Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 41

As I walked out of Marcus's house, the window of a sleek Maybach rolled down at the entrance.

"Clara, now you have no reason to refuse me anymore."

It was Brandon.

He had pursued me relentlessly for five years.

We had been university classmates, and he had chased after me for a total of seven years.

I opened the car door, got into the passenger seat, and closed my eyes without saying a word.

Brandon carefully buckled my seatbelt and drove me away—away from the place I had called home for five years.

Two months later, my lawyer informed me that Marcus had finally signed the divorce papers.

He had left almost everything behind.

Was it spring already?

Marcus, did you think that was enough for me to forgive you?

Not even close.

With everything settled, I went to find my biological parents.

Grandma had told me before she passed—they were the wealthiest family in the country.

I had been mistakenly switched at birth.

I didn't know why Grandma had waited until her final moments to tell me the truth.

All I knew was that overnight, I became the long-lost heiress of an empire, adored and cherished beyond measure.

At twenty-nine, my parents planned to throw me a grand birthday banquet.

"Clara, what do you want for your birthday? We'll give you anything you desire."

It seemed like they were trying to make up for lost time, granting me every request without hesitation.

"Anything?"

"Of course! Even if you want the stars in the sky, your father will find a way to bring them down for you."

So this was what it felt like to be loved.

"Then I want Grayson Corporation."

That night, the mansion was illuminated brightly, and the banquet began as scheduled.

The Hope Family was on an entirely different level compared to the Grayson Family.

Only the most powerful and elite attended.

Before the event even started, I stood on the second floor, scanning the crowd for a familiar face.

Naturally, the main guest had to be invited.

And he arrived—alongside Anna.

As if sensing my gaze, Marcus turned his head, his eyes locking onto mine through the sea of people.

Dressed in an exquisite white gown, I descended the grand staircase gracefully, stopping beside him.

Before I could speak, Anna scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Dressed up like some big deal—do you really think you're the main character tonight?"

It had been a while since I last saw her.

Pampered by Marcus, she had grown even more arrogant and spoiled.

Even in her delicate pink gown, she exuded nothing but condescension.

"Excuse us."

"Hmph, I bet she just latched onto some wealthy man again. What a joke."

Anna stomped her foot in frustration, her gaze filled with envy as she watched Brandon.

Brandon led me to the center of the banquet hall.

Just then, the lights dimmed.

A single spotlight illuminated me.

"The banquet is now officially starting. Let us welcome tonight's star—"

"The heiress of Hope Corporation, Clara Hope!"

Gasps echoed through the hall.

Marcus, the real show was just beginning.

Before I could even deliver my speech, a shrill voice cut through the air.

"Impossible! Clara can't be the Hope Family's heiress! She was just a lounge singer in a bar!"

"Who knows if she even sold her body? A mistress pretending to be a rich heiress—how shameless!"

The once lively hall fell into a stunned silence.

Even the sound of breathing seemed to fade.

Then—two crisp slaps shattered the quiet.

"Who do you think you are to speak about Clara like that?"

It was my mother.