Chapter 474

The dining room of the Jones family estate radiated warmth and harmony, yet a quiet tension simmered beneath the surface.

Sharon gazed across the table at Hannah, her expression brimming with affection, her eyes alight with satisfaction. "Hannah, you seem transformed today-vibrant, almost glowing!"

Hannah gently placed her fork and knife down, her voice soft and warm. "Sharon, it feels like ages since we sat together like this. How are you?"

Sharon blinked, caught off guard, and then laughed lightly. "Sweetheart, didn't we just see each other yesterday? Out in the garden, you even helped me prune that orchid. Forgotten already?"

Hannah's smile held, but her eyes took on a somber weight. "Grandma, that wasn't me. Someone altered their face with plastic surgery to impersonate me."

"Plastic surgery?" Sharon's smnile faltered, disbelief etching her features. "How could that be?"

Vincent, seated beside her, gave a solemn nod."It's true, Grandma."

Danica, leisurely sipping her soup beside Sharon, froze at the words. Her spoon clattered against the bowl with a sharp chime as she looked up. "Who would do that? Who changed their face to mimic yours?" she asked, her voice tinged with shock.

Hannah and Vincent exchanged a subtle, knowing glance. This was their strategy: not to reveal Erica's true identity yet, but to cast Brinley as a decoy.

Hannah met Danica's eyes, her tone calm and assured. "It's Brinley."

"Brinley?" Danica's gasp burst forth, her face alight with astonished delight. "She's out of prison? That's wonderful-she's finally-" Her words tripped over each other in her excitement.

Vincent's sharp, warning glance cut through her enthusiasm. Danica's heart skipped, her joy fading instantly. She lowered her gaze, concealing the storm in her eyes. "I got carried away. I've known her since she was a child..."

Sharon's expression darkened, her brows knitting tightly. "So it's truly Brinley? Out already? How could she dare pull something like this? Too reckless..."

Before she could finish, the sharp click of high heels echoed from the entryway.

Erica looked utterly drained-first shaken by Hannah's photo and then worn thin from the company business. She stepped into the dining room, forcing a smile. "Sharon, I'm back-"

Erica's words died as her eyes landed on Hannah. What was she doing here? Did the Jones family already know the truth? She steadied herself, realizing pretense was futile if the truth was exposed. She needed a plan, and quickly.

Hannah broke the silence first, her tone pointed. "Miss Gilbert, we meet again. You look pale-are you unwell, or is there something you're hiding?"

Erica flinched at the blunt jab. She jerked her head up, her expression morphing into one of pitiful vulnerability, eyes welling with tears. "Sharon, Danica, you know the truth now, don't you? I had no choice.After prison, my face was scarred-grotesque, terrifying. I couldn't find work. No one wanted me. Everyone shunned me. All I wanted was to survive."

Erica continued, her voice trembling, "I knew you all adored Hannah, so I thought... I thought if I could become her, would you like me too? Would you treat me kindly? I even threatened to cut off my stepfather to make him pay for the plastic surgery. And it worked-I transformed mysel to look exactly like Hannah."

Her voice broke, thick with feigned emotion. "I came back to the Jones family, and you welcomed me so warmly that I almost believed I was Hannah. Over time, I became too afraid to confess the truth."

Hannah and Vincent listened in silence, their expressions cold and unmoved.

Vincent lifted his coffee cup, taking a deliberate sip, as if he were merely watching a clumsy performance.

Only Danica reacted the way Erica had expected. Seeing Erica's tearful display and hearing her heartrending story, her face softened with pity. "Brinley, you've endured so much... Why are you so foolish? You could

have..."

Sharon observed, her brows furrowed, her gaze conflicted. Though her heart ached, memories of past betrayals steeled her."We'll arrange a new place for you to stay. You cannot remain with the Jones family."

Erica froze. Leave? How did things turn out this way?