Spoiled By My Brothers: Return of The Lost Heiress-Chapter 158: "I want to tear that bitch apart!”

Melissa’s POV

What!? What did that old woman just say? Has she lost her mind or something?

My mind almost blew up the moment she said she’d introduce Seraphina to everyone.

No. No, this couldn’t be happening.

It was fine when she stayed away in the corner, and no one noticed her. That was supposed to be her place, not here in front of all these people.

My breath became ragged as my hands curled so tight that my nails bit into my palm. I could hear the whispers already, people glancing between her and me.

How dare she? How dare she stand there like she’s the princess? Like she had any right to take what was mine?

She was literally taking that was supposed to be mine!!!

She was trying to climb up, wasn’t she? She was clearly trying to steal the spotlight, steal the family, steal everything.

Then what would that make me?

...A fake heiress? Just as Brother Alistair had mentioned?

My lips trembled, but I forced a smile, though I could feel the corners twitching. Don’t show it, don’t let them see me at my weak point...

But the heat in my chest kept climbing, and I almost wanted to scream it out loud.

I wanted to scream at all of them, tell them straight to their faces that I was never the fake one! Me! I was the real daughter, the one who had always been there since the start. She was the outsider, the intruder who slithered her way into our family out of nowhere.

My throat burned with the urge to shout it all out, but I held it back for now. I still had Mother and Father beside me, and as long as they stood with me, I didn’t care what the rest of the world talked about me!

But damn it—she wasn’t going to get away with this. I would teach that bitch a good lesson soon, for sure!

I had planned it all so carefully in the past and had sent her away, locked her in that mental hospital so she would rot there. And never dare to come back home. So why? Why the hell was she standing here now?

And the thing that bothered me the most was how the hell did she change like that? She didn’t look that weak little girl anymore. She didn’t look lost. She stood there with her head high, with clear eyes and confident, like she had never been the person I had known in the past.

It made my stomach twist. I barely even recognized her.

And now... now she even had the guts to go against me. To turn Asher, even Alistair, against me.

How dare she?

"Are you not leaving?" Sean asked, his hand stretched out toward me. "Let’s go out together."

Yes. Sean. I still had him.

My chest loosened instantly at the sight of him. They might talk about the Lancasters and their power, but Sean’s family was no weaker, instead they were almost equally strong and untouchable. If Sean stayed by my side, if he stood with me, then no matter what that slut tried, there was no way I would lose. No way I would let her take what belonged to me.

A wave of relief washed over me. My lips curved into a gentle smile as I placed my hand in his, letting his warmth steady my temper. We walked out together, fingers laced, hand in hand for everyone to see.

That should’ve been my moment, even our moment. If Seraphina hadn’t barged in and taken all attention over herself... It would have been our engagement announcement tonight, making it official for the whole world to see. Everyone would have known this union was real.

But now... now I wasn’t even sure if it would happen anymore.

The thought made my insides churn like fire, but I kept my smile for everyone to see.

Author’s POV

Seraphina walked out with Old Madam Lan, their hands linked together. The sight alone was enough to make everyone’s jaws drop. The old lady never held anyone’s hand like that, not even her daughter or granddaughter!

The guest’s eyes widened as they gasped in shock!

"Everyone!" Old Madam Lan’s voice cut through the noise the moment they entered the hall. Her smile was warm, but her words were sharp and firm.

"Meet Seraphina Lancaster..." She paused for a second, looking around at the stunned faces before declaring, "And she... is the real heiress of the Lancasters!"

For a second, the entire hall froze. The words hit them like thunder.

"What!!"

"Did she just say real heiress?"

"If she’s the real one, then who the hell is Melissa?"

"What is going on here?"

"I thought she was supposed to be linked with the Second Master Lan!"

"No way... this is insane!"

The voices grew louder and louder, as they were no longer whispers.

Everyone was talking about it openly. Their shock spilling out without a care for who heard them.

The hall was no longer calm and in party mood! It was boiling, restless, about to explode, and dying to know about what the hell Old Madam Lan meant!

However, to everyone’s shock and frustration, Old Madam Lan didn’t explain a single thing further. She simply held Seraphina’s hand tighter and walked straight ahead, ignoring the restless crowd buzzing like angry bees.

Words still followed them, some people even trying to call out, but the old woman didn’t turn once. She headed directly to the table where the giant cake stood waiting, and the spotlight was now fixed on them.

"The time has come for the cake-cutting ceremony!" the host announced quickly, his voice trying to calm down the noise of the guests. "Afterwards, Old Madam will address all the guests present here!"

"Let’s go, dear," Old Madam Lan said softly, guiding Seraphina to the front. Her voice was warm, but her grip was firm, leaving no room for hesitation. The two of them lifted the knife and cut the cake together, just as she had promised earlier,

The room went silent for a moment, everyone watching as if the very act of slicing that cake was some kind of affirmation that Old Madam Lan was trying to give Sera.

From across the hall, Melissa’s nails dug into her palm harshly,

and her skin started to burn. She forced a smile, but her jaw ached from the effort. Every cheer that erupted for Seraphina felt like a slap across her own face.

She had always imagined herself standing there one day with Old Madam by her side, the crowd clapping with all eyes on her. But now, that scene was being stolen right in front of her eyes, piece by piece, just like the cake they were cutting.

Her throat tightened, but she still tried to keep her calm.

Melissa! You can’t lose your composure here! You must not let your real face show in front of them! she screamed inside her head, her smile trembling, but she still fought against it. Her heart hammered so loudly it felt like the whole hall could hear it.

But Melissa was terribly wrong about keeping her composure. For a moment, she didn’t know if she’d misheard Old Madam or if her ears were betraying her. The real heiress? The words stabbed her chest over and over until she almost forgot to breath.

And then it got worse.

Old Madam Lan, with that same gentle smile that once belonged only to Melissa... She lifted the fork and fed the first bite of cake to Seraphina.

Melissa’s world spun as her fingers curled into her gown so tight that fabric might rip.

In the past, that bite always belonged to Melissa only. The first taste of cake, the first smile from Old Madam, the first cheer from the crowd. It had been hers undoubtedly!

But this time? It was all gone and was stolen by Seraphina... That bitch!

Her vision blurred for a second as rage and disbelief tangled inside her. How could this change? When did it change?

She remembered clearly: even after Seraphina entered the Lancaster house, Old Madam had never once dared to feed her the cake in public. Melissa had made sure of that. She had threatened Seraphina and made her promise to let Old Madam do this just as usual. She had thought that she had secured her position, even if Seraphina had evaded her happy life.

Yet here it was, her whole life was crumbling right in front of her eyes.

And Melissa knew that nothing she said or did could erase what everyone just saw: Old Madam had chosen Seraphina over her.

"What are you thinking?" Sean asked, noticing the strange look in Melissa’s eyes. "Are you feeling wronged?"

Melissa’s lips curved into a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She tilted her head slightly, meeting Sean’s gaze with ease.

"What do you think I should feel right now?" she asked softly, her voice light but sharp underneath. Then, with a small laugh, she added, "Of course, I’m happy for my sister... finally, she’s getting the attention she’s been craving all this time."

She kept smiling, acting as a supportive sister, but inside, the bitter taste of jealousy was already burning her throat.

"Lis!" Sean started. "You don’t need to act in front of me!" He paused and then added. "Do you think I don’t know you?"

"If you know, then why ask?" Melissa’s eyes turned malicious as she glared at Sean. "I want to tear that bitch apart!"