I stood in Professor Lucas Wright's office, watching his expression shift from confusion to excitement as Imogen fabricated her elaborate lie.
"You're telling me you can bring Dr. Emma Bella here?" Professor Wright's eyes widened behind his thick glasses. "The Dr. Emma Bella?"
Imogen tossed her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder. "Of course. My mother saved her life years ago. She owes us a debt she can never repay."
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. If only she knew that Dr. Emma Bella—the brilliant scientist whose groundbreaking research in new energy had the scientific community buzzing—was standing right in front of her.
Me. Juliana Johnson. The supposed illegitimate daughter everyone loved to torment.
"This is incredible news!" Professor Wright clasped his hands together. "Dr. Bella never makes public appearances. She's turned down invitations from Harvard, MIT—everyone!"
Imogen smiled smugly. "Well, she won't turn down my mother."
The irony was almost too much to bear. I'd created the persona of Dr. Emma Bella years ago to protect my research from being stolen by my family. The only people who knew my secret were my assistant Griffin and two trusted colleagues who helped maintain my cover.
"Professor," I spoke up, "I don't think we should get our hopes up. Dr. Bella is known for her reclusiveness."
Imogen shot me a venomous look. "No one asked for your opinion, Juliana."
Professor Wright's excitement dimmed slightly as he remembered my presence. "Ah, yes, Miss Johnson. Actually, this could be wonderful news for you too."
I raised an eyebrow. "For me?"
"Yes!" He nodded enthusiastically. "After that unfortunate business with the Ricardo family and your withdrawal—which I still don't understand—your postgraduate recommendation has been in jeopardy. But if Dr. Bella were to come here..."
Imogen's eyes narrowed. "Professor, I'm not sure my invitation extends to helping Juliana."
"Oh, but surely—" Professor Wright began.
"My sister has a habit of causing trouble," Imogen cut in smoothly. "Especially with the Ricardo family. Did you know she's been stalking Nathaniel Ricardo? Claiming to be his wife?"
The professor looked at me with sudden wariness. "Is this true, Miss Johnson?"
"Of course not," I replied evenly. "I discovered I was legally married to Mr. Ricardo through official courthouse records. I've been trying to contact him to resolve the situation."
"She's delusional," Imogen stage-whispered to the professor. "Our family is quite concerned."
Ivy Ollie, Imogen's friend who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "Professor, Juliana has been causing the family considerable embarrassment. Mr. Ricardo is married to someone else entirely. She's fabricated this whole story."
The blatant lie made my blood boil. I'd spent my entire life being gaslit by these people. Being told my memories were wrong. My experiences invalid. My pain imaginary.
"Professor Wright," I said calmly, "I appreciate your concern, but I don't need Imogen's help with my recommendation."
Imogen's smile turned cold. "Of course you don't. You'll just keep harassing poor Mr. Ricardo instead, won't you? Even though he's made it clear he wants nothing to do with you."
"I've never harassed anyone," I stated firmly.
"No?" Ivy stepped closer to me. "Then why did his family file a complaint against you? Why were you forced to withdraw from the university?"
I met her gaze steadily. "We both know that complaint was orchestrated by you and Imogen."
Professor Wright looked uncomfortable. "Ladies, perhaps we should—"
"You're just jealous," Imogen interrupted, her voice rising. "You've always been jealous of me. And now you're trying to insert yourself into the Ricardo family because you can't stand that I'm engaged to Liam."
I laughed softly. "Is that what you think this is about? Liam? The man who chased me for four years and then proposed to you the minute he learned I was illegitimate?"
Her face flushed with anger. "How dare you! He never wanted you. He was just being nice because he felt sorry for you."
"Is that what he told you?" I asked, my voice gentle with mock sympathy.
Ivy stepped between us, her face contorted with rage. "You ungrateful little—"
The slap came without warning. Her hand connected with my cheek with enough force to snap my head to the side. The sound echoed in the suddenly silent office.
Professor Wright gasped. "Mrs. Ollie!"
I slowly turned my face back, feeling the sting spread across my skin. For twenty-three years, I'd endured this treatment. I'd accepted the slaps, the insults, the humiliation—all to protect Mrs. Johnson, the only person who had ever shown me kindness.
But something inside me had changed. Maybe it was discovering my marriage to Nathaniel. Maybe it was having my research stolen. Or maybe I'd simply reached my limit.
Without a word, I stepped forward and slapped Imogen hard across the face.
She staggered backward, her hand flying to her cheek in shock. Before she could recover, I slapped her again, even harder.
"Juliana!" Professor Wright shouted.
Imogen stumbled against his desk, tears springing to her eyes. "You hit me! She hit me!"
I turned to Ivy, my voice deadly calm. "Listen carefully. From now on, for every time you hurt me, I will hurt her twice as hard. Every slap, every insult, every scheme—she will pay for it."
Ivy's face drained of color. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me," I challenged, my voice ice-cold. "I've spent my entire life cowering from you both. Those days are over."
Imogen was sobbing now, clutching her reddened cheek. "Professor! Did you see what she did?"
Professor Wright looked torn between calling security and pretending none of this had happened.
I picked up my bag calmly. "I apologize for the disruption, Professor Wright. I'll see myself out."
As I walked toward the door, I paused beside the still-stunned Ivy. "By the way, the next time you decide to forge Dr. Emma Bella's recommendation letter, you might want to check her signature more carefully. The real Dr. Bella crosses her 't's differently."
I left them all staring after me, speechless.
The campus was quiet as I walked toward the parking lot. My hand still tingled from the slaps, but I felt no remorse. Only a strange sense of lightness, as if I'd finally set down a burden I'd been carrying for decades.
My phone rang as I reached my scooter. Griffin's name flashed on the screen.
"Griffin," I answered, slipping on my helmet.
"Boss, I figured it out!" His voice was breathless with excitement. "I know why Nathaniel claimed to be married but doesn't know who you are!"
I froze, my heart suddenly racing. "Tell me."
"You're not going to believe this," he said. "But I found evidence that five years ago, Nathaniel Ricardo fabricated a marriage certificate to prevent his family from forcing him into an arranged marriage."
"Fabricated?" I repeated slowly.
"Yes, but here's the crazy part," Griffin continued. "He used your name and ID. A real person, but someone he thought didn't exist."
My mind raced with the implications. "How is that possible?"
"I'm still working on that part," Griffin admitted. "But I'm close. Really close."
I gripped the phone tighter. "Keep digging. I need to know everything."
As I hung up, I knew one thing with absolute certainty: my life had just become significantly more complicated. But for the first time, I wasn't afraid of what was coming.
If Nathaniel Ricardo had deliberately entangled our lives, he was about to learn that I was no longer the meek, submissive woman everyone thought they could control.
Let them all come. I was ready.