I thought my mother would hesitate. But to my surprise, she agreed almost immediately. “All right. I’ll handle this myself.”
Her voice was calm, but beneath that composure was anger she’d buried for years.
“If it hadn’t been for Zamora’s mother, that nanny, switching you two while I was unconscious from a difficult labor, you wouldn’t have grown up in an orphanage for more than ten years! We missed you because of her!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” she went on. “I’ll make sure Zamora leaves. And Marcel, her mother—she won’t escape either. I’ll have the lawyers gather evidence and send her to prison.”
I shut my eyes, feeling a sting in my nose, “Thanks, Mom.”
Her tone softened at once. “Silly child, don’t think too much. Your birthday is coming up next week. I’ll hold a grand homecoming party for you, so everyone knows you are the real daughter of the Lumleys.”
Then she added gently, “And about your engagement, I’ve already set you up with someone.”
I replied quietly. “I’ll listen to you, Mom.”
After a few seconds of silence, I reminded her. “Don’t tell Zamora about the birthday party yet. And… about those investments I asked you to arrange before, stop them all.”