If you don't return it, I'm leaving now—and I'll never set foot in the Scott Family again. As for the arranged marriage, don't even think about it.
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