Chapter 3The Serendipity of It All

Peter’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with suppressed rage. “That’s enough! Stop pouring salt on her wounds. She was in a car accident right after she got here. Her fingers were severely injured. She can’t play anymore.”

The imposter kept her head bowed, a flicker of triumph in her eyes hidden beneath a veneer of tragic sorrow. “It’s true,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry I can’t play for you all… But that doesn’t mean I’m a liar…”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow, another convenient injury. First a car accident, now a cut. Your fingers certainly are delicate, aren’t they? Do they get injured every time someone questions you?”

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder. Doubt was starting to creep into their faces.

Her expression hardened, her voice trembling with manufactured hurt. “How could you say that? That accident was the most traumatic experience of my life… Why do you keep bringing it up? Do you have some kind of grudge against me?”

Peter’s face darkened. He glared at me. “Are you done? She’s the victim here. Stop harassing her!” He held up her hand, pointing to a faint scar on her knuckle. “Here’s your proof. We have the hospital records too. Do you want to see them?”

The crowd gasped. “Oh, so that’s what happened…” someone said softly. “What a tragedy.”

The imposter looked up, sighing dramatically. “Regardless, I’m truly sorry for letting everyone down…”

“Oh, you’re committed to this lie, aren’t you? You’d even hurt yourself for it…”

“What is your problem?” Peter roared, stepping menacingly toward me. “Are you deliberately targeting her?” He suddenly lunged forward and ripped the hoodie from my head. “I knew it! You’re the troublemaker from yesterday! You came back just to start more trouble, didn’t you?”

His fury boiled over. He raised his hand to strike me.

My heart pounded, but I stood my ground. “I’m the real Lia Lockwood,” I said, my voice cold and clear. “If you don’t believe me, call my father. Ask him.”

“Fine. Call him.”

Gritting my teeth, I pulled out my phone and dialed my dad’s number. The call wouldn’t go through. The screen just showed a spinning ‘Connecting…’ icon.

Peter saw it and sneered. “What’s wrong? Can’t get through? The real heiress act is falling apart, huh?”

I took a deep breath, refusing to back down. “Then call your father. He’ll know the truth.”

Peter’s expression faltered for a second before hardening into a contemptuous smirk. “Still making up stories? Lia has been by my side this whole time. There’s no way she’s a fake!”

“Fine. Then I’ll expose her myself.” I locked eyes with her. “In the old Lockwood estate, there’s a centuries-old pine tree in the backyard. Tell me, where does it stand?”

I watched her, searching for any hint of a lie.

But she remained perfectly calm. A small, confident smile played on her lips as she answered softly, “There are no pine trees at the Lockwood estate. Only a row of fragrant sweet olive trees.”

My stomach dropped. How did she know that?!

A terrible premonition washed over me just as Peter’s rage exploded. He grabbed me, his voice a low growl. “You planned this all along, didn’t you? You came here just to torment her!”

People rushed forward to intervene. The imposter even made a show of trying to calm him down. “Peter, stop, it’s just a misunderstanding.” Her voice was gentle, but her words were poison. “She’s probably just jealous.”

Her comment was like gasoline on a fire.

Peter shoved me to the floor. “You’re just jealous of Lia,” he snarled, a cruel smile twisting his face. “You keep making trouble for her. Since you’re so obsessed with her fingers, I’ll make sure yours end up just like hers—broken!”

He snatched a heavy ceramic vase from a nearby table, raising it high above his head. His eyes were wild with malice; he was actually going to do it.

I struggled against his grip, a chilling fear seizing me. I’m a guitarist. My hands are my life!

The crowd cried out, trying to pull him back, but he was too strong. The imposter just stood there, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes, as if she couldn’t wait to see me crippled.

Just as I braced for the impact, regretting my reckless plan, a cold voice cut through the chaos from the doorway, radiating an authority that silenced the entire room.

“Well, isn’t this a party?”