I smiled and set down my glass.

“Actually, Lexi, there’s something I’ve been meaning to give you.”

I held it out.

I reached into my purse and pulled out a small item.

I held it out, and she took it without thinking.

Lexi stared at it, looking confused.

But Pierce recognized it immediately.

He had just taken a sip of his drink.

Her expression changed.

The moment he saw what was in her hand, he began coughing so hard that several guests turned around.

Lexi glanced at him, then looked down at the item again.

Suddenly, her expression changed.

Her fingers tightened around it, and the smile vanished from her face.

“Wait…” she whispered, looking straight at me. “Where did you get this?”

He hissed.

“From the hospital,” I answered. “It’s Sophie’s baby bracelet.”

Pierce lunged forward and snatched it from her hand.

“We’re not doing this here,” he hissed.

I calmly took the bracelet back.

“Funny. You weren’t worried about making a scene thirty seconds ago.”

I stared at him.

Lexi looked between us, demanding an explanation, but Pierce grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.

“Keep that thing away from Arthur, Laura,” he whispered. “I’m warning you.”

I stared at him, startled.

What on earth did our uncle have to do with any of this?

Pierce tightened his grip on my arm.

I pulled away.

“I told you to stop telling people that girl is mine.”

I pulled away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Lexi stepped between us.

“Not this again.”

“Will somebody explain what’s going on? Why are you carrying around a hospital bracelet?”

“It’s Sophie’s,” I said. “My daughter. She was born four years ago.”

Lexi folded her arms.

“Oh, please. Not this again.”

“My daughter.”

Pierce shook his head.

“For all I know, you were sleeping with someone else.”

“That’s disgusting, Pierce.”

“What’s disgusting is trying to pin another man’s child on my husband,” Lexi snapped. “Honestly, Laura, it’s pathetic. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?”

“It’s pathetic.”

I looked straight at Pierce.

“You know when we separated, Pierce. And you know when Sophie was born.”

“Dates don’t prove anything,” he replied.

“No. But I remember what you said when I first told you I was pregnant.”

She noticed.

For a moment, his expression changed. His eyes widened, and he glanced nervously at Lexi.

She noticed.

“What did you say to her, Pierce?”

“Nothing important.” He took her hand. “Come on, sweetheart. There are people we need to greet.”

He practically dragged her away.

He’d hugged me.

I left the gala shortly afterward.

On the drive home, I remembered how differently Pierce had reacted when I first showed him my positive pregnancy test.

He’d hugged me, kissed my forehead, and started discussing baby names.

Two weeks later, he announced he wanted a divorce.

I knew the truth.

Suddenly, he’d decided the baby couldn’t be his.

I still had his excited messages and medical records confirming when I’d become pregnant. His legal paternity had never been established, but I knew the truth.

Eventually, I’d stopped begging him to acknowledge Sophie.

Still, I hadn’t expected one tiny bracelet to frighten him quite so much.

“Laura, sweetheart!”

The following morning, my phone rang while I was making Sophie breakfast.

“Laura, sweetheart!” Uncle Arthur’s cheerful voice greeted me. “You’re coming to my birthday party tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“Of course, Uncle Arthur. I wouldn’t miss your seventy-third birthday.”

I laughed.

“And you’re bringing Sophie, I hope? I’ve arranged a special dessert table for the little ones. There’ll be chocolate fountains and everything.”

I laughed.

“You’ll have her eating sugar for a week.”

“That’s what great-uncles are for!”

“There’ll be chocolate fountains.”

Arthur was my father’s older brother, a successful businessman who’d never married or had children. He owned a magnificent country estate that had belonged to our family for generations.

He’d always been especially fond of Lexi and me. For generations, our family had produced nothing but boys until the two of us came along. Arthur used to call us his little princesses.

“Well, I’ll see you both tomorrow,” he said warmly.

Someone knocked on my door.

After we hung up, I remembered something odd.

Lately, Lexi had been visiting Arthur almost every weekend, bringing expensive gifts and volunteering to help organize his birthday.

I remembered Pierce’s frightened expression at the gala.

Keep that thing away from Arthur.

“Pierce?”

Why would Pierce care so much about what I told my seventy-three-year-old uncle?

That evening, someone knocked on my door.

Sophie was spending the night at Mom’s, so I wasn’t expecting visitors. When I opened the door, I nearly dropped my mug.

“Pierce?”

“The house looks nice.”

“Hey, Laura.” He smiled awkwardly. “You look good. How’ve you been?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Can’t I check on you? The house looks nice, by the way.”

Pierce hadn’t visited in years. I wasn’t buying his sudden concern.

He sighed.

“What do you want?”

He sighed.

“Are you going to Arthur’s birthday tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

“Look, maybe you should reconsider. After what happened at the gala, I don’t think anyone wants another scene.”

Pierce hesitated.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Why do you care so much about a birthday party?”

Pierce hesitated.

“Arthur’s estate is worth millions, Laura. Lexi’s expecting to inherit it, and your little stunt could ruin everything.”

“So?”

He rubbed his forehead.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Fifty thousand dollars. That’s what I’ll give you if you stay home tomorrow.”

I stared at him. Then I picked up my phone from the counter, discreetly started recording, and placed it facedown.

“Fifty thousand dollars just to miss a birthday party?”

“It’s a generous offer.”

“Does Lexi know why that bracelet scared you so badly?”

He leaned closer.

He threw up his hands.

“I know Sophie’s mine, Laura! But what was I supposed to do? Throw away my career and my marriage because you got pregnant?”

Hearing him admit it so casually made my stomach turn.

He leaned closer.

“I’ll stay home.”

“Once Arthur leaves Lexi that estate, none of this will matter.”

Suddenly, everything made sense.

“All right,” I said quietly. “I’ll stay home.”

Pierce visibly relaxed.

“I’ll arrange the money after the party.”

I went upstairs.

Once he left, I stopped the recording and played it back. Every word was clear.

Then I went upstairs and took my black dress out of the closet.

Uncle Arthur’s estate looked like something out of a fairy tale. The enormous mansion was surrounded by perfectly trimmed gardens, and expensive cars lined the driveway.

Sophie squeezed my hand as we approached the entrance.

I stopped the recording.

“Mommy, are we princesses today?”

I laughed and straightened the pink dress Mom had helped me alter for her.

“You’re certainly dressed like one.”

I was wearing the same black dress from the gala. Compared to the other guests, I looked almost embarrassingly plain.

Her smile faltered.

Inside, I spotted Lexi immediately.

She wore a magnificent emerald gown, with Pierce standing proudly beside her.

The moment she saw me, her smile faltered.

Pierce looked as though he’d seen a ghost.

Lexi hurried over.

I smiled.

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

I smiled.

“It’s our uncle’s birthday. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well, after that embarrassing situation at the gala, I assumed you’d want to avoid another scene.”

Pierce shot me a warning look.

“Are you ready?”

I ignored him.

“Laura! Sophie!”

Arthur approached us with open arms. He scooped Sophie up and admired her dress.

“Look at you, sweetheart! Are you ready for some birthday cake?”

“Yes! Mommy said there’s chocolate!”

I relaxed.

Arthur winked at me. For a while, I relaxed.

But as the evening continued, I overheard relatives praising Lexi’s marriage, her expensive travels, and Pierce’s successful career.

“Arthur must be so proud of her,” one aunt remarked. “She’s really made something of herself.”

I glanced down at my worn shoes.

I wasn’t so certain.

Lexi looked like a woman who had everything. I was a divorced mother raising a child alone.

What if Arthur valued appearances more than I’d realized?

Suddenly, I wasn’t so certain I wanted to hear his announcement.

After dinner, Uncle Arthur tapped his glass with a spoon.

I was a divorced mother.

“May I have everyone’s attention, please?”

The guests gathered around him. I stayed near the back with Sophie, who was busy examining a chocolate-covered strawberry.

“Thank you all for celebrating with me,” Arthur began. “As you know, I’ve been thinking about my estate and who should inherit it. Well, I’ve finally made my decision.”

She stepped forward.

Lexi practically glowed. Beside her, Pierce straightened his jacket.

“Uncle Arthur!” Lexi interrupted. “Before you continue, may I say something?”

“Of course, dear.”

She stepped forward.

A few guests laughed.

“You’ve always been such an inspiration to me. You’ve taught us the importance of honesty. I’m grateful to have a marriage built on those same values.”

She slipped her arm through Pierce’s.

“Of course, not everyone gets to have the kind of marriage they dreamed about.”

A few guests laughed awkwardly.

My fingers tightened.

“I’m just lucky Pierce chose to build a family with me.”

My fingers tightened around Sophie’s hand.

“Lexi,” Arthur said gently, “there’s no need to compare yourself with anyone.”

But she continued.

I stepped forward.

“Unfortunately, some people can’t accept that their marriage is over. They’ve even tried to destroy ours with ridiculous accusations about a child.”

She looked directly at me.

“Some people will say anything to get what they think they’re owed.”

I stepped forward.

The room fell silent.

“You’re right, Lexi. Some people will say anything for money.”

The room fell silent.

I took my phone out of my purse.

And when Pierce saw what I was about to do, every trace of color drained from his face.

I took my phone.

“Uncle Arthur, may I explain what happened at the gala?”

Arthur looked at Pierce, then nodded.

“Go ahead, sweetheart.”

“Pierce has spent four years telling everyone that Sophie isn’t his daughter.”

“You’re twisting everything!” Pierce interrupted.

I pressed play.

I looked at him.

“Then why did you come to my house last night?”

He froze.

I pressed play.

Pierce’s voice filled the silent room.

He froze.

“Fifty thousand dollars. That’s what I’ll give you if you stay home tomorrow.”

Someone gasped.

The recording continued.

“I know Sophie’s mine, Laura!”

Someone gasped.

Lexi slowly turned toward her husband.

“You said she cheated on you.”

Pierce opened his mouth, but his recorded voice spoke again.

“Once Arthur leaves Lexi that estate, none of this will matter.”

He turned to Lexi.

“That’s completely out of context!” Pierce shouted.

“I can play the entire conversation,” I offered.

“Enough!” Arthur commanded.

He turned to Lexi. “Did you know about this bribe?”

I believed her.

“No! Uncle Arthur, I swear!”

I believed her.

“Maybe you didn’t know about the money,” I said. “But you’ve spent years humiliating me and calling Sophie another man’s child without once asking whether Pierce was telling the truth.”

“I believed my husband!”

“Believing your husband doesn’t require humiliating your cousin,” Arthur replied.

Arthur turned back to me.

Then he faced Pierce.

“And you were willing to abandon your own daughter because you thought there was money waiting for you here?”

For once, Pierce had absolutely nothing to say.

Arthur turned back to me.

Lexi’s eyes filled with tears.

“You know, I’ve spent years watching both of you girls grow up. Lexi, you’ve brought me expensive presents, organized parties, and visited whenever you could. But I was never looking for someone who could impress me with beautiful things.”

Lexi’s eyes filled with tears.

“I wanted someone who understood that family matters even when there’s nothing to gain.”

He reached for my hand.

Arthur didn’t raise his voice.

“Laura, I’ve decided to leave my estate to you. I’ll have my lawyer finalize the necessary documents.”

“What?” Lexi cried. “Uncle Arthur, you can’t be serious!”

Pierce stared at Arthur, looking utterly devastated.

Arthur didn’t raise his voice.

“I’ve made my decision, Lexi. And I won’t be changing it.”